Compare & Contrast: One Thousand Dollars and Getting a Job

   People really endeavor to search for their unique identity. In other words, because the identity is a key to determine who they are, they are seeking for a key in order to approach to themselves. The O. Henry’s One Thousand Dollars and Maya Angelou’s Getting a Job validate the idea. Although two stories have different characteristics, they steer to corresponding idea, “the search for identity,” in different approach.

   In One Thousand Dollars, the main character is Bobby Gillian who was irresponsible and carefree about the money in the past. He first gets confounded and felt vague because $1,000 is not enough to transform his life. Seeking advice for expenditure of his inherited $1,000 which is such an awkward amount, however, he turns to be prudent, and responsible, totally different from the past. After the assiduous effort, he finally comes to be a discreet man, that is, he succeeds in finding out his real identity in terms of the responsibility from haphazardly disreputable and nebulous wanderings. Consequently he gives $50,000 to Miss Hayden after hearing the hidden codicil. This surprising decision may be possible because he loves her. Having said this, the theme of this story is that love can inspire great generosity or that appearance can be deceiving. It is because Gillian behaved so venerably for the love to Hayden. Therefore, his triumph of the search for his identity reveals that he is now caring and sensitive.

   In Getting a Job, the main character is Maya Angelou suffering from the typical discrimination associated with being black and female in America. She however prevails against the stricture towards the black and finally becomes a streetcar conductorette. She, actually, finds out her identity through the resistance of racism. This autobiography covers a black female’s surmount of apartheid in America. A black woman finally gets a job with her mother’s eternal encourage and respect overcoming the unfair treatment of people around her. The theme is, hence, overcoming the racism which is shown in her bravest act of defiance becoming a first black conductorette. Her willingness and ardor to alleviate and remove the acrid segregation is well-shown based on what she said, “I would have the job. I would be a conductoretteˇI would.”(pg. 414 line 46) Gaining a job as the first black American female, she finds out her grandeur, her identity, as a majestic black female who can overcome the unfair treatment and despondency in America.

   Experiencing the adolescence, I am also trying to seeking my identity. Reading these two stories, I reopened my eye on the search of my identity like Gillian and Maya. In that sense, each story gives me further insight into my mysterious identity. In the process of searching, both characters have specific conditions or incentives: Gillian, for love and responsibility and Maya, for segregation. They both exert themselves to attain their identity conquering the conditions and incentives unceasingly. This message was transmitted to me entirely.

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