One Thousand Dollars

Tolman serves as Septimus’s executor and is a serious and stern man with little sense of humor. He views Gillian as thoughtless and irresponsible. He also believes him to be simple and not able to understand complex terminology, as when he says, “I do not wish to encumber your understanding with its legal phraseology” (83). He implies that such legal jargon would be burdensome for Gillian, demonstrating that he holds a low opinion of him.

Miss Lauriere is an actress and girlfriend to Gillian. She is selfish and dismissive and does not hold Gillian in high regard, as is evident when he arrives at the theater. She says of him, “Let it in” (79). Moreover, her interactions with both Gillian and the stagehand, ordering him to retrieve her glove and sash, show her arrogance. Miss Lauriere thinks only of herself and pays Gillian little attention, responding to his offer of a $1,000 pendant with disinterest. She states a pendant from Tiffany’s costs $2,200, implying that a mere $1,000 pendant would not suffice.

Miss Hayden is the daughter of a friend of Septimus Gillian and lived with him as his ward. She is small and slender with beautiful eyes, and Gillian describes her as quiet and musical. When Gillian arrives, she is dressed in mourning and writing letters in the library. She is surprised to learn of the newly discovered inheritance. When Young Gillian professes his love for her, she responds with an apology, telling him, “I am sorry” numerous times (81), further suggesting that she is kind and thoughtful.

Miss Hayden serves as the foil for Gillian. While Gillian lost his biological uncle, there is no evidence of his mourning him, while Miss Hayden is dressed in mourning for a man she was not related to. Gillian is amused when he learns of the inheritance, whereas her response is surprise. In addition, while Gillian is boisterous and high-spirited, she is quiet and kind. Miss Hayden is gracious and symbolizes the good in the story in contrast to the initially selfish and ungrateful Gillian. She is the catalyst for Gillian to change. He says that she is “the best and dearest woman on earth” (82).

Old Byron is an acquaintance of Gillian from the social club to which both belong. He is annoyed by Gillian, as is evident through his physical reaction to his appearance. The narrator says, “When he saw Gillian approaching, he sighed, laid down his book and took off his glasses” (77). Moreover, he tells Gillian to go to another room to tell his story. However, Bryson serves as the moral compass of the story and further emphasizes Gillian’s lack of a moral code.

When Bryson says, “A thousand dollars means much or little” (77) and gives examples of how Gillian could spend his money, he demonstrates that this sum is viewed differently depending on the person. For Gillian, it isn’t much and is therefore inconsequential, further establishing Gillian as entitled and heedless. Bryson employs sarcasm when he suggests Gillian rent out Madison Square Garden to lecture the audience on the “precariousness of the profession of heir presumptive” (78).

In the end, he ironically suggests Gillian should buy a necklace, saying, “There’s only one logical thinking you could do. You can go buy Miss Lotta Lauriere a diamond pendant […] and inflict your presence upon a ranch […] a sheep ranch, as I have particular dislike for sheep” (78). This jab is Bryson’s way of insulting Gillian and asserting that, of course, he would never do anything charitable or good with the money. Also, his presence is such a nuisance that Bryson tells him to go and be with sheep because he doesn’t like sheep. Bryson finds Gillian’s selfishness and irresponsibility unbearable.

Septimus Gillian was Young Gillian’s wealthy uncle. He served as a benefactor both to Gillian and Miss Hayden. In death, however, he did not seem to concern himself with those he left behind, leaving his butler and maid only $10 and a pin. He was peculiar in the sense that he left most of his money for scientific research on bacteria and the development of a hospital to fight bacteria.

In leaving Gillian $1,000, his opinion of his nephew is clear. He is unsure of his nephew’s character and wishes to test him before leaving his true inheritance. Septimus Gillian had a low opinion of his nephew, as noted by his description of his lifestyle as “reprehensible dissipation among unreputable associates” (83). But he hoped Gillian would do something selfless and good with the money, and so he set out to test him.

The cab driver tells Gillian he would buy a saloon with the money, indicating that he would use the money to invest in his future and improve his life through hard work. The cab driver represents the average person who works hard but never has enough to fulfill their dreams.