A Hazard of New Fortunes · Concepts
Concepts
Ideas that structure A Hazard of New Fortunes by William Dean Howells — linked to characters, chapters, and questions.
Social Class and Mobility
The book explores the tensions and conflicts between different social classes in Gilded Age New York, particularly through the Dryfoos family's rise from farming to wealth and the Marches' precarious middle-class status, highlighting the moral and psychological costs of econom…
Capitalism and Moral Compromise
The narrative examines how the pursuit of wealth and success in a capitalist society forces characters to compromise their ideals, as seen in March's unease with Dryfoos's money and Fulkerson's pragmatic maneuvering, and in Lindau's radical critique of economic inequality.
Urban vs. Rural Life
The contrast between the Marches' New England roots and their new life in New York City serves as a central theme, with the city representing both opportunity and moral decay, while the countryside symbolizes lost simplicity and integrity.
Art and Commerce
The tension between artistic integrity and commercial success is embodied in the magazine Every Other Week, where characters like Beaton and March struggle to balance aesthetic ideals with the demands of the market and the whims of wealthy backers.
Family and Generational Conflict
The Dryfoos family illustrates the clash between old and new values, as Conrad's idealism and desire for a religious life conflict with his father's materialistic ambitions, while the March family navigates the challenges of raising children in a changing urban environment.
Immigration and Cultural Diversity
The novel portrays New York as a melting pot, with characters like Lindau (a German immigrant and socialist) and the Italian grocers representing the city's ethnic diversity, while also addressing the tensions and prejudices that accompany immigration.
Love and Marriage
Romantic relationships and marriages are depicted as complex negotiations of affection, social status, and economic security, as seen in Beaton's vacillations between Christine Dryfoos, Alma Leighton, and Margaret Vance, and in the Marches' enduring but tested partnership.
Labor and Social Justice
The streetcar strike and Lindau's radicalism bring issues of labor rights and social inequality to the forefront, questioning the fairness of a system where workers are exploited and the poor are left vulnerable, culminating in tragic violence.
