Class and Wealth

The novel examines class distinctions through characters like the shabby Old Moodie, the wealthy and powerful Zenobia, and the impoverished Priscilla, revealing how economic status and family background shape individuals' fates and relationships.

Subtle tensions around social status and economic background emerge among the characters, particularly through Zenobia's wealth and Priscilla's dependence.

Coverdale leaves behind his comfortable bachelor rooms with champagne and claret, symbolizing a rejection of urban bourgeois comforts for a simpler, communal existence.

The contrast between Zenobia's brilliance and Moodie's shabby appearance highlights class divisions, and Moodie's concern about Priscilla's treatment reflects dependency on wealth.

Moodie's transformation from a shabby vagabond to a decayed gentleman under the influence of wine underscores the fluidity of class and the remnants of former wealth.