In O. Henry's short story, "One Thousand Dollars," the
dissolute, self-indulgent Young Gillian, who inherits the sum of one thousand dollars
and is required to render an account of its disposition, is perplexed as to how to
dispose of this sum. Hitherto, he has squandered his uncle's allowance, having spent it
upon his own pleasures. But, because it is an inconvenient sum to Gillian--"...what can
a man possibly do with a thousand dollars?"--the young man is perplexed to do with this
inheritance. So, he rides to his club and asks the sardonic Old Bryson how to dispose
of this money. After Bryson "moralizes," he tells Gillian that there is only one thing
for such as he to do with the money: buy the chorus girl Miss Lotta Lauriere a diamond
pendant.
However, when Gillian offers her such a gift, the
jaded Miss Lauriere displays no interest. Then, Gillian takes a cab that lands him near
a blind man selling pencils. Approaching him, Gillian asks the man what he would do
with a thousand dollars. The blind man, who trusts Gillian because he has enough money
to take a cab in the daytime, shows the young gentleman his bank book which has a
balance of $1,785.00. And, after seeing this balance, Gillian makes his decision to
give the money to Miss Hayden, a ward of his uncle.
Thus,
somehow the blind man's disuse of his money effects Gillian's decision. Therefore, he
could be symbolic of the senseless wasting of purpose in life. Why, Gillian may wonder
about the blind man, does the pencil peddler sit on the street as a virtual beggar when
he can have a home and comfort? Much as in the parable of the man who gives his
servants talents, the blind man is like the servant who simply buried his talent.
Perhaps, Gillian chooses to not bury his "talent," demonstrating that he is not totally
dissolute; he gives the money to someone who can use it properly: a "quiet girl" who is
"musical."
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