22 pages • 44 minutes read
O. HenryOne Thousand Dollars
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1919A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Irony
Irony is a literary device that creates a contrast between appearance and reality, and O. Henry uses this device throughout his work. “One Thousand Dollars” has irony at its center. Based on Gillian’s past behavior and reputation, the characters in the story expect him to waste the money on something frivolous. His choice to give the money to Miss Hayden, and then to pretend he lost it gambling so she would receive more, is a doubly ironic plot twist. Not only does Gillian behave differently than anyone expects, but he also hides his generosity by lying about the money.
O. Henry sets the stage for Gillian to tell Tolman that he gave the money to Miss Hayden, and thus receive $50,000, but he chooses to lie so that she receives the money instead. This turn is unexpected to the reader and creates situational irony. Moreover, throughout all of this, O. Henry uses dramatic irony as the audience is aware that Gillian gave the money to Miss Hayden while Tolman is not, and the lawyers are aware of the stipulation in the will while Gillian is not.
Sarcasm
Sarcasm is like irony in that it deepens the meaning of a scene by creating a distinction between appearance and reality. But sarcasm characterizes what people say rather than what they do. O. Henry uses sarcasm to reveal the relationship between Bryson and Gillian. When Bryson says there is only one logical thing for Gillian to do with the money (buy a diamond pendant and sheep ranch), he does not mean what he says. Rather, he conveys his opinion of Gillian by saying the opposite of what he means. The pendant and ranch would seem logical to someone as shallow and self-centered as Gillian. By employing humor, sarcasm, and understatement, O. Henry reveals their relationship and further characterizes Gillian to the readers.
Limited Third-Person Narration
O. Henry uses third-person limited narration in “One Thousand Dollars.” In other words, while Gillian is not the narrator, the narrator follows him and reveals the dramatic world from his perspective. Readers do not see other characters except when they interact with Gillian. Unlike many works written from this perspective, however, the reader is not usually privy to the inner thoughts and feelings of the main character. Although the story unfolds from Gillian’s point of view, the narrator does not reveal his inner world. At the end of the story, for example, the narrator says Gillian is heard “whistling gaily in the hallway” (84), but what is he thinking and feeling as he leaves the lawyer’s office? Readers must interpret the meaning of his actions. This device is critical to developing the theme of transformation in the story as it allows the reader to observe the change in Gillian through his conversations and actions.
Indirect Characterization
In some literary works, the narrator directly tells the reader about the characters, such as their appearance, manners, and values. In other works, by contrast, the author reveals personality indirectly through the character’s behavior and interpersonal interactions. While O. Henry uses both types of characterization in his works, “One Thousand Dollars” relies on indirect characterization. The story focuses on the evolution of Gillian’s character from a selfish boy to a responsible man. Yet the narrator never directly describes Gillian’s character. His growth is revealed through his behavior and his conversations with other characters. O. Henry’s story anticipates the writings of later American authors, such as Ernest Hemingway, who focused on describing people’s words and deeds, leaving the reader to interpret the personalities and motivations behind the action.
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