The Spragg Family Wealth
While I do not share in the narrator’s contempt of the Spragg family, I understand why their ostentatious nature comes off as too “in your face” or overdone. I can’t help but see her family’s gaudy displays of wealth and desire for more as excessive. Undine’s primary motivation is to rise in the world and be someone of stature and wealth. At first, I didn’t hold Undine Spragg in high regard because of this. But her thoughtfulness for her cause made me rethink.
“Undine’s preference was for the worldly parties, at which games were played, and she returned home laden with prizes in Dutch silver; but she was duly impressed by the debating clubs, where ladies of local distinction addressed the company from an improvised platform, or the members argued on subjects of such imperishable interest as: ‘What is Charm?'” (18).
With the description of the Mexican onyx and French portraits in the Spragg’s hotel room coupled with the Dutch silver, I get a sense of the family trying to embed worldliness and culture into their inner circle. Especially for Undine, I imagine the line about “at which games were played” refers to more than just simple party tricks. I see Undine as a keen observer and absorber of the old money’s rituals and traditions.
Once Undine climbs the social ranks, paired with her family’s new money, what will be her next motivation?
3 responses so far
I agree with everything you said about Undine, and her striving to be a part of Old Money. The Spragg family’s style IS tacky and overdone, so I can see why Undine is frustrated with fitting in with the classy crowd. However, she seems like a total snob and spoiled brat. Her being a keen observer and absorber is almost kind of comical when she gets mad. I also like the image you added in from The Office, it goes perfectly well with this book!!
I agree with your stance on Undine being a “keen observer and absorber of the old money’s rituals and traditions”, but what fails her is her want for more. We have seen thus far that even if she attains what she desires, it is still not sufficient for her because there will always be something else. It also does not help that wherever she goes she has the need to be the center of attention, which blinds her from actually taking in her surroundings (aside from the people in attendance). This is why I think that Undine can be a keen observer all she wants, but her attention seeking ways will always get in the way of her climbing social ranks, because everyone can see right through the facade she puts on. No amount of money, luxurious surroundings, and acquaintances can help her.
While I do agree that she is an astute observer of the way’s of the old money, I do think her observations don’t go very deep. The way she presents herself shows what she thinks of status at a very surface level, she has only observed what they have done, but Undine is not capable of quite understanding their mindset. The mannerisms of the old money elite reflect the way the life has shaped them, and while Undine may be able to mimic and copy them to feel more apart of the high society, it would be a lot harder for her to understand the deeper complexities of what makes old money what it truly is.