Money and Power

Money and Power appears as a literary theme in 4 works in the BetterReads curated set. Each book develops the idea in its own plot, voice, and historical moment — the links below open the book-scoped theme guide beside the text.

Financial transactions and debts drive the plot, from du Tillet's manipulation of Nathan's newspaper to the sisters' desperate attempts to raise money. The book reveals how money controls relationships, politics, and personal freedom.

Financial dependence and control are central to the plot, with Torvald controlling the household money, Nora secretly borrowing funds, and Krogstad's blackmail stemming from economic desperation and social standing.

Money is the central driving force of the novel, with characters like Peter and Laura treating it as a game or a religion, and the estate of Selambshof itself becomes a symbol of the corrupting influence of wealth and property.

Wealth is portrayed as the ultimate source of power and social standing in provincial society, with characters manipulating and hoarding money to control others, as exemplified by Grandet's dominance over his household.