Introduction: The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde
The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde is not a book, but a short story. The story looks at materialism, acts of kindness, and value system.
In the mornings when I am practicing my speed reading drills using bookmarklets, I have been doing so with short stories that I find on the American Literature website.
I have found and read some excellent short stories on this site. Below, you'll find my review of two books by Oscar Wilde.
Have you read?
Review of Oscar Wilde's The Canterville Ghost
Oscar Wilde Personal Library – The Shaping of a Mind
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde – Book Review
The Story: The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde
I found The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde very touching. Oscar Wilde wrote an amazing start for this story,
“Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.”
What are your thoughts, do you agree with this?
Hughie Erskine, a handsome young man, hasn’t been able to get his act together. He has tried many things to make a living, including being a stock trader and also a merchant. Can you relate to Hughie?
Hughie is in love with Laura Merton, the daughter of a retired merchant. Although the retired Colonel likes and approves of the young man, he will not give his daughter’s hand in marriage. Unless Hughie is able to amass a wealth of £10,000. And then he will revisit the matter.
He does not have a profession. And doesn’t know how he will ever get the money. On the positive side, Laura loves him. But what good is that if they cannot marry?
Hughie often visits his friend, Alan Trevor. Trevor is a renowned painter, whose paintings are always in demand. Alan happens to like Hughie, and allows him to visit even while he is working. One day when Hughie is visiting, Alan is painting a beggar with a piteous and miserable look on his face. The two friends talk about the beggar and Hughie asks how much the model gets. And he learns that it is a schilling for an hour while Alan gets 2000 guineas for the painting. Hughie declares that the model works as hard as the painter and should earn more.
“'Nonsense, nonsense! Why, look at the trouble of laying on the paint alone, and standing all day long at one's easel! It's all very well, Hughie, for you to talk, but I assure you that there are moments when Art almost attains to the dignity of manual labour. But you mustn't chatter; I'm very busy. Smoke a cigarette, and keep quiet.'”
A servant informs Alan that the frame maker wants to speak to him. While he is gone, the beggar takes the time to rest his weary body. Hughie starts to speak to him. Feeling compassion he dips into his pocket and shares the little he has, thinking that the beggar needs it more than he does. The beggar is very grateful for the money.
It’s at a great sacrifice because that means that Hughie has no transportation for two weeks and will have to walk home. Is that such a bad thing? Anyway, much later when he visits Laura and tells her what he did, she scolds him for being extravagant.
At 11:00 pm that night, he visits the Palette Club and finds Alan there, sitting by himself smoking and drinking. Alan tells Hughie that he told the beggar all about him – about his financial situation and the £10,000 he has to amass before he can marry Laura.
Hughie cannot understand why Alan would share his personal information with a beggar. He also tells Alan that he gave the beggar money. Alan discloses that the beggar isn’t really a beggar,
“'that old beggar, as you call him, is one of the richest men in Europe. He could buy all London tomorrow without overdrawing his account. He has a house in every capital, dines off gold plate, and can prevent Russia going to war when he chooses.'”
The ‘beggar,’ Baron Hausberg, commissioned the painting and posed for it. Hughie is not happy about the deception. The next morning while he is eating breakfast, his servant brings him a card from Monsieur Gustave Naudin who works for Baron Hausberg. Hughie thinks he has to apologize for giving a multimillionaire spare change.
As it turns out, Baron Hausberg was touched by Hughie’s kind gesture despite his financial situation. Monsieur Gustave Naudin delivers a cheque made out to Hughie Erskine for £10,000 so that he can marry his sweetheart.
The Conclusion: The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde
I loved this story because it teaches us to have compassion for all, and that we are our brother’s keeper. Today, we are living in an individualistic society where most of us focus on monetary success, and often forget the important things in life.
The epidemic that the world is facing is once again forcing us to be our brother's keeper. People are searching for new ways to build community.
The Model Millionaire (Download a free copy) by Oscar Wilde is a great reminder to me that social and economic justice matter.
It is possible that big lessons can come in small packages.
Oscar Wilde Book List
Intentions 
The Picture of Dorian GrayThe Importance of Being EarnestOscar Wilde: The Complete CollectionWit and Wisdom: A Book of QuotationsThe Canterville Ghost A Life in LettersThe Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar WildeOscar Wilde's The Selfish GiantOscar Wilde and a Death of No ImportanceA House of PomegranatesLady Windermere's FanThe Happy Prince and Other Stories
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Books About Oscar Wilde
The Secret Life of Oscar WildeThe Real Trial of Oscar WildeIrish Peacock and Scarlet Marquess: The Real Trial of Oscar Wilde
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