The late nineteenth century in American history was an era known as the Gilded Age. During this period of explosive urban expansion, the economic divide between the rich and the poor widened, and pretentious demonstrations of wealth by the well-to-do, became popular. Among the upper class in New York City there was a battle to claim the top spot in the social hierarchy. Established old-money families which had largely inherited their wealth over generations, sought to maintain their position at the top of the social heap, warding off-new money families which had obtained their wealth more recently. This social battle between wealthy titans took the form of one upmanship, with the members of upper crust attempting to elevate their social status …show more content…
Specifically, the architecture and location of their houses served to advertise their extraordinary wealth. As the income gap between the rich and the poor widened during this time, New York City became more sectionalized with the wealthy living along Fifth Avenue and the poor living in the surrounding slums. The neighborhood in which the rich resided publicized membership in high society. Also, the upper crust sought to build enormous and elaborate palace-like buildings in an effort to outdo each other. For example, during their walk together down fashionable Fifth Avenue, Selden and Van Alstyne admired the extravagant residences built along the Avenue, notably the Greiner house. Van Alstyne commented, “That Greiner house, now – a typical rung in the social ladder” (Wharton, 159). This quote very directly shows how excessive residences were built by the rich in order to gain status in New York’s highest social circle. Wharton contrasted the homes of the elite such as Greiner, with the home of the indigent Gerty Farish who lived in a humble apartment. Since Farish’s lowbrow apartment was disparaged by the wealthy characters in the novel, it was clear that she could never be a member of their social circle. Thus, in NYC in the Gilded Age the location, size and costliness of one’s house could determines one’s social standing in high society. Just as the Grenier house on Fifth Avenue served as a symbol for wealth and power, the small flat of Gerty Farish served as a symbol for poverty and powerlessness. The homes on Fifth Avenue were daily reminders of the extreme wealth of the upper class, as people from every walk of life would regularly stroll by. Thus, Edith Wharton used the location and nature of personal residences as a sign of conspicuous consumption. These homes served as very visible and grand gestures to indicate
Without telling individuals how the other portion of the other half lives he's forgetting a significant piece of how individuals live in New York. By staying away from, that theme he's giving the deception that all individuals in New York live in such confined lodging as apartments. At the point when in all actuality New York was and is by and by not made out of entirely apartment lodging. There was a 'rich' some portion of town where the prospect of not having any cash was never at any point considered. Moreover, where the mechanical insurgency just touched higher social orders on positive results, for example, financial matters the modern upset just made it harder for the outsiders to excel.
The Gilded Age was an age of rapid economic growth. Railroads, factories, and mines were slowly popping up across the country, creating a variety of new opportunities for entrepreneurs and laborers alike. These new inventions and opportunities created “...an unprecedented accumulation of wealth” (GML, 601). But the transition of America from a small farming based nation to a powerful industrial one created a huge rift between social classes. Most people were either filthy rich or dirt poor, with workers being the latter.
Through our country's history, we have always dealt with power inequality. It has been an issue since as far as we can remember, although specifically the late 19th century was a very climatic era for the United States. It is considered to be the time of the most exceptional growth, prosperity, and innovation. Even so, the country had also been sent into a devastation because of the Civil War. The prime difficulty during this time was not only the constant struggles between the gap of the rich and the poor, but also the extreme fights towards power and wealth.
Succeeding the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era, the Gilded Age was a time in the United States when the economy was experiencing a rapid growth, prompting wealth among businessmen and upper-class citizens. Therefore, since the beneficiaries were mostly those of greater wealth, those included in the Other Half did not get to experience the lavish lifestyle of the wealthy during the Gilded Age. As a result of their contrasting lifestyles, they experienced differences such as housing and how they spent their leisure time, yet also had similarities such as their interest in sports, and an appeal to being out in public among other Americans. First of all, during the Gilded Age, there was a stark difference in lifestyles between the poor and
During the 1920s, people seeking wealth flocked to large cities in an attempt to fulfill their dreams. Those that became wealthy, although technically part of the upper class, lacked the idiosyncrasies associated with their class. F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates these differences in The Great Gatsby and explains how being wealthy doesn’t necessarily make one part of high society. In West Egg, many of the inhabitants lack the subtlety and elegance the old aristocracy and the inhabitants of East Egg demonstrate.
