Social Class and Wealth

Where it surfaces

• Bexar Scrip No. 2692

  The conflict between the wealthy land shark Sharp and the poor widow and her son highlights class struggle over land value.

• Aristocracy Versus Hash

  The chapter satirizes the inflated value placed on aristocratic lineage, as landladies charge exorbitant rates for the 'society' of their high-born families, while the protagonist longs for affordable, unpretentious lodging.

• Fickle Fortune or How Gladys Hustled

  Gladys's rejection of Snooper due to poverty and her instant acceptance when he becomes wealthy highlight class and money's role in marriage.

• An Inspiration

  The story contrasts the reporter's assumption of poverty with the man's actual status as a landlord, and satirizes capitalist logic of raising rents for profit.

• Grounds for Uneasiness

  The host's stinginess and focus on economy despite his wealth highlight themes of social class and the pursuit of money.

• A Years Supply

  The millionaire's wealth contrasts with Susie's poverty, and his gift is ironically a calendar.

• Something for Baby

  The contrast between the well-dressed buyers and the poor girl in patched calico highlights economic disparity during the holiday season.

• A Night Errant

  Contrast between the wealthy society men in evening dress and the impoverished Crip living in a leaky shanty.

• Board and Ancestors

  The man's struggle highlights the tension between social status (ancestry) and practical needs (affordable food and lodging), critiquing the commodification of lineage.

• The Wounded Veteran

  The tourists' wealth and Northern status contrast with the poverty and vulnerability of the elderly Black man, highlighting class and racial divides.

• Veriton Villa

  The DeVere family's aristocratic pretensions contrast with their crude behavior and decaying mansion, highlighting the gap between social status and reality.

• An Unknown Romance

  The Van Winkler name and the Vance fortune dictate the marriage, suppressing the genuine feelings each has for a commoner.

• How She Got in the Swim

  The story explores social climbing and the desire to fit into high society, as Mrs. St. Bibbs proves she can match the toniest people.

• The Sunday Excursionist

  The excursionist is portrayed as a Philistine, contrasting working-class leisure with the sensibilities of those who 'have acquired brains.'

• The Proem

  The stolen government funds, the wealth of Frank Goodwin, and the social standing of Isabel as Señora Goodwin highlight class and economic themes.

• Money Maze

  Goodwin's power and status shield him from suspicion; Blythe's fallen state contrasts with his former high station.

• Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking

  The contrast between the tramps' poverty and the planter's wealth is central, with the robbery plot highlighting class tensions.

• Georgia's Ruling

  The conflict between wealthy land speculators (Hamlin and Avery) and poor actual settlers highlights the struggle over land and economic power.

• Bulger's Friend

  Bulger's poverty and eccentricity mark him as an outcast. His hoarded wealth contrasts with the community's charity, and his donation bridges the gap between his miserly past and his new role as a benefactor.

• A Blackjack Bargainer

  The Garveys attempt to buy social status by purchasing the Goree feud, illustrating how wealth can be used to acquire class markers.

• The Duplicity of Hargraves

  The Talbots' genteel poverty contrasts with their pride in their aristocratic past. Hargraves's success highlights the commodification of Southern nostalgia.

• Madame Bo-Peep, of the Ranches

  Octavia's fall from wealthy society to poverty forces her to confront the fragility of social status and the value of self-reliance.

• A Call Loan

  The cattlemen's newfound wealth and social status are contrasted with the rigid banking regulations that threaten Longley's position as a leading citizen.

• The Struggle of the Outliers

  Holcombe's wealth and social standing contrast sharply with Katie's poverty, and his ultimate goal is to hire her as a servant, highlighting class dynamics.

• A Professional Secret

  The story is set among the leisure class, with characters defined by their wealth, fashion, and social rituals, contrasting with Annabel's Kentucky roots.

• The Renaissance at Charleroi

  The contrast between Grandemont's modest clerk salary and his aristocratic lineage highlights the tension between social class and economic reality.

• Hearts and Hands

  Miss Fairchild's elegant attire and references to Washington society contrast with the rough circumstances of the prisoners.

• A Ghost of a Chance

  The Kinsolvings' anxiety about their social standing and the use of a prestigious ghost to elevate their status underscore class dynamics.

