Social Class and Aspiration

Where it surfaces

• III

  The mother's scorn for 'mean, ugly days' and her detailed fantasies of wealth highlight the desperate aspiration to escape poverty.

• Chapter X

  The policeman's learned conversation and Mary's awe reflect class and educational differences, as well as her aspiration to appear proper.

• XII

  Mrs. Makebelieve's dreams of wealth through Patrick and emigration reflect aspirations to escape poverty.

• XIII

  Mary's lie about her mother being a dressmaker reflects her desire to appear higher in social class.

• XVIII

  Mary's lowly position as a maid is contrasted with the middle-class respectability of Mrs. O'Connor's household and the policeman's status.

• XXI

  The discussion of women's conversation ranging from 'attic to scullery' implies a class-bound domestic sphere, yet suggests these extremes encompass universal human concerns.

• XXII

  The shopping strategies of Mrs. Cafferty versus Mrs. Makebelieve illustrate different economic struggles and aspirations.

• XXIV

  The policeman's respect for Mary withers after he sees her cleaning a hall, highlighting how poverty and menial work degrade social standing.

• XXV

  The chapter contrasts the limited horizon of the poor with the expansive possibilities of the well-to-do, emphasizing the systemic barriers to upward mobility.

• XXVIII

  Mary's perceived social inferiority complicates the policeman's desire, as he cannot marry her yet cannot let her go.

• XXIX

  The young man's denunciation of landlords and employers reflects class resentment and a desire for a fairer society.

• The Proposal

  Mrs. Makebelieve rejects the policeman partly because of his connection to Mrs. O'Connor, viewing him as irredeemably tainted by his aunt's lower status.

• XXXII

  Mary and her mother immediately begin planning purchases and gifts, reflecting their aspirations and the social mobility enabled by the inheritance.