The initial encounter and the beggar's story:
* The narrator, a young man, encounters the beggar, a well-dressed woman, at a railway station.
* The beggar, using a fabricated story, describes a tragic scenario of losing her husband and being unable to pay for her daughter's treatment.
* This encounter sets the stage for the narrator's growing empathy and desire to help.
The narrator's growing suspicion:
* The narrator, initially taken by the beggar's story, begins to question the inconsistencies in her account.
* He observes her interactions with others and notices her extravagant spending, raising doubts about her genuine need for help.
* The narrator's suspicion grows, turning the story from a simple act of charity into a more complex moral dilemma.
The escalating tension and the narrator's internal struggle:
* As the narrator investigates further, he encounters more evidence that contradicts the beggar's narrative.
* The growing tension stems from the narrator's moral obligation to help those in need versus his growing suspicion of the beggar's deceit.
* The narrator faces an internal conflict, trying to reconcile his initial empathy with the evidence of fraud.
The climax:
* The climax of the story occurs when the narrator confronts the beggar about her lies.
* The beggar, instead of denying her deceit, uses manipulative tactics to make the narrator feel guilty and responsible.
* The narrator, although aware of her deception, finds himself unable to expose her due to the pity she evokes.
Note:
The rising action in "The Beggar" is more subtle and internal than in traditional narratives. The focus is on the narrator's emotional journey and the gradual unveiling of the truth about the beggar. The story's true climax lies in the narrator's internal conflict and his inability to act decisively.