Marxist Theory of "The Last Asset"

Eng 201                                                                                                             Chantell Agrispin

Prof.Whitley                                                                                                       3/4/2012

                                                            The Last Asset

                       When applying concepts from Marxist Theory to “The Last Asset”. We learn a lot about the character Garnett, Mrs. Newell, Mrs. Newell daughter Hermione Newell & Mr. Newell. In the story “The Last Asset” Mrs. Newell uses Classism “points out that the accumulation of wealth, especially of enormous wealth, isn’t necessarily a sign of merit. All too often it’s a sign of questionable ethics” (Tyson 56). This explanation of classism, is a another one connecting to  Mrs. Newell. In the story Mrs. Newell is using her daughter as her way of being with the high social class people by arranging a marriage with the French.

                       Mrs. Newell also emphasizes Competition. Competition in Marxist theory is “it tends to ensure that the most selfish, unethical people will rise to the top, as they’re the ones willing to do whatever it takes to win”(Tyson, 58). Throughout the story Mrs. Newell daughter Hermione Newell is about to get married to a guy that is French. His family is high class and would not approve of their marriage if Hermione father is not presented. Mrs. Newell is willing to do whatever it takes to get her daughter married. She sends Garnett to find her husband who is Hermione father who they have not seen in years to show up for the wedding. Even though she cannot stand him she is willing to find him and make him show up. Mrs. Newell also uses Commodification. “A commodity is anything that has a price tag. It encourages us to relate to things and people as commodities. Mrs. Newell is using Hermione as a commodity to impress her daughter soon to be husband family showing them she haves a husband and Hermione haves a father. Hermione, was a commodity her mother to be in the high class she wants to be with. As quoted in the story “what was the use of producing and educating a handsome daughter if she did not, in some more positive way, contribute to her parent’s advancement” (Wharton 218).

                      When applying Marxist theory concepts to “The Last Asset” we learned a lot about the socioeconomic system and “how it controls how we perceive ourselves and our world”.(Tyson,53). Just like it did with Mrs. Newell with the concepts Competition, Commodification, and Classism.