Social Class and Wealth

The narrative explores the tension between inherited wealth and personal worth, as seen through John Treverton's fall from gentleman to Bohemian, and the moral compromises made to secure a fortune.

John's eagerness for wealth and the contrast between the manor and the Sampsons' modest home highlight class distinctions.

John Treverton's tour of the estate and Mr. Sampson's detailed account of the property's value highlight the centrality of wealth and land to social status and personal fortune.

Laura's modest income and independence are contrasted with the estate's wealth; Edward's hopes for fortune through marriage highlight class aspirations.

Eliza Sampson's anxiety about providing a suitable dinner for the heir of Hazlehurst highlights the social and economic divide between the gentry and the middle class.