The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde- Essay

 

The Model Millionaire

-        Oscar Wilde

“The Model Millionaire” by Oscal Wile first appeared in the newspaper The World in June 1887. It was published as a part of the anthology, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime and other Stories. The story deals with various themes like generosity, appearance vs reality and class consciousness.

The plot revolves around Hughie Erskine, a charming but poor young man. All he had was one cavalry sword and a ‘History of Peninsular War’ in fifteen volumes. He received two hundred pounds a year from an aunt. He tried many occupations but failed to achieve success in any profession. Hence, he was jobless with a perfect profile and no profession. 

Hughie was in love with Laura. Her father was a retired Colonel who had served in India. He demanded Hughie to have at least 10,000 pounds before getting engaged to Laura. Since he had no money, he was unable to marry her.

One day on his way to meet Laura, Hughie went to his friend Alan Trevor’s studio.  Hughie found Trevor giving finishing touches to the portrait of a beggar. Trevor was  working on the picture of a wrinkled old man wearing tattered rags, holding out a battered hat for alms. Meanwhile, a servant informed that the frame maker wanted to speak to Trevor. When Trevor went out, the (model) beggar relaxed. Hughie pitied the beggar, and gave him a coin and left to meet Laura. Laura scolded him for his generosity.

Trevor had a hearty laugh when Hughie met him later that day. Trevor explained to Hughie that the old man whom he thought to be a beggar, was Baron Hausberg. He was one of the richest men in Europe. He had commissioned Trevor to paint him as a beggar. Trevor also said that he had told him about the love story between Hughie and Laura. He also informed that the Baron was impressed with him. Soon after, Hughie feeling ashamed and angry went to his home. 

The next morning, a messenger came to Hughie’s house saying that he had come from Baron Hausberg. He had brought a cheque of 10,000 pounds as a wedding gift to Hughie and Laura. Soon their marriage was solemnised in which Trevor became the best-man and Baron made a speech at the wedding breakfast. Alan remarked, ‘Millionaire models are rare enough but model millionaires are rarer still.’ This story illustrates that how a simple act of love and generosity can make a greater impact in one’s life.

A Ring To Me Is Bondage- Essay

 

A Ring to Me Is Bondage

 

-- Mina Assadi

          Mina Assadi, who was born in Iran, is a famous poet, author and journalist. She lives in Sweden as an exile. Her poetry mainly deals with oppression against children and women.

Mina Assadi considers religion as an element of subjugation. She does not think of prayer mats because it is a symbol of religion and bondage. She loves instead to think of gardens and open roads that suggest her desire for freedom. The silk roads are open and free. So a freedom lover like Mina Assadi likes the silk roads rather than prayer mats. Roads, sparrows and walk signify the positive spirit. Prayer-mats, net, cage and gaoler signify unhappiness.   

The poet loves solitude. She is happy with the loneliness of the desert. A lonely desert is home to her because home is where a person is free, happy and secure.  Anything that evokes sadness is ‘love’ to her. Anyone who plucks a flower is blind. Anyone who traps a fish is a murderer. The sea is a source of constant fascination and she is jealous of it. She considers the marriage ring as a bondage because marriage restricts the freedom of women. So Mina Assadi does not like the ‘ring’.

Thus, Mina Assadi introduces herself as a very determined person in the poem, “A Ring to Me Is Bondage”. She calls upon every woman of the world to resist, to battle against oppression of any kind. 

The Conjurer’s Revenge

 

The Conjurer’s Revenge

 “The Conjurer’s Revenge” is a short story written by Stephen Leacock. He is known for his wit and humour. The story opens with the performance of a conjurer. First,  he shows an empty cloth and takes out a bowl of goldfish. The audience wonders at the trick. But the “Quick Man” on the front seat tells the people that he “had it up his sleeve”.

The Conjurer’s next trick is Hindostanee rings. He shows separate rings and joins them in a blow. Again, the Quick Man says the same. After this, the conjurer is worried a lot but continues his tricks. Next, the conjurer gets a hat from the audience and extracts seventeen eggs. When the audience begins to think that he is wonderful, the Quick Man demoralizes him.  Hence, the reputation of the conjurer sinks rapidly.

          Finally, the conjurer decides to take revenge. He says that he is going to perform a famous Japanese trick. He requests the Quick Man to give his gold watch. The conjurer pounds it to pieces with his permission. Next, he borrows his handkerchief and makes holes in it. Then the conjurer dances on his silk hat and burns his celluloid collar. Then he smashes his spectacles with a hammer. The Quick Man thinks that this is also a trick which he does not understand.

The conjurer claims that he has damaged the Quick Man’s watch, collar, hat and spectacles only with his permission. Then he declares that unless the quick man permits him to paint green strips on his over coat or tie, he cannot continue the performance. Finally the audience understands the intelligence of the conjurer.   Hence, the Conjurer takes his revenge on the quick man for his irritating behavior.