• Hygeia at the Solito

  The contrast between McGuire's urban, sport-oriented world and the rugged, self-sufficient life of the cattle ranch highlights class differences.

• The Left Branch

  The marquis's contempt for David's lowly status as a shepherd contrasts with Lucie's noble birth and fortune.

• The Robe of Peace

  Bellchambers' former life as a fashion icon of New York's elite contrasts with his monastic renunciation.

• While the Auto Waits

  The conversation revolves around wealth, class, and the desire to escape one's social station.

• The Marquis and Miss Sally

  The parallel stories of Old Bill Bascom and the Marquis of Borodale highlight how financial ruin affects both a poor Texan rancher and a wealthy British aristocrat, leading to their deaths. Their sons, now reduced to working as cowboys, must navigate a new social order where titles and heritage are hidden.

• The Social Triangle

  The narrative explicitly contrasts the lives of Ikey Snigglefritz (poor tailor's apprentice), Billy McMahan (wealthy political boss), and Cortlandt Van Duyckink (multimillionaire), highlighting the rigid social hierarchy and the yearning for upward mobility.

• A Chaparral Prince

  Lena's exploitation as a child laborer contrasts with her father's thrift and the outlaws' unexpected compassion.

• The Ferry of Unfulfilment

  The contrast between the rough, wealthy miner and the working-class girl highlights themes of money and social standing in romance.

• A Madison Square Arabian Night

  The contrast between Chalmers's luxurious apartment and Plumer's homelessness highlights class divisions, with Chalmers's whim to dine with a beggar echoing the Caliph's charity.

• Lost on Dress Parade

  The chapter explores class distinctions through Chandler's careful budgeting to appear wealthy and Marian's disguise as a shopgirl, highlighting the performance of social status.

• The Caliph and the Cad

  Corny's fascination with high society and his attempt to pass as a gentleman highlight class distinctions.

• Dougherty's Eye-Opener

  Depicts the sport class's values and the contrast between domestic simplicity and the glamour of dining out.

• A Lickpenny Lover

  The story contrasts Masie's working-class life with Carter's wealth and social position, highlighting the barriers and assumptions between them.

• One Thousand Dollars

  The story explores the contrast between Gillian's frivolous past and his final act of generosity, as well as the power dynamics of inheritance and class.

• The Defeat of the City

  The contrast between Alicia's aristocratic Van Der Pool background and Robert's humble farm origins highlights class divisions and the tension between inherited status and self-made success.

• The Pride of the Cities

  The New Yorker emphasizes New York's wealthy leisure class and fine hotels, while the Westerner counters with tales of local wealth and crime, reflecting differing social values.

• Transients in Arcadia

  The story contrasts the luxurious, artificial environment of the Hotel Lotus with the characters' real financial struggles, highlighting the allure and illusion of wealth.

• The Lady Higher Up

  Diana's gossip about a merchant with his stenographer and the mention of steerage rates highlight class distinctions and the pursuit of wealth.

• The Foreign Policy of Company 99

  The immigrant is treated as a lowly 'protozoa' and 'alien fowl,' while the firemen hold a respected position; class and nationality divide them.

• A Tempered Wind

  The investors are poor workers, old women, and children, contrasting with the con artists' initial greed and eventual redemption.

• Suite Homes and Their Romance

  The Turpins live beyond their means, and the ice-cream parlor's patrons are wealthy women wasting their husbands' money.

• The Rathskeller and the Rose

  Miss Carrington's rise from a small-town girl to a Broadway star highlights the contrast between rural simplicity and urban glamour.

• The Coming-Out of Maggie

  The story contrasts the working-class paper-box girls and Give and Take members with the polished, well-dressed O'Sullivan, underscoring class distinctions.

• The Cop and the Anthem

  Soapy's poverty drives his schemes to enter prison, contrasting with the wealthy who winter in warm resorts.

• The Green Door

  The stark contrast between Rudolf's comfortable life and the girl's extreme poverty is highlighted, with her story of insufficient wages and fines reflecting class struggles.

• The Badge of Policeman O’Roon

  Remsen's ten-million-dollar fortune and Knickerbocker descent contrast with his temporary role as a policeman, highlighting class dynamics.

