What is the conflict of one thousand dollars by O Henry?

Answer 1

One of the themes is based off of this question:

How can people give value to their life?

People can give value to their life by not being greedy. This is demonstrated when Mr. Gillian gives his $1,000 dollars to Mrs. Hayden. This can be concluded by this paragraph in the text,

"I've just come from old Tolman's," he explained.

They've been going over the papers down there.

They found a - Gillian searched his memory for a

legal term - they found an amendment or a post-

script or something to the will. It seemed that the

old boy loosened up a little on second thought and

willed you a thousand dollars. I was driving up this

way and Tolman asked me to bring you the money.

Here it is. You'd better count it to see if it's right."

Robert Gillian shows to be even less selfish when he lies about gambling the money away so Mrs. Hayden will receive another $50,000 dollars. This can be concluded based on this statement by Robert Gillian,

"It's all right," he said, smilingly. "There isn't a

bit of need to bother you with this. I don't suppose

you'd understand these itemized bets, anyway. I

lost the thousand dollars on the races. Good-day to

you, gentlemen."

People can also give value to their lives by making change for what that person finds to be the better. The reader can conclude Robert Gillian isn't the best money manager.

"But if - as our client, the late Mr. Gillian, explicitly

provides - you have used this money as you have

money in the past, I quote the late Mr. Gillian

- in reprehensible dissipation among disreputable

associates - the $50,000 is to be paid to Miriam

Hayden, ward of the late Mr. Gillian, without delay."

This shows how Robert Gillian is known to be unwise with money. Also at the end of the story the Lawyers believed him when he said "I lost the thousand dollars on the races." However the main quote that answers the question, of how one can give value to their life is the quote,

"Tolman & Sharp shook their heads mournfully at each other when Gillian left, for they heard him whistling gayly in the hallway as he waited for the elevator."

This shows how Mr. Gillian was proud of his decision to stop using money selfishly, and start being wiser.

Answer 2

The conflict in "One Thousand Dollars" by O Henry revolves around the protagonist, Gillian, who must decide how to use a seemingly insignificant inheritance of $1,000. He faces an internal conflict between his desire to fulfill his late uncle's request to spend the money wisely and his own inclination to frivolously spend it. Ultimately, the conflict highlights the themes of responsibility, morality, and self-discovery.

Answer 3

i would say the main conflict is internal conflict because he doesnt and know how to spend the thousand dollars he has been given.

Answer 4

New York, New York