Outside Reading Post: 4 money, money, money

Notes taken:10/11/07

Underlying many of the characters actions is the need or want for money. The Countess is always weighing the advantage of staying in her marriage based on her possible income. When her husband makes her an offer. P. 190 "He wants you back -at any price? Well-a considerable price at least the sum is considerable for me. " The comment is made that all she would have to do is sit at the table and preside over dinners. Her husband does not a scandal and is willing to pay her or bargain with her to avoid it.

Throughout the book money is used to determine the characters status in how you are ranked. There is a tension between old and new money. The old money is deemed to have more prestige than the new. The men are the ones who are normally working for a living; the women inherit money or are born into a lifestyle that requires money to sustain and perpetuate. Men are only to marry women of equal of higher ranking in society the only exception of that seems to be in women who bear great beauty.P 19.