Greed Depicted In Gentlefolk
In the excerpt, titled Gentlefolk, the author clearly presents a disliking for
people of the upper class. The author tries to convince readers that people who are
of wealth are basically useless through the negative tone and characterizations of
these people. Making broad generalizations and giving sarcastic praises, is how the
author drills his message of hatred.
One of the major of problems the author has with the wealthy is their lack
of motivation. Characterizing them as an idle group. Their laziness is the result of
many bad habits. The gentlefolk go out to catch newts, insects, and frogs. Spending
time pouring over their insides. The author puts this activity on the same level as
a child playing in mud. …show more content…
Claiming that the wealthy person is not learning anything from this,
but instead “Nine out of ten they take to torturing or to spoiling something...” (lines
7-8). This is viewed as wasteful to the writer. The fact that gentlefolk are being
wasteful causes the author to see them as uncaring. He doesn’t believe they realize
what they are doing to these creatures. Describing them as “without a pang of
remorse,” for the experiments they are carrying out.
The author uses sarcasm to show the disgust he truly possesses for this
group of people. It stems from their lack of respect for other creatures. He
sarcastically remarks that the wealthy are just “poor souls” trying to do well for
themselves. When really, he feels that gentlefolk are incapable of doing anything
productive for society. The author believes “that you have got nothing to think of
in your poor empty head, and nothing to do with your poor idle hands” (lines 32-
34). The rich don’t know what real work is. Dissecting living organism isn’t ever
comparable to the day’s work of a middle or lower class
people of the upper class. The author tries to convince readers that people who are
of wealth are basically useless through the negative tone and characterizations of
these people. Making broad generalizations and giving sarcastic praises, is how the
author drills his message of hatred.
One of the major of problems the author has with the wealthy is their lack
of motivation. Characterizing them as an idle group. Their laziness is the result of
many bad habits. The gentlefolk go out to catch newts, insects, and frogs. Spending
time pouring over their insides. The author puts this activity on the same level as
a child playing in mud. …show more content…
Claiming that the wealthy person is not learning anything from this,
but instead “Nine out of ten they take to torturing or to spoiling something...” (lines
7-8). This is viewed as wasteful to the writer. The fact that gentlefolk are being
wasteful causes the author to see them as uncaring. He doesn’t believe they realize
what they are doing to these creatures. Describing them as “without a pang of
remorse,” for the experiments they are carrying out.
The author uses sarcasm to show the disgust he truly possesses for this
group of people. It stems from their lack of respect for other creatures. He
sarcastically remarks that the wealthy are just “poor souls” trying to do well for
themselves. When really, he feels that gentlefolk are incapable of doing anything
productive for society. The author believes “that you have got nothing to think of
in your poor empty head, and nothing to do with your poor idle hands” (lines 32-
34). The rich don’t know what real work is. Dissecting living organism isn’t ever
comparable to the day’s work of a middle or lower class