THE MODEL MILLIONAIRE
-OSCAR WILDE
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 16, 1854.
His father, William Wilde, was a surgeon, and his mother, Jane
Francesca Wilde, published poetry under the name Speranza.
Wilde attended Trinity College, Dublin, from 1871 to 1874 and
Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1874 to 1878. At Oxford, he
received the Newdigate Prize for his long poem Ravenna (T.
Shrimpton and Son, 1878). He also became involved in the
aesthetic movement, advocating for the value of beauty in art.
Summary
Hughie Erskine, a charming but financially struggling young
man, is hopelessly in love with Laura Merton, the daughter of a
retired colonel. Unfortunately, the colonel insists that Hughie
must have at least £10,000 of his own before he will allow the
marriage.
One day, Hughie visits his friend, Alan Trevor, a painter. In
Trevor’s studio, Hughie meets a shabby old beggar who is posing
as a model for Trevor’s painting. Struck by compassion, Hughie
slips the beggar a sovereign (a gold coin), despite having very
little money himself.
Later, Trevor tells the “beggar” about Hughie’s situation and his
lack of fortune. To Hughie’s astonishment, it turns out that the
beggar was no ordinary man at all—but Baron Hausberg, one of
the richest men in London, who had been posing as a model for
Trevor out of sheer amusement.
As a reward for Hughie’s kindness, the Baron sends him a
wedding gift: a cheque for £10,000, exactly the sum needed to
marry Laura.
The story ends with Wilde’s characteristic wit: “Millionaire
models are rare enough, but model millionaires are rarer still!”
Critical Appreciation of The Model Millionaire
Oscar Wilde’s short story The Model Millionaire is a sparkling
example of his gift for wit, irony, and social commentary wrapped
in a lighthearted narrative. At first glance, it appears a simple
anecdote about a poor young man and a kind millionaire; yet,
beneath the surface, Wilde critiques the materialism of Victorian
society while celebrating the timeless value of kindness.
Style and Narrative Technique
Wilde writes with effortless charm and humor. His prose is crisp,
his irony sharp, and his storytelling engaging. The surprise
ending—the revelation that the beggar is a wealthy baron—
follows the classic structure of a Wildean twist, where
appearances deceive and society’s pretensions are exposed.
Themes
Money and Marriage: The story reflects the Victorian reality
where marriage was contingent not on love but on financial
stability. Hughie’s inability to marry Laura due to his poverty
reflects societal obsession with wealth.
Kindness over Wealth: The central moral celebrates Hughie’s
instinctive generosity, suggesting that compassion is more
precious than money.
Irony and Satire: Wilde’s humor lies in the reversal of roles—the
millionaire disguised as a beggar, the poor man giving charity to
the rich. The line “model millionaires are rare enough, but model
millionaires are rarer still” epitomizes Wilde’s witty paradox.
Characterization
Hughie Erskine: A charming but financially weak young man,
embodying warmth and humanity rather than ambition.
Baron Hausberg: A millionaire who enjoys his eccentric role as a
beggar but proves “model” by rewarding Hughie’s kindness.
Alan Trevor: A painter and friend, functioning as a bridge
between the two worlds.
Moral Dimension
Though Wilde is often accused of being a writer of style over
substance, here he embeds a moral: true wealth lies in
generosity. The story suggests that nobility of character
transcends material fortune.
Conclusion
The Model Millionaire may seem light, almost like a fable, but it
carries Wilde’s trademark mixture of wit and wisdom. Its charm
lies in the effortless blending of humor with a moral lesson.
Ultimately, the story mocks society’s obsession with wealth,
while affirming that kindness and humanity are riches no money
can buy.
Character Sketches
1. Hughie Erskine
Nature: Hughie is the protagonist—handsome, charming, and
genuinely kind-hearted, but perpetually poor.
Strengths: His greatest wealth is his compassion. He gives a
sovereign to the supposed beggar without hesitation, despite his
own limited means.
Weaknesses: Financially irresponsible and without ambition, he
cannot support himself, let alone a wife. Wilde even calls him a
“delightful, ineffectual young man with a perfect profile and no
profession.”
Role in Story: He embodies the contrast between appearance and
reality—though poor in money, he is rich in humanity. His
kindness earns him the fortune needed to marry Laura.
2. Alan Trevor
Nature: Alan is a talented painter and Hughie’s loyal friend.
Strengths: Passionate about art, straightforward in speech, and
somewhat cynical. He values Hughie’s charm but often teases
him for his lack of money and profession.
Role in Story: Alan introduces Hughie to the beggar model,
unknowingly setting in motion the story’s twist. Later, he reveals
Hughie’s situation to the Baron, thus acting as the link between
poverty and wealth.
3. The Beggar / Baron Hausberg
Nature: At first disguised as a shabby, ragged model, Baron
Hausberg is later revealed to be one of the richest men in
Europe.
Strengths: Good-humored, eccentric, and benevolent. His
decision to pose as a beggar shows his playful side, while his gift
of £10,000 to Hughie reveals his generosity.
Role in Story: He embodies the story’s irony—wealth disguised as
poverty. He is the true “model millionaire,” not for his riches, but
for his noble heart.
4. Laura Merton
Nature: Beautiful, gentle, and deeply in love with Hughie.
Strengths: Devoted and patient; she supports Hughie emotionally
despite her father’s objections.
Role in Story: She represents the romantic ideal but is also
bound by the practical realities of Victorian marriage—her
father’s demand for financial security.
5. Colonel Merton
Nature: A retired colonel, stern and practical, who insists on
financial stability before allowing his daughter to marry.
Strengths: Represents discipline and social convention.
Role in Story: He is the obstacle to Hughie’s marriage,
embodying society’s rigid view that love must be backed by
wealth.
Closing Note
Each character is carefully crafted to highlight Wilde’s themes:
Hughie’s kindness, Laura’s loyalty, Trevor’s artistic detachment,
the Baron’s hidden generosity, and the Colonel’s rigid
practicality. Together, they form a witty yet moral fable where
wealth and appearances are overturned by the unexpected
triumph of compassion.
