Social Class and Status

Where it surfaces

• New Wine in Old Bottles

  The dialogue mocks the pretensions of lower-class women who try to elevate their social standing through misused intellectual references.

• Judkin of the Parcels

  The contrast between Judkin's former elite status (crack cavalry, Viceroy's Cup) and his current lowly existence (cheap villa, gardener's boy clothes) highlights the fragility of social standing.

• Crosscurrents

  Vanessa's obsession with respectability and proximity to the Park (Hyde Park) highlights class anxieties and the desire for social standing.

• Adrian

  Adrian's rise from Bethnal Green to dining at the Ritz and being taken abroad by a wealthy aunt highlights the fluidity and absurdity of class boundaries.

• Mrs. Packletide's Tiger

  The hunt is driven by Mrs. Packletide's desire to outshine Loona Bimberton, and the blackmail highlights the transactional nature of social relationships.

• The Secret Sin of Septimus Brope

  The conflict arises from Brope's perceived inappropriate attention to a maid, highlighting class boundaries.

• The Cobweb

  Emma's authority as mistress is undermined by Martha's entrenched position; the farm's hierarchy is challenged by the old servant's unyielding presence.

• The Seven Cream Jugs

  The couple's treatment of Wilfrid shifts dramatically based on their mistaken assumption about his identity and wealth, highlighting class-based judgments.

• The Optimist

  The mother's lament over the family's lost prestige and Duncombe's encouragement to restore it highlight the theme of social class and status.

• The Boar-Pig

  The Stossens' desperate attempt to attend the party uninvited highlights the importance of social standing and the lengths people go to maintain appearances.

• The Wolves of Cernogratz

  The Baroness's disdain for the governess's claim to noble lineage highlights the obsession with social hierarchy and the insecurity of the nouveau riche.

• The Byzantine Omelette

  The strike highlights class divisions, as Sophie's wealth and social ambitions are undermined by the servants' collective action.

• The Brogue

  The pursuit of a wealthy husband for Jessie and the importance of property and marriage alliances reflect class concerns.

• A Housing Problem

  The story revolves around the social importance of a marchioness and a bishop, and the lengths to which hostesses go to maintain their favor.

• Fur

  The pursuit of a silver-fox fur symbolizes the characters' obsession with status and the manipulation of wealth for personal gain.

• A Sacrifice to Necessity

  The Pevenlys' fear of social ruin if their gambling debts become known drives the plot, emphasizing the importance of maintaining appearances and class standing.

• The Elk

  Mrs. Thropplestance's control over Bertie's marriage and the property inheritance underscores the importance of social class and status in determining life choices.

• A Shot in the Dark

  Sletherby's political ambitions depend on the approval of the aristocratic Mrs. Saltpen-Jago, and the impostor's use of crests underscores the obsession with lineage and social standing.

• The Philanthropist and the Happy Cat

  The story contrasts Jocantha's luxurious, leisured life with the imagined struggles of working-class girls and clerks, highlighting class divides.

• The Occasional Garden

  The story revolves around Elinor's anxiety about her social standing relative to Gwenda Pottingdon, and the use of a rented garden to maintain appearances.

• Morlvera

  The children's resentment of the overdressed doll and their detailed fantasy of her depravity highlight class envy and the perceived moral corruption of the wealthy.