Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class is a socio-economic treatise on the ramifications of ancient class distinctions on the society of today. Veblen critiques high-class 'Conspicuous Consumption,' and proposes that the lower and middle class support society as a whole. In short, Veblen says that economic choice is driven by the remnants of social class, not by utility.
Chopin's The Awakening ties in with Veblen's theory. The novel is founded upon the premise that the high class must not work for their quality of life. Edna, the main character, finds herself married into extreme wealth, to the point that she doesn't know what to do with her time. The novel's rich attention to detail shows the characters' attention to detail; they need not be concerned with the big picture because they have it laid out for them by the lower classes.
Veblen further postulates that the leisure class maintains control of the lower castes by withholding useful tools from them. In the past, an example would be tribe warriors withholding the secrets of forging weapons from the general tribe population. In The Awakening, this connection is actually not strongly developed, but there are a few hints at high-class propriety: connections to the doctor and having maids, servants, and men from lower classes who fawn over Edna.
Is sum, Veblen's 'Conspicuous Consumption' theory is exemplified by the novel's slow pace, the nonchalant lifestyle of the rich, and the rich attention to detail. Chopin's work does not strongly highlight Veblen's other theses about contemporary distinctions between classes.
Wow, socio-economics is a great lens for the Awakening, one that I hadn't thought about at all. Maybe this is partially because because it's sort of taken for granted even by the book, but almost every mention of an African American is as a maid or nurse.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost as if the fact that Edna is in the upper class perpetuates her difficulty in escaping the societal constraints. It's like the "leisure class" gets her stuck where she is. There is definitely an underlying theme of socio-economics and it's awesome that you found a connection of it to Veblen.
ReplyDeleteTo go off of what Rachel is saying, it seems twice as hard for Edna to escape because not only is she a woman, but a wealthy woman. She almost has to try and get out of two systems, the system of wealth and high society and the patriarchal system. It is evident that escaping the wealth system makes Edna's more important mission of escaping gender stereotypes all the more difficult.
ReplyDeleteI agree that its particularly difficult for Edna to escape due to her wealth. you can see her fighting against the idea when she protests her husbands idea to buy new fixtures as they already live too lavishly, and in her move to the pigeon house.
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