Question

What social commentary does Mark Twain make in “The £1,000,000 Bank-Note”? Include examples from the text to support your answer.

Answer 1

In “The £1,000,000 Bank-Note,” Twain uses satire to highlight the power of money and its influence on the behavior of people from all classes of nineteenth-century English society. The earliest examples of satire in the text are when Henry meets the owners of the eating house and the tailor shop. Both owners regard Henry as an upper-class gentleman and allow him to make purchases on credit based on his perceived status. In fact, when Henry warns the proprietor of the tailor shop that he may have to wait an indefinite amount of time for his dues to be paid, the proprietor doesn’t seem concerned at all. He says, “Indefinitely! It’s a weak word, sir, a weak word. Eternally—that’s the word, sir.” The proprietor’s use of the word eternallystresses his willingness to allow Henry to make purchases on credit. Other shop owners also accept that Henry is rich, providing him with both necessities and luxuries on credit alone. If any of the proprietors had known about Henry’s true financial condition, they wouldn’t have allowed him any amount of credit; however, they still gave him whatever he wanted or needed because they believed his million-pound note meant he was someone of class and wealth.
Twain further satirizes the importance the English placed on money in the nineteenth century when he shows how much respect Henry has garnered across London. When Henry hears about his friend Lloyd’s financial troubles, he tells Lloyd to use the reputation of Henry’s name to help sell Lloyd’s mine. Henry says, “I know all about that mine, of course; I know its immense value, and can swear to it if anybody wishes it. You shall sell out inside of the fortnight for three million cash, using my name freely, and we'll divide, share and share alike.” Less than a day later, all of London is talking about the mine that Henry is vouching for. Finally, “when the month was up at last,” the mine was purchased, and Henry and Lloyd had a million dollars each. Because Lloyd had used Henry’s name to sell the mine, no one questioned that the mine was valuable. Henry’s reputation is so secure at this point in the story that he now has the power to actually affect London society. Although he started out poor and hungry, Henry has not only been able to gain the appearance of wealth and status by simply showing his million-pound note, but he’s also been able to achieve some amount of real power. Twain’s satire shows how ridiculous and dangerous it can be to trust someone based solely on money—or, in this case, on the appearance of having money. Instead of judging Henry on real qualities, such as kindness, honesty, or wisdom, London society chooses to judge him based on what they think he has: money and, subsequently, class.