Henrys intelligent investment, for the love of Portia - Essay Example

Henry’s intelligent investment, for the love of Portia Mark Twain, an American is actually a humorist who has written many worth reading novels and has been lauded as the “greatest American humorist of his age” whereas he was entitled as “Father of American Literature” by William Faulkner. Mark Twain’s “Million Pound Bank Note” is a version of a well acquainted and balanced contrast of romance and business prospects. Henry, who had been a pauper, was naively turned into a millionaire, when romance hit his life and a “million pounder bill” knocked his luck with business.

Henry Adams (the main actor of the story) became the unanimous dupe of a bet put forth by two old gentlemen. A million pound bill was handed over to him as part of the bet, in order to negate the hypotheses of the two brothers, of whether or not he could be able to survive for a month. Henry made business on something that was unreal. His astuteness and honesty served as powerful resources for him, nurtured with his past experience as a clerk and interest in stock brokers. He made his experience, good will and sincerity count and found the love of his life with a status of a millionaire.

He gained without spending a penny. Portia Langham came into his life and they instantly fell in deep love with each other. Being an honest person by nature, he told every bit of his story to her of how he became rich, yet standing poor. Henry’s romance and business prospects went equally hand in hand throughout the story. Business prospects in a way when for most of the time, Henry and Portia talked about the expenses, salary expectations; romance when they exchanged their feelings of love, simultaneously.

His unconditional love for Portia feelings evoked a fear and confusion inside him. He was thumped with the dilemma of what if he never gets any salary in reward, and what if the expenses and salary didn’t go the way as he estimated? What would happen then? Portia was his life now, and he couldn’t lose her. He feared at the thought of Portia unable to live with a poor man like him, who couldn’t afford to deserve her as she being a daughter of a rich man. All these doubts made him miserable.

He loved her and therefore, started thinking of ways to secure his future as best as he could for his lovely Portia. At the same time possessing a million pounder unchangeable bill in hand, Henry was thought of as sycophancy for the people of London. It is true when you are rich, people fawn over you and you no longer have to contribute much to the community or the economy; they have your name that is all. You get praise and appreciation. Fame and prosperity and even the love and luck comes to your way simultaneously.

Soon after meeting Portia, he realized that he would be in great trouble if his half assumed “fallacies” didn’t go as expected. Now his business was using his phenomenal bright spotted reputation as a millionaire and gaining 2 million pounds, as a deal with “a million pounder” bill in hand, that couldn’t be cashed any way. His clear reputation and fame served as a proof of goodwill and trust that was used by his friend for selling the enterprise of worth three million pounds. Two million pounds was given to Henry as decided.

With not a penny in hand, he became a millionaire, because of his intimate love and feelings for Portia, his desire for staying with her and keeping her happy, helping his old friend out of trouble along with seeking business prospects for himself. When there is a strong feeling of love and infatuation, the two better halves become more protective for securing each other’s futures. Henry being more of independent spouse, wanted to give everything to her, and secure her life to the fullest. For this particular reason, he always talked about his salary and love.

He was always worried about his future salary, and the mounting up expenses, that he couldn’t think of anything but his fears and hope and love with Portia. Portia also proved to be a supporting partner, and he trusted her most, which she valued and proved him right. She also insisted him on standing beside him at the time of meeting with the gentleman on the predefined date. She often spoke of her worthy presence that Henry was completely unaware of and took it as a token of her care and love for him.

He won the bet, and presented the bill to the old gentlemen, in return, he secured his intelligence, honesty and fear of losing Portia, made him a rich businessman. Salary and love had been interchangeable for both Henry and Portia as Henry was awarded with salary as love of Portia and Portia with love of Henry. (Twain) References: Twain, Mark. Colleected tables, Sketches, speeches and Essays. NY: university of california press, 1891-1910