The Sovereign Symbol Analysis

Hughie’s last sovereign (a gold coin) symbolizes his capacity to feel empathy for people whose circumstances are worse than his own. Overcome with pity at the sight of the beggar in Alan’s studio (really the millionaire Baron Hausberg in costume), Hughie feels compelled to give the man some money. He feels around and finds only one sovereign, a coin of almost pure gold and worth a pound. Hughie knows that he can hardly afford to give the sovereign away, but he figures the beggar needs it more than he does. In this respect, the gold coin represents the magnanimous core of Hughie’s character, of which he gives freely and even recklessly. When he learns the beggar’s real identity, Hughie’s main regret is just that he might have insulted the wealthy Baron with his sovereign. In fact, he has won the Baron’s affection, and when the Baron repays him thousands of times over, Hughie is finally rewarded for his compassion and kindness.