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The Role Money Plays in Society Essay

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Money Money is the driving force behind everything in modern day society. According to Ford, a character in Noah Hawley’s A Conspiracy of Tall Men, money is what keeps society together. “You know what keeps us from sliding back into barbarism? Money. That is the one constant.”(Hawley, 362) Linus, the main character in Hawley’s novel, does not want to be a part of this society because he is afraid of money and what it represents. “Linus is afraid of money. Not the smaller bills, the Washington’s and Lincolns, the Jackson’s and Grants, but the larger sums, the cashiers checks with multiple zeros, the stock portfolios and escrow accounts, afraid too of what they buy, the new cars with their leather stink, the first class seats on …show more content…

“Behind them a man on a cellular phone said, It’s more of a burning sensation.” This conversation refers to a rash of some sort that the man is experiencing, an odd and embarrassing conversation to have at a museum. The man appears to be of a high class because he is talking on a cell phone, which is representative of Linus’ definition of money, when in fact his conversation shows a lack of class because he discusses his rash in public (3). Linus is afraid of money because money creates false assumptions. In addition to creating assumptions, money also develops an interpersonal fixation; fixation on money as an object develops infatuation in the pursuit rather then the outcome. While at a Sunday lunch with Linus, Ford’s infatuation with money becomes apparent through his dress and mannerisms, which suggests how important money is to Ford. “[Ford is] wearing a suit though it’s Sunday.”(126) Even on a Sunday Ford still dresses in a business suit which implies that Fords occupation has become his life, because, even on a day normally reserved for rest, Ford remains ready to conduct business. Through Ford’s mannerisms it can be seen that there is a significant preoccupation with making money that prevents him from directing his full attention to Linus. “He watches Linus with the eyes of a man who earns his living making money in large quantities.”(128) Hawley uses a cell phone

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