• Psyche and the Pskyscraper

  Contrast between the humble, cramped store of Joe and the towering skyscraper, reflecting class divides and Daisy's choice of modest comfort over lofty pretension.

• The Girl and the Habit

  The story contrasts the working-class cashier's world with the wealthy McRamsey household and the earl's aristocratic circle.

• Vanity and Some Sables

  Kid's vanity drives him to buy luxury goods beyond his means, highlighting class aspirations and the value placed on material wealth.

• The Unknown Quantity

  The chapter explores the moral burden of inherited wealth and the impossibility of fully repairing the harm caused by economic exploitation.

• Mammon and the Archer

  The conflict between old money (Van Schuylight Suffolk-Jones) and new money (Anthony Rockwall) is central, as is the belief that money can overcome social barriers.

• The Shocks of Doom

  The story contrasts Vallance's sudden poverty with Ide's impending inheritance, highlighting the precariousness of wealth and class.

• The Red Roses of Tonia

  The contrast between the cowman and sheepman, and the importance of a fashionable hat, reflect social status concerns.

• Between Rounds

  The boardinghouse residents are working-class, and their concerns—lost wages, cheap food, and communal living—highlight their economic struggles.

• An Adjustment of Nature

  The Klondiker's wealth threatens to disrupt Milly's natural place at Cipher's, highlighting class tensions between the working class and nouveau riche.

• An Unfinished Story

  Dulcie's poverty is contrasted with Piggy's wealth; she must choose between financial temptation and moral integrity.

• Nemesis and the Candy Man

  Contrast between Honoria's wealthy Madison Avenue home and the candy man's humble alley dwelling.

• The City of Dreadful Night

  The forced park sleepover highlights class divisions, as wealthy residents stay in comfortable homes while tenement dwellers are herded into parks, and the landlord raises rents to exploit the situation.

• The Skylight Room

  Miss Leeson's poverty is contrasted with the wealthier boarders, and her inability to afford better housing is a central conflict.

• From Each According to His Ability

  The contrast between Vuyning's inherited wealth and Emerson's stolen money, and how fashion and demeanor signal class status.

• The Poet and the Peasant

  Haylocks's $950 farm inheritance marks him as a target for urban swindlers, and his transformation into a fashionable city dweller leads directly to his robbery, highlighting the vulnerability of rural wealth in the city.

• A Bird of Bagdad

  The young man's low wages ($18 a week) and the contrast with Quigg's modest charity highlight class struggles in the city.

• The Guilty Party

  The contrast between the father's neglect and the children's street play highlights poverty and lack of opportunity; Liz's imitation jewelry and green silk skirt show her striving for status.

• Elsie in New York

  Elsie's poverty and need for work contrast with the wealth of Mr. Otter and the elegant victoria of the temperance lady, underscoring class divisions.

• The Tale of a Tainted Tenner

  The bill's journey highlights class differences, from a pushcart peddler to a gambler to a poor woman, and the moral judgments attached to money.

• Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen

  The contrast between Stuffy Pete's poverty and the Old Gentleman's genteel but modest means highlights class dynamics and the charitable acts that bridge them.

• The Gift of the Magi

  The Youngs' financial struggles are highlighted by Della's $1.87 savings, the $8 flat, and Jim's reduced salary, emphasizing the constraints of poverty.

• The Buyer from Cactus City

  Platt's wealth and offer of a fine house and automobile contrast with Miss Asher's working-class independence and suspicion of buyers' motives.

• The Harbinger

  The desperate pursuit of a single dollar underscores the extreme poverty and class struggles of the characters.

• The Day Resurgent

  Danny's labor as a dray chauffeur and the family's modest flat highlight the struggles of the working class.

• The Fool-Killer

  The conflict between Kerner's wealthy father and the factory girl illustrates class tensions and the rejection of material wealth for love.

• Brickdust Row

  Blinker's wealth and social status contrast with Florence's working-class life; his initial disdain for the 'vulgarians' at Coney Island gives way to a more empathetic view.

• Sociology in Serge and Straw

  The stark contrast between Haywood Van Plushvelt's neat, expensive clothing and Smoky Dodson's ragged attire underscores class conflict and the superficial markers of social status.

