# Social Class and Ambition in Plum Bun

> Theme guide for Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset.

The contrast between the modest, satisfied ambitions of Angela's parents on Opal Street and Angela's restless desire for wealth, luxury, and a broader, more glamorous life, which drives her actions.

## Where it surfaces

- [Epigraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/epigraph): The nursery rhyme's reference to 'market' and 'plum bun' subtly evokes themes of commerce, desire, and the pursuit of social or material gain.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/iii): Mattie's past as a domestic worker and her desire for a better life, as well as her observations about the ease of life with a white skin, highlight class and ambition.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/v): Virginia's appointment and the family's improved financial situation allow for greater comfort and leisure, reflecting upward mobility.
- [Market](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/market): The market setting highlights economic activity and social stratification, reflecting characters' aspirations and daily realities.
- [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/ii): Angela's move to a more expensive apartment and her confidence in her affairs reflect her ambition and desire to rise socially, even as she navigates the bohemian world of artists.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/iii): Angela contrasts the serious, survival-focused discussions of her Philadelphia community with the detached intellectualism of Martha's circle, and worries about her dwindling finances.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/v): Angela's acceptance of Roger's proposal is driven by her desire for wealth, protection, and social status, as she envisions a future free from financial worries and imagines herself as powerful like Cleopatra.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/i): Angela considers using Roger's desire for her as leverage for marriage, reflecting her ambition and class consciousness.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/iii): Angela's ambition as an artist and her desire for independence clash with Roger's reliance on his father's wealth. Rachel's dreams of a poor but happy marriage also illustrate class and ambition dynamics.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/v): Angela's fall from financial security and her struggle to maintain her lifestyle highlight the intersection of class, ambition, and survival in New York.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/iii): Angela is caught between the allure of wealthy society and her own economic limitations; she dreams of climbing with Anthony but fears the impermanence of relationships based on generosity.
- [Market Is Done](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/chapters/market-is-done): The market setting highlights social stratification and the aspirations of characters as they navigate public spaces.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/themes/social_class_and_ambition
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plum_bun_se/themes