Imagine working sixteen hours a day in an unsanitary, dangerous, place for a big business gaining two dollars. This is what laboring-class Americans had to go through during the Gilded age. Politically, the first largest American labor union was formed during the Gilded age and many other organizations formed as well as violent strikes. Socially, different ethnics joined together to share their thoughts and realize the evils of big business and of the federal government. Mentally, most we 're losing their personal life while some were financially stable and glad.
Fitzgerald vividly describes it as "a factual imitation of some Hôtel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side... and a marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden" (Fitzgerald 5). Although Fitzgerald himself was born into a middle-class background, the depiction of Gatsby's opulent home suggests that Fitzgerald, like Gatsby, yearned for a life of high social status and wealth. Supporting Fitzgerald's
The Gilded Age lasted from 1870 to World War 1, “1900s.” The Gilded Age was a period of fast economic development, but also much social struggle. Mark Twain in the late nineteenth century founded the “Gilded” Age, which means covered with gold on the outside, but not really golden on the inside, for example, tin. This period of time was glittering on the surface but corrupt underneath. In other words, the outside looked beautiful, but the inside looked old and trashy.
The Gilded Age was to describe America in the late nineteenth century. The outside of the US seemed glamorous and splendid alongside industrial development and massive economic growth. However, the dark sides were hidden beneath it. In my perspective, I believe we are living in the 2nd Gilded age.
Education was playing an important role, so it was really prestigious to have own library in the house, full of books. But it was very expensive to have real ones, so people used “fake” books just to create an illusion how rich they are. Nouveau riche were pointing on everything and were not shy to talk about their money. Good word to describe that time period --
The decade between 1890 and 1900 expressed a crucial time in the United States of America’s history. Many people experienced struggles throughout this time while others prospered. Mark Twain suggested that despite the significant achievements of the United States, Americans experienced poverty. This statement is an accurate description of the lively hood people experienced in their daily lives during the Gilded Age whether it was positive or negative. Many people during this time period focused on the positive outcomes that resulted from the Gilded Age such as new inventions, the gospel of wealth, additions of land to the country, urbanization, and middle-class improvements.
Not only does the amount of wealth affect social class, but the type of wealth also affects it. It even affects where people live and who people marry as seen with Gatsby and Daisy. The characters social standing affect who they interact and how they are perceived by others. Fitzgerald highlights the different class structures like “New rich” and “Old rich” and the impact of wealth on the people’s lives in those classes. He also shows the superficial nature of the characters and highlights the value placed on wealth.
Take the example of Mrs. Breedlove 's employers house compared to her own home. Mrs. Breedlove 's employer 's home is described asx "the large white house with the wheelbarrow full of flowers… We circled the proud house and went to the back"(Morrison 105,106). Based on this description of the house the reader can assume that Mrs. Breedlove 's employer is wealthy. However, the Breedloves ' living
Right from the beginning of The House of Mirth, Wharton accentuates the issue of women being objectified in New York City’s wealthy class. There are many expensive, rare, and gilded objects and furnishings, including Percy Gryce’s Americana collection, set throughout the novel, and women, like these possessions, are also portrayed to be decorations made to be admired and publicly displayed. In short, women were like collectible objects: “it was perhaps her very manner of holding herself aloof that appealed to his collector’s passion for the rare and unattainable” (113). Rosedale’s statement quite literally describes Lily Bart as a beautiful item he wishes to obtain. Moreover, women—especially ones of exceptional beauty like Lily Bart—were social
The novel’s main focus is on Americans traveling in Europe, yet the Americans of new money seem to act even more pompous than that of the European culture. Socially it mattered little who actually had more money, the only things were how long you’ve had the money and how well you presented yourself with it. The flashy new money was seen as gaudy and tacky with no manners, whereas the old money did not have to “try so hard” to show their wealth. Daisy Miller is often seen acting extravagant and running amuck with gentlemen alone, a practice that was highly looked down upon. Everything about her draws attention from this upper wealthy crowd of which is surrounded.