384. DSC 202: Unit V: The Worship of Wealthy (2)

THE WORSHIP OF WEALTHY

1.Author

G.K. CHESTERTONBorn: 29 May 1874, Kensington, London UK and died on14 June 1936, Beaconsfield, UK.He was an English writer, philosopher, lay theologian and literary and art critic.He has been referred to as the Prince of Paradox. He was educated at St Paul’s School, later obtained degree of English Literature from a University College London. He chose to be a writer, as his tastes were literary and journalistic. As Journalist, he wrote essays on social criticism. The present essay ‘The Worship of the Wealthy’ is an excellent example of social criticism. The scintillating wit and paradoxical style sparkle with the with glow of glamour and novelty make the common reader peep through his paradoxical style and wit in describing day to day incidents which are left unnoticed.

2. PLOT

The worship of the wealthy is a fine essay by Gilbert Keith Chesterton.His essays are well known for their charming wit and satirical vein.He exposes the weakness and flaws in the society. He always writes in the lightered manner; and there is fine blending of humour and wit in his essays.Chesterton’s essays appeal both to our heart and head. His style of writing essays in a paradoxical manner makes him both entertaining and interesting.Literature and Journalism have overtaken the writers, the way of flattering the wealthy and the great persons. It presents the various ways of praising the rich and the influential people in society.

G.k. Chesterton tells us about the flatters. He also gives a few examples of the way the old flatters praised their rich masters.

If they wanted to praise the king, they would attribute to him the most impossible and improbable Things.

For example, they would say that the king resembled the sun and that they had to shade their eyes when he entered the room.

He criticizes the media's portrayal of the wealthy. He contrasts the past's exaggerated praises with the current trend of glorifying mundane traits of the rich as extraordinary. Chesterton also points out how the press often frames the rich as intelligent and their lavish lifestyles as modest. He concludes by suggesting that if lies must be told about the rich, they should be outrageously exaggerated rather than misrepresenting their ordinary traits and lifestyles.

Chesterton criticizes the way very wealthy people are written about in the popular press. He begins the essay by contrasting the way wealthy and powerful people were written about in the past to the way they are presented in Chesterton's time. In the past, he says, writers knew the wealthy were ordinary. As a result they simply went straight for over-the-top, vastly exaggerated praise. They might, for example, compare a king to a sun at noonday or say with his single sword he had conquered the world. The "safety" of this was that it was so artificial it bore no relation to the real person.

Chesterton says, in contrast, that the way we praise the wealthy now is much more "poisonous." This happens in several ways. First, ordinary traits or hobbies, such as hating doctors or liking cats, are treated as if they are extraordinary. Because a person is wealthy, boring and mundane things about the rich man are treated as if they are stunning and special.

Second, even if the person is stupid, he will be treated as if he were intelligent, his very dull and ordinary thought framed as if he had read and rejected sophisticated philosophy.

Third, his lavish way of life will be treated as if it is "modest" and "simple" and "quiet." This is especially annoying when the funerals of the rich are described as modest and simple, when they include lavish flowers, for example, and are attended by all the most important people. Chesterton mocks this, asking: are they simple because there was no human sacrifice on the grave?

In sum, Chesterton argues that if we are going to lie about the rich, we should do it in the old-fashioned way by out-and-out exaggeration, not by pretending their ordinary traits are extraordinary or by declaring their lavish lifestyles are modest and simple.