Henry Adams is an American who is swept out to sea on a Saturday sail near San Francisco, and is picked up by a London-bound brig. He arrives in London penniless and without food or shelter. Two very wealthy brothers wonder what would happen if they gave the hungry, poor stranger a million pound bank note.Seeing as how there were only two million pound banknotes ever created (and one had already been used in a giant business deal), if someone tried to cash in the banknote, interrogation or jail would most likely result. So in walks Henry, who is given the banknote by these brothers.
These questions remain:
How did this story challenge the socioeconomic beliefs of the time?
These questions remain:
- Would the stranger (Henry) end up in jail or starving as the one of the brother (A) believes?
- Would Henry be more resourceful and use the money to his advantage, surviving at least 30 days and staying out of jail as the other brother (B) believed.
How did this story challenge the socioeconomic beliefs of the time?