Percival Wilde's novel The Hour of Truth
is indeed an intense psychological study of the corrupting influence of money
on people. The reason for this is that the plot explores greed from a myriad of
different points of view and, although all individuals are tempted by greed at one point
or another in life, this particular story shows how easily people forget their morals
and upbringings when money is close by.
This story is
positive in that the bad get punished, and the good get rewarded. However, the battle
between self and society are intensified in the character of Mr. Robert Baldwin, the
secretary of a powerful bank president, Mr. John Gresham.
Mr. Baldwin represents an everyday American man who works
for a living and whose salary may not be as good as he wished to support his family. His
family, in turn, also represents the typical American family with its views on morality,
and a hope for the American Dream.
Everything changes when
we find out that Mr. Gresham, Robert's boss, is accused of appropriating the bank's
money, which in turn, hurts the clients of the bank. As Mr. Gresham is arrested we
immediately lose confidence in his character. Mr. Gresham was a good boss to Mr.
Baldwin, and seems to have been the type of person nobody would suspect. To see him as a
thief leaves a bad taste in the reader's rapport with him, making the reader realize how
badly money can influence people.
As a result of the
arrest, Gresham begs Mr. Baldwin to simply say three words during his examination on
trial regarding Mr. Gresham's transactions "I don't remember". As a reward, he offered
him one hundred thousand dollars: An amazing amount of money at the time of the
story.
Once again, money changed everything, only not with
Mr. Baldwin. It is his family who suddenly changes from being virtuous, respectable, and
incapable to allow Robert to tell a lie. When they hear about the bribe (which Gresham
calls a payment), they insist that maybe Robert should consider saying "just those three
words". This is another instance where we may find it shocking how money can overturn
family values.
Yet, it is Robert what brings the hope back
into the story. He simply cannot accept a bribe but, most importantly, he cannot bear
telling a lie. For this reason, he respectfully rejects the offer. This action left Mr.
Gresham ashamed of himself, which led him to confess his own
crime.
The end of the story is positive because Robert
Baldwin's honesty and integrity landed him a job in another bank. His reputation as a
decent and dignified man was spread out by Mr. Gresham, who realizes what a good man
Robert is.
However, with the exception of Baldwin, we do
not find any other positive dynamics in the story. Money only brings with it isolation,
punishment, deception, frustration, and the possibility of endless
shame.
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