wealth

“This is my chief objection to public magnificence; it seems to show everybody up in the worst possible light (79).”

Godfrey St. Peter seems to be commenting on the negative influences of wealth throughout the novel. Tom Outland was the key to other characters in the novel amassing great wealth, however, with wealth come corrupting influences. Although St. Peter has obtained wealth and recognition from his work on Spanish history, he is resistant to change. He does not want to move out of his old home into the new house that was built with the money from the success of his work. Luxury makes him uneasy and he longs for how simple life used to be for him. Rosamond, Tom’s heir, has become haughty with her new inherited wealth. She wears expensive dresses and furs. She acts like she is superior to the other characters in the book, especially her sister Kathleen and Scott. S he feels that her sister is jealous and thus acts spiteful towards her, like in the instance when she does not agree to Louie’s proposal to give their old furniture to the McGregors, stating that the couple will mock the gift. Although themselves, not wealth, Kathleen and Scott are jealous and resentful of Rosamond’s inherited wealth. They dislike the opulence demonstrated by Rosamond and believe that she does not deserve Tom’s money.

However, Cather also demonstrates that money does not necessarily have to be a corrupting influence. Louie is generous and good-natured throughout the novel. He seems to respect Tom and holds no ill feeling about his previous relationship with Rosamond. Rodney seems to have a low regard for money, his motto seems to be is “easy come, easy, go.” He was willing to work at a low salary job to take care of Tom when he got sick and even financed his trip to Washington from the earning of his poker game. Although he sells the artifacts from Cliff City, he does not want the profits for himself but instead wants to send Tom to school.