The Dividend (1916) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A father's pursuit of corporate success and public generosity comes at a devastating personal and social cost.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Record Dividend at Any Cost

John Steele promises a record dividend and devotes himself to fulfilling it. His single-minded work neglects his wife and leaves Frank without his attention after the young man returns from college.

Key Events

• Dividend Promise — John announces that the company will earn its greatest dividend in the coming year. Characters: John Steele Location: Meat corporation
• Life Devoted to Business — John commits himself to making his dividend boast come true. Characters: John Steele Location: Meat corporation
• Neglected Wife — John's devotion to business leaves him neglecting his wife. Characters: John Steele Location: John Steele's home
• Frank Returns — Frank returns from college, but his father has little time for him. Characters: Frank Steele, John Steele Location: John Steele's home
• Frank's Decline — Lacking his father's attention, Frank drifts into a life of degradation. Characters: Frank Steele Location: Unspecified
• Father Disowns Son — John disowns Frank as the young man sinks further into degradation. Characters: John Steele, Frank Steele Location: Unspecified

Charity and Its Contradiction

John contributes generously to a mission for people in the slums, even as his corporation's profits come at their expense. Frank's decline brings him into the life of Betty Price, who has been driven to the streets.

Key Events

• Father Disowns Son — John disowns Frank as the young man sinks further into degradation. Characters: John Steele, Frank Steele Location: Unspecified
• Mission Donation — John makes a generous contribution toward a mission for people in the slums. Characters: John Steele Location: Charitable organization
• Profit at the Poor's Expense — The company's record dividend is tied to crushing the people the mission is intended to help. Characters: John Steele Location: Meat corporation
• Frank Meets Betty — Frank's path crosses with Betty, a slum girl driven to the streets. Characters: Frank Steele, Betty Price Location: Unspecified
• Life Together — Frank and Betty take up life together among underworld companions. Characters: Frank Steele, Betty Price Location: Underworld
• Mission Dedication — John is praised at the mission dedication, where Betty is present. Characters: John Steele, Betty Price Location: Completed mission
• Betty Denounces John — Betty publicly blames John for the hardship of people like her. Characters: John Steele, Betty Price Location: Completed mission

Descent into Dependence

Betty publicly denounces John at the mission dedication. Meanwhile, Frank and Betty share a degraded life and become dependent on opium, until Betty deserts Frank and is herself cast off.

Key Events

• Betty Denounces John — Betty publicly blames John for the hardship of people like her. Characters: John Steele, Betty Price Location: Completed mission
• Frank's Deeper Decline — Frank has abandoned efforts to see his father and sinks deeper into degradation. Characters: Frank Steele Location: Unspecified
• Opium Dependence — Frank and Betty become dependent on opium and struggle to obtain money for it. Characters: Frank Steele, Betty Price Location: Underworld
• Betty Leaves Frank — Betty deserts Frank and takes up with a thug. Characters: Frank Steele, Betty Price Location: Unspecified
• Betty Cast Off — The thug tires of Betty and casts her off. Characters: Betty Price Location: Unspecified
• Frank Wanders Alone — After Betty leaves, Frank becomes a wanderer on the streets. Characters: Frank Steele Location: Streets

The Price of the Dividend

Frank wanders alone and is caught in a gang fight, where a stray bullet mortally wounds him. John brings his son home, and Frank forgives him while making clear the human cost of the record dividend.

Key Events

• Frank Wanders Alone — After Betty leaves, Frank becomes a wanderer on the streets. Characters: Frank Steele Location: Streets
• Gang Ball Targeted — A rival gang plans to attack during a gang's ball. Location: Gang's ball venue
• Frank Enters the Fight — As the attackers reach the hall, Frank shambles into sight and a gang fight begins. Characters: Frank Steele Location: Gang's ball venue
• Frank Is Shot — A stray bullet mortally wounds Frank during the fight. Characters: Frank Steele Location: Gang's ball venue
• Police Identify Frank — Police arrive, identify Frank, and notify his father. Characters: Frank Steele Location: Gang's ball venue
• John Calls Frank Home — John sends word for his mortally wounded son to be brought home. Characters: John Steele, Frank Steele Location: John Steele's home
• Final Forgiveness — Before dying, Frank forgives John and explains the cost of the record dividend. Characters: John Steele, Frank Steele Location: John Steele's home

Story Breakdown

• The Dividend Promise — John publicly commits to securing a record dividend for his meat corporation.
  • Public Announcement — John declares the coming year will bring the company's greatest dividend.
  • Business Devotion — He dedicates his life to making his boast come true.
• A Neglected Family — John's work leaves his wife neglected and his returning son without attention.
  • Frank Returns — Frank comes home from college but finds little time from his father.
  • Frank Disowned — After Frank drifts into degradation, John disowns him.
• Charity and Exploitation — John supports a mission while the corporation's pursuit of profit harms the people it is meant to serve.
  • Mission Contribution — John gives generously to a charitable organization building a slum mission.
  • Profit's Human Cost — The corporation's dividend is achieved by crushing the intended beneficiaries.
• Frank Meets Betty — Frank's downward path brings him together with Betty, a girl driven to the streets.
  • Paths Cross — Frank and Betty encounter one another amid their difficult circumstances.
  • Shared Underworld Life — They take up life together among underworld companions.
• Betty's Accusation — At the mission dedication, Betty challenges the public praise being given to John.
  • Mission Dedication — John is praised when the completed mission is dedicated.
  • Public Denunciation — Betty blames John for her condition and the hardship of others like her.
• Descent and Abandonment — Frank and Betty's shared life deteriorates into drug dependence and separation.
  • Opium Dependence — They become drug dependent and struggle to obtain money for opium.
  • Betty Leaves — Betty deserts Frank, and the thug she takes up with later casts her off.
• Gang Fight and Wounding — Frank's wandering leads him into the scene of a planned gang attack.
  • Attack Planned — A rival gang plans to strike during a gang's ball.
  • Stray Bullet — A fight erupts and a stray bullet mortally wounds Frank.
• A Costly Reconciliation — John is reunited with his dying son, who forgives him while naming the cost of the dividend.
  • John Is Notified — Police identify Frank and notify his father.
  • Final Forgiveness — Frank forgives John before dying and makes the cost of the record dividend clear.

Directed by

Walter Edwards, Thomas H. Ince

Key Cast

• William H. Thompson — John Steele
• Charles Ray — Frank Steele
• Margaret Thompson — Maizie
• Ethel Ullman — Betty Price