The Borough Treasurer · Question
How does The Borough Treasurer develop the theme of Greed and Materialism?
Answer
The Borough Treasurer by J. S. Fletcher develops Greed and Materialism across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Characters are motivated by money and wealth: the partners' original crime was for financial gain, Kitely and Stoner seek to profit through blackmail, and the reward offered for information underscores the power of money to drive action.
Kitely's demand for an annuity and the partners' fear of losing their prosperous position underscore the material stakes involved.
The evidence of robbery—the victim's pockets turned out and clothing torn—suggests material gain as a motive for the murder.
Stoner's desire for the £500 reward and his dissatisfaction with his salary reflect materialistic motives.
Evidence in the book
- I: Blackmail
Kitely's demand for an annuity and the partners' fear of losing their prosperous position underscore the material stakes involved.
- IV: The Pine Wood
The evidence of robbery—the victim's pockets turned out and clothing torn—suggests material gain as a motive for the murder.
- XIV: The Sheet of Figures
Stoner's desire for the £500 reward and his dissatisfaction with his salary reflect materialistic motives.
- XV: One Thing Leads to Another
Stoner is tempted by the reward money and the possibility of a larger bribe from Mallalieu and Cotherstone.
- XVI: The Lonely Moor
Stoner chooses potential blackmail money over the legal reward, driven by desire for wealth.
- The Interrupted Flight
Mallalieu's careful preparation of his securities and gold underscores his materialistic concern for wealth even in flight.
- Strict Business Lines
Miss Pett and Christopher view harboring Mallalieu as a business opportunity, focusing on financial gain.
- The Virtues of Suspicion
The Petts' primary motivation is financial gain, as they haggle over payment and plan to drug Mallalieu to ensure their own profit.