• The Trimmed Lamp

  The chapter contrasts Lou's contentment with her working-class life and Nancy's ambition to marry into wealth, highlighting the role of money and class in women's choices.

• The Higher Abdication

  The contrast between Curly's vagabond existence and Ranse's ranching life underscores class divisions and the possibility of upward mobility through moral transformation.

• The Country of Elusion

  The chapter highlights the contrast between the bohemian artists' striving for status and Mary's humble origins, as seen in her return to Crocusville.

• Compliments of the Season

  The stark contrast between the millionaire's mansion and Fuzzy's life as a tramp, and the reward of $100 for a rag-doll.

• Seats of the Haughty

  The contrast between Solly's immense wealth and his preference for humble beans and simple living highlights the disconnect between money and happiness.

• The Purple Dress

  The contrast between Maida's sacrifice for a dress and the indifference of wealthier shoppers highlights class disparities.

• Past One at Rooney's

  Cork falsely claims to be a wealthy Wall Street broker's son, while the girl's poverty and profession highlight class divides.

• The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss

  The story contrasts the halberdier's menial job with his true social standing, and the test imposed by the wealthy old man highlights class dynamics.

• The Fifth Wheel

  The contrast between the wealthy Van Smuythes and the destitute Bed Liners underscores class divisions.

• Modern Rural Sports

  The contrast between the wealthy, educated farmer and the down-on-their-luck con men highlights class dynamics.

• The Enchanted Profile

  The story explores the tension between wealth and happiness, as Maggie Brown's fortune brings temporary luxury but ultimately leads to discomfort and disillusionment.

• A Night in New Arabia

  Explored through Jacob Spraggins' journey from poverty to immense wealth and his clumsy attempts at philanthropy, as well as Celia's disguise as a maid to hide her heiress status.

• The Rose of Dixie

  The magazine's reliance on family connections and old Southern lineage highlights the intersection of social class and literary prestige.

• What You Want

  The contrast between Old Tom Crowley's immense wealth and James Turner's poverty highlights the divide between the rich and the poor, and the different values each holds.

• I

  Old Jerome's immense wealth and the contrast with his brother Dick's poverty and failure in the West highlight class disparities.

• The Discounters of Money

  The story contrasts old-money aristocracy (Von der Ruyslings) with new money (Pilkins), exploring the limits of wealth's power.

• The Third Ingredient

  The story contrasts the struggles of impoverished roomers in the Vallambrosa with the impersonal wealth of the Biggest Store, emphasizing economic hardship.

• Thimble, Thimble

  Explores the decline of the Virginia aristocracy and the rise of Yankee business, as well as the social dynamics between the Carterets and Miss De Ormond.

• Supply and Demand

  The chapter contrasts the poverty of the Peche Indians with the vast hoard of gold-dust controlled by Shane, and the small girl's need for money highlights economic disparity.

• To Him Who Waits

  Binkley's wealth and Edith's marriage for money highlight the tension between love and financial security, while the hermit's poverty is contrasted with the inn's luxury.

• I

  The narrator observes the passengers' attire and behavior, noting distinctions such as ladies in brown-silk dresses and dotted veils, and reflects on the difficulty of judging a person's social station.

• II

  Pescud argues that people naturally marry within their own social class, criticizing novels that ignore this reality.

• III

  The contrast between Pescud's middle-class plate-glass salesman background and the Allyn family's aristocratic but impoverished Virginia estate highlights themes of social mobility and the decline of old wealth.

• Rus in Urbe

  The chapter contrasts the lifestyles of the wealthy (North's camp with sixteen rooms and servants) with the narrator's modest apartment and the city's poorer inhabitants.

• A Municipal Report

  Azalea Adair's genteel poverty contrasts with Major Caswell's vulgar display; the hack driver's need for two dollars highlights economic desperation.

• The Snow Man

  The cook's lowly position contrasts with his decisive authority, and the narrator's initial dismissal of him as a 'petty chef' highlights class assumptions.

• Law and Order

  The distinction between cattle barons and kings, and the influence of wealth in legal outcomes, is highlighted through the characters' interactions with the justice system.

• An Unfinished Christmas Story

  The story contrasts the experiences of prosperous people and the very poor with those of the lonely, low-wage worker who cannot afford to celebrate Christmas.