The Discounters of Money by O. Henry
A wealthy man dies and leaves his fortune to be divided among the people who have helped him throughout his life. However, he stipulates that each recipient must spend their share within a year or it will revert back to him. The story follows several individuals who receive the inheritance and struggle with the moral implications of spending the money quickly in order to keep it.
By O. Henry · First published 1907 · Genre: Social Commentary, Humor, Romance · 3,041 words
First lines
The spectacle of the money-caliphs of the present day going about Bagdad-on-the-Subway trying to relieve the wants of the people is enough to make the great Al Raschid turn Haroun in his grave. If not so, then the assertion should do so, the real caliph having been a wit and a scholar and therefore a hater of puns.
What this Textopian page supports
The Discounters of Money is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Social Commentary, Humor, Romance, Fiction, Drama
- Length: 3,041 words
- Structure: 1 section, 46 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Discounters of Money by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Discounters of Money?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Social Commentary first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques the attitudes of the wealthy towards philanthropy and the poor, highlighting societal issues.
- Humor — The writing employs wit and irony to convey its messages, using humor to engage the reader.
- Romance — The plot involves romantic elements, particularly the interactions between Howard Pilkins and Alice von der Ruysling.
- Fiction — The story is a work of fiction, presenting a narrative that explores human experiences and relationships.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Economic Satire · Financial Folly · Moral Lesson · Cautionary Tale · Irony · Twist Ending · Plot Twist