How Ned Got the Raise Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of How Ned Got the Raise?

Ned Elliott, a young clerk, is engaged to be married. His salary is not large enough to support a wife and he asks his employer for a "raise," which is refused. The same thing occurs several times, and with each refusal Ned postpones his marriage. In despair he concocts a scheme to make his employer give him the coveted "raise." He takes a bright young maid who works at his boarding house into his confidence. Knowing that Mr. Hadley, his employer, is a flirt, and that Mrs. Hadley is extremely jealous, Ned plans to have Mary, the maid, come to Hadley's office and declare herself his (Hadley's) wife. Ned arranges it so that Mrs. Hadley arrives on the scene at the same time. A series of most laughable incidents follow Mary's entrance in Hadley's office, ending with Ned getting his "raise." But the raise is such that, well, it would spoil the splendid finish of the story to tell it.

the director's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Tom McEvoy (Ned Elliott)'s journey. His salary is not large enough to support a wife and he asks his employer for a "raise," which is refused.

How Does Tom McEvoy (Ned Elliott)'s Story End?

• Tom McEvoy: Tom McEvoy's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Dick Lee (Mr. Hadley - Ned's Boss): Dick Lee's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Mary Liston (Mrs. Hadley): Mary Liston's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of How Ned Got the Raise Mean?

The ending of How Ned Got the Raise brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Tom McEvoy's story may not satisfy all audiences.