Project Gutenberg
2004-03-01
Public domain in the USA.
151
Jacobs, W. W. (William Wymark)
1863
1943
Jacobs, William Wymark
Owen, Will
1869
1957
Paying Off
Deep Waters, Part 2.
Produced by David Widger
"Paying Off" by W. W. Jacobs is a humorous short story set in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around the experiences of a night-watchman who reflects on his nature of helping others, often to his disadvantage. The story touches on themes of trust, foolishness, and the consequences of one's actions, all presented through Jacobs' characteristic wit and engaging prose. The plot follows the night-watchman as he is unwittingly drawn into a scheme involving a fellow worker, George Tebb, who entrusts him with a box containing £25. As the watchman goes to a pub with George, he becomes the target of two drunken sailors who ultimately rob him of the box. When George confronts him for the loss, he is subjected to mockery and the ultimatum of repaying the money at a rate of five shillings a week. The story culminates in a twist, revealing that the watchman may have never even seen the money he was supposedly safeguarding, exposing the ridiculousness of his trusting nature and the folly of his situation. Through this comedic turn of events, Jacobs illustrates the pitfalls of naivety and misplaced trust in human interactions. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 88.4 (6th grade). Easy to read.
en
Humorous stories, English
England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
Sailors -- Fiction
PR
Text
Category: Short Stories
Category: Humour
Category: British Literature
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