The Model Millionaire Summary

The short tale "The Model Millionaire" was written by Irish novelist Oscar Wilde. In June 1887, it originally appeared in print in The World.

Anthology Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories included it when it was reprinted in 1891.

The narrative's protagonist is a young guy who is moved to compassion despite his financial struggles by seeing an elderly beggar acting as a model for his artist buddy. The young guy gives the beggar the most significant denomination coin he has in his pocket, even though he can hardly afford to do so. The young man's deed of charity had unanticipated advantages for him.

The Model Millionaire's Storyline

A young man named Hughie Erskine acts as the story's protagonist. Hughie is attractive, endearing, and well-liked, but he has yet to have the best of success when it comes to money. In his father's will, he received absolutely nothing of considerable worth. His attempts at several various enterprises have all failed.

Hughie receives $200 annually from an old aunt as his only source of income because he is unemployed. Laura Merton, a young woman, and Hughie have fallen in love, and she reciprocates.

Colonel Merton, Laura's father, likes Hughie but does not want the young man to marry his daughter because of his poor financial outlook. He has frequently warned Hughie that he will only let him propose to Laura once he has made ten thousand pounds.

Hughie visits Alan Trevor, a buddy who is an artist. He discovers that Alan is portraying an elderly man who looks like a beggar in the picture. The elderly man is dressed in worn-out boots and a brown coat that has seen better days. On the one hand, he is holding a crude walking stick.

He is putting out an old hat with the other hand as if to make a donation request. He has deep lines on his face and a very depressed expression.

Alan and Hughie agree that the old man would make an excellent painting subject. But Hughie can't help but feel bad for the guy. He considers it unfair because, even though Alan's paintings are frequently worth two thousand guineas, he only pays his models one shilling per hour for their time and does not share with them any of the proceeds from the sales of their portraits.

Upon Alan's departure, Hugh searches his pockets. He discovers that a sovereign is his most extraordinary denomination coin. Hughie hands the elderly guy the coin, who looks delighted to get it, even though he must make more cuts than expected for the remaining month. Hughie departs shortly after.

The two subsequently cross paths with Hughie. The artist reports that the elderly guy asked him many questions after he had already departed. Alan continues by saying that he told the elderly guy everything he knew about Hughie, Laura Merton, and the restriction Colonel Merton placed on their ability to be married. Hughie is upset because his pal revealed his personal information to "that old beggar."

Hughie is amused when Alan reveals that the elderly guy he painted was Baron Hausberg, one of Europe's wealthiest people and a frequent purchaser of his artwork. The millionaire baron requested to be painted as a beggar for reasons Alan is still determining.

He was dressed in ragged clothing Alan had given him. Hughie feels guilty for giving a millionaire a penny, but Alan reassures him that it is nothing to be concerned about.

The next day, a representative of Baron Hausberg delivers an envelope to Hughie's home. According to the text on the envelope, it is a wedding gift "from an old beggar." Hughie discovers a 10 thousand pound cheque inside the package. Hughie and Laura marry. Baron Hausberg is present for their marriage.

Facts about the Model Millionaire

Trevor told Hugie that Baron Hausberg was the one acting as the beggar when they met later that night. To portray him as the beggar, he had paid the artist.

Trevor informed him that he had questioned Hugie extensively and that he had revealed to the Baron his life story. Hugie regretted his acts and went home after being so humiliated by them.

He afterward received a letter from Hausberg informing him that he had received 10,000 pounds as a wedding present. Baron Hausberg offered a speech when Laura and Hugie were getting married.

The Model Millionaire Review

In essence, this lovely narrative is essentially the Good Samaritan parable in which the Good Samaritan is rewarded.

The writing is entertaining to read and has an appealing, lively style. It quickly becomes a favourite and endures as a positive memory.

Quotes, Moral, and Short Story Meaning

What does the term "Model Millionaire" mean?

The short tale "The Model Millionaire" is mostly about the materialistic aspects of life. Hughie Erskine, a very young and attractive man, is the story's main character. He was well-liked by everyone because he was kind and generous, yet he lacked intelligence and resources.

What is the Model Millionaire's central theme?

And as a result, he felt out of place in the business world. In the world of bulls and bears, he is at a lost. Despite having a nice look, he continued trying different jobs but always failed, and as a result, he has been unsuccessful in all of his financial endeavours.

Hughie Erskine: Who was he?

Every time Hughie attempted to achieve monetary success, he became frustrated and sad because he did not grasp the ways of the world. Romance is a privilege of the wealthy rather than a vocation for the unemployed, which makes the second sentence of the story important.

Finally, he stopped working and supported himself with the money an elderly aunt gave him. Laura Merton, a girl, captured his heart. She was a retired colonel's daughter. Hughie had to have ten thousand pounds of his own money before the Colonel would agree to let them get married.

Therefore, his relationship with Laura was in jeopardy because he was obviously unable to raise �10,000 on his own.

On a certain day, Hughie went to see his painter buddy Alan Trevor. Hughie arrived while Alan was working on a model. A beggar became the model. The model received a sovereign from Hughie out of compassion.

Baron Hausberg, who was he?

Hughie met Alan at Palette Club later that evening. They spoke to one another. Hughie learned through Alan that the man posing as the beggar-man was actually wealthy by the name of Baron Hausberg. While Alan laughed enthusiastically, Hughie returned home unhappy.

He received a letter from Baron Hausberg the following morning through a messenger. Hugh Erskine and Laura Merton received a $10,000 check as a wedding gift from Baron Hausberg, which was attached to the letter.

On the wedding day, Alan Trevor became the best man, and the Baron spoke during the wedding breakfast. "Model millionaires are even more rare," Alan remarked. "They're rare enough to be models." Hughie's marriage to Laura would not have taken place in the end if Baron hadn't given him the money. Making ends meet so becomes more crucial than the melody of love.

Financial success can not provide happiness unless it is used to benefit others. By helping Hughie in getting married to Laura, Baron illustrates the best use of money. Because of this, he advances from the rank of a millionaire model to that of a millionaire model.

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