Class and Social Status

Where it surfaces

• III

  Kitty obsesses over social standing, comparing her family's status to Dorothy Townsend's.

• IV

  Kitty's discontent with her lowered social standing in Hong Kong highlights the rigid class distinctions and the importance of status in colonial society.

• VII

  Mrs. Garstin's relentless pursuit of social advancement through her husband's career and her manipulation of social connections.

• VIII

  The narrative emphasizes class distinctions, with Mrs. Garstin lowering her standards from titled gentlemen to professional men, and the value placed on titles like baronet.

• X

  Walter's position as a bacteriologist in Hong Kong and Kitty's assessment of his suitability reflect class and career considerations in marriage.

• XXXV

  Waddington contrasts Townsend's popular charm with Dorothy's breeding, highlighting social hierarchies in the colony.

• XLI

  Kitty feels like an awkward schoolgirl next to the Mother Superior, highlighting social and spiritual hierarchies.

• LXXI

  Dorothy's initial disdain for Kitty's perceived vulgarity and her later admiration reflect social judgments and the performance of status.

• LXXII

  The contrast between the Townsends' luxurious home and the missionary bungalow highlights the social and material divide.

• LXXIV

  The colonial elite treat Kitty as a precious object, emphasizing the importance of social standing and propriety in her recovery.

• LXXIX

  Mrs. Garstin's lifelong ambition for social standing is shown as 'base and unworthy' in death, highlighting the emptiness of such pursuits.