Class Differences in Society - Essay Example

Differences differences are brought about by perceptions in society that delegate or lay emphasis on various aspects and factors that are considered important. Social class places importance on these aspects that serve as signs of identity. Social class serves as an identifier for different classes or groups of people in a community or society. There various social classes in a particular society and they are determined by several factors depending on the nature of that particular community or society. Social classes in most parts of the world are categorized on the basis of material wealth and political power and influence. People in different social classes are characterized by various defining factors that serve as the key identifying characteristics of that class. The higher a social class occupied by an individual in society, the better their living conditions and life compared to other lower social classes in society. Through the ages, different individuals have used literature to portray the differences that exist in social classes across various cultural and traditional contexts. The use of literature to highlight and discuss class differences in various contexts of society is seen as an elaborate way of creating awareness about these aspects. Literature is a tool that surpasses and permeates across gender, cultural and traditional barriers that are set up by society and it can be used to convey vital messages. Through the various readings in class, there have been illustrations from books that touch on class differences and their characteristics, influences and impacts on society. This paper seeks to discuss class differences as portrayed and depicted by various authors, the context in which these class differences are used in the books. Garcia Marquez’s short story titled A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings tells of a family’s encounter with a strange-looking man with wings on his back. This man was discovered washed up on the shores of the ocean by Pelayo and Elisenda’s children. This family took the man in and gave him shelter in a chicken coop where he recuperates from his injuries and illness. There are various notions of social class in this short story as portrayed by the positions and opinions taken by different characters in the story. According to the tone and tune of the story, it is apparent that the community is largely composed of peasant fishermen and women. This can be attributed to the observed industrious nature and ability to turn misfortunes into fruitful and productive ventures that serve to alleviate their position and class in society. The characters’ industrious nature that is seen in their efforts to make money is a translation of people’s awareness in the importance of wealth and money in order to change their class status. The Pelayo family saw a money making opportunity with the old man with enormous wings, and they started charging 5 cents to anyone who wanted to see the old man. This saw them amass a large amount of money enough for them to build a mansion with nets, gardens and balconies. The same is seen when a woman who is said to have disobeyed her parents turns into a tarantula spider and goes by the name spider woman. In the case of the spider woman, people who want to hear her story have to toss meatballs at the Spiderwoman (Williams 53). Meatballs were her only forms of nourishment thus she opted to take advantage of people’s curiosity to earn a means of survival. Social classes are portrayed to be constructed notions that can be attained as illustrated by the industrious efforts of characters in the abovementioned short story. People recognize the elemental importance of money or wealth in creating favorable conditions for an ideal class. Father Gonzaga can be construed to have held a higher social class that most of the citizens in the mentioned community in the short story. This gives insight into the intricacies involved in the construction of social classes because in this case, father Gonzaga’s social class was determined by his position as the religious authority in this community. Religion offered Gonzaga the authority and power in this society to enable him occupy a higher social class than the rest the population, a position that can be assumed to have had substantial and significant power. Money should have definitely accorded the Pelayo family a higher social class position due to the wealth they had acquired by exhibiting the old to the public at a fee. The short story also features a character that is portrayed as a woman who knows everything about life and death. She is consulted about the probable nature of the strange old man with enormous wings whom she claims to be an angel sent to take Pelayo’s sick child. Wisdom or knowledge is an aspect that has the potential to accord an individual a revered social class, putting them at an advantageous position in society or community (Williams 89). This is exhibited by the amount of respect and awe that the woman commanded from the village folk. Social class plays a significant role in influencing people’s character, behavior and perception about various aspects of society and the world they inhabit. Social class is seen to influence characters behavior in the story as witnessed by the father’s classification of the old man as that not belonging to features of an angel. This is because according to his belief and perception, people who know Latin or understanding it qualify into the godly class. This is an example of social class construction in the sense that people assign specific qualities even to the deities. The inability of the old strange man discounted the wise woman’s observation that he was an angel because according to father Gonzaga any affiliation with religion required an understanding of Latin. The father’s actions can be interpreted as an inherent nature in someone who occupies a certain social class position to establish their authority. In other words, social class predisposes people to act or take action that seeks to justify their position in that social position. The Spiderwoman is assumed to belong to an extremely low social class, which can explain her actions and behavior. Unlike the Pelayo family who aspire for wealth, the Spiderwoman only seeks for a viable way to get nourishment. The different social classes occupied by individuals due to different factors, lead to variance in their actions and behaviors. These qualities are manifested in a quest to achieve or acquire what their social class demands of them. Thus differences in priorities due to class differences predispose people to act and behave differently (Williams 74). The same can be said of the father who discounts the wise woman’s explanation for the old strange man’s appearance and condition. This is because the woman’s observations posed a potential threat to his authority and position in the community as the source of credible intelligence regarding matters spiritual. The nature of social classes in society