Posh Sparknotes

In life we find friends to go along the journey with us. As humans we naturally fear the unknown, yet we fear it less if there is someone with us to experience the rewards or consequences. The audience members for Laura Wade’s play Posh, are the middle-class who are unaware of the comforts provided to the upper-class. As a part of the middle class we are unaware of traditional dinner etiquette, we work for everything we obtain, and are strangers to an extravagant lifestyle. Laura Wade uses themes such as tradition, violence, and privilege to depict a void and distraction for the members of the Riot Club, from their true purpose and potential.
Tradition is valued by previous members of the Riot Club, and it is said that a little bit of symbolism can go a long way. A tradition that was created at the first ever Riot Club meeting was a ten-bird
“You think the true purpose of the club is simply the making of merriment? A place in which you hide? Never! The world wants you,boys - though it may not yet know it - it wants you, and it wants you to lead.” (pg. 130) Being a leader is not found in the form of violence and not a purchased privilege. Members of the Riot Club typically find themselves in a political career where they control the party, money may lead to success in power, but your ability to lead is key. It is perceived that the club is just a distraction, as stated by Alistair. When considering tradition, extravagances, and privileges, Alistair realizes, “that’s not what makes us, it’s just packaging. All this stuff about tradition, it’s just something to hide behind. We should be out there taking the world back. Because it’s ours.” (pg. 163) Every college student is terrified of what the world holds for us, unsure for what the future holds. Everyone has something that they hide behind, but it is time for us all to hold our heads high and take the world