Summary
Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank. Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him. Baldwin, who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the words 'I don't remember' in court, during the trial. The family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum offered by him. The family members tried to justify Gresham's act and enticed Baldwin into accepting the money. Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the attitude of his family members. To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying painfully against him. Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and integrity. Thus 'The Hour of Truth' had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.

At the end Gresham accepted his guilt so Baldwin need not give witness against his boss. Because of his honesty he got a job in the Third National.

Mr. Marshall offered Baldwin a job in the bank the Third National.

Gresham offered him to pay hundred thousand dollars. Gresham justified saying that Baldwin was underpaid when he was in service and the hundred thousand dollars would be the difference between what he was paid and what he had been worth to the bank.

John was filled with shame because he carried the name of Gresham, who would be punished for misappropriation of money.

Nobody loses any money and nobody wants to punish Gresham. John considers this a technicality.

When Gresham ceases to be honest Baldwin would part company with Gresham.

Gresham did not pay his father well when he was working as a governor of the bank. But now he offered him money to tell lie. So he turns wild.

These are the words which Gresham wanted Baldwin to tell the court. If Baldwin says that he does not remember certain things Gresham cannot be punished.

Gresham wanted Baldwin to save him from the case.

Baldwin advised Gresham to make good the loss of the customers.

John feels that Gresham was paying his staff poorly. Even his father was underpaid. So he feels that Gresham deserves punishment.

Donovan had told John that nobody had any idea that there was something wrong with the bank.

Martha told her daughter Evie that her husband Baldwin never did anything wrong. She was sure that Baldwin could not have done anything wrong.

She read in the newspaper about the wrecking of the bank and she withdrew her money on her own against the wishes of her husband

Gresham, the President of the bank, misappropriated the bank money and he was arrested. Mr. Gresham asked Mr. Baldwin the Governor of the bank and his close friend to meet him to discuss how to come out of this problem.

Percival Wilde's play "The Hour of Truth" is an intense psychological study. It studies the corrupting influence of money on people. The plot of the play explores greed from different angles. Almost all individuals in this play are tempted by money. This one act play particularly shows how easily people forget their moral values and principles. But at the end of the play the reader realizes that money only brings isolation, punishment, deception, frustration and endless shame. The play brings a positive note when the bad people get punished and the good people get rewarded. We can see the battle between self and society in the character of Mr. Robert Baldwin, the secretary of a bank and the bank president, Mr. John Gresham. Mr. Gresham is totally changed with his greed for money. After the arrest, Mr. Gresham begs Mr. Baldwin to say three words at the time of his trial: "I don't remember". As a reward he will offer him one hundred thousand dollars. It is really a large amount of money. At this offer, we see how his virtuous family members change their opinions. When they hear about the bribe, they persuade Robert to tell those three words. Thus we can see how money changes people's outlook.

Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank. Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him. Gresham was ready to offer hundred thousand dollars to Baldwin to save him from the trouble. Though he was his friend Baldwin was not ready to help him. He said that they had been friends so far but now he parted with him because Gresham was not honest. Gresham at the end did not want his friend to come to the court. So he confessed his guilt. Both of them were good friends and both of them exhibited their friendship in different ways.

i) Robert Baldwin is the protagonist of this play. He leads a simple life with his wife Martha and his son John and daughter Evie. He is working as the Governor of national bank. He is an honest, diligent and hardworking employee. He has been working in the bank for more than 35 years. He keeps a good relationship with his family members. He is kind and loyal to others. He is not ready to make any kind of compromise with his morality. When his friend John Gresham is arrested for the misappropriation of bank account, Baldwin is not ready to make any kind of compromise. Baldwin is the only witness. He is not upset when John Gresham offers a bribe of 100000 dollars to say in the court, "I don't remember". It is because of his deep-rooted morality and honesty that he is getting promotion at the Third National.
ii) Mr. John Gresham is the President of a national bank. He is corrupt to the core. He is really a true representative of the new American. He has a strong attachment with the money. He misappropriates money from his own bank. His attitude towards money is really selfish. He is ready to do anything for hiding his corrupted nature. He is ready to give and take bribes. But he is changed in the end with the upright and honest nature of his friend John Baldwin. He becomes a new man. This shows that he has a will to be a man of honesty.

Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank. Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him, Baldwin was really an honest man. If he was not so he would have accepted the huge offer given by Gresham. Even if he testified for Gresham he would just say 'I don't remember'. This would not reveal him to the public. Though his family members changed their attitude after knowing the offer, he did not accept their request. There was a possibility of losing his job but still he determined to testify against Gresham. Because of his honesty Mt. Marshall offered him a job in the Third National.So we can say that Baldwin is really an honest man.

Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank. Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him.
Baldwin had determined to testify against Gresham. Baldwin's family members were with Baldwin in the case of testifying against Gresham. When they heard that Gresham offered to give him hundred thousand dollars their opinion changed. Martha was telling him that people would talk against Baldwin if he testified against Gresham. They would say that he ditched his close friend. His son John told him that he would be ashamed if Gresham was punished because he had his name with him. Their change of attitude shows how man changes when money corrupts him.

Percival Wilde's play "The Hour of Truth" is an intense psychological study. It studies the corrupting influence of money on people. The plot of the play explores greed from different angles. Almost all individuals in this play are tempted by money. This one act play particularly shows how easily people forget their moral values and principles. Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank. Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him. Gresham had been a sincere person and Baldwin was an honest man. Both were good friends-but when Baldwin came to know about the misappropriation of money he decided to part with him. Though Gresham promised to give him 100000 dollars for saving him Baldwin did not accept the offer. At the end Baldwin's family wanted to help Gresham because they were greedy to get the money from Gresham. But Baldwin kept his honesty till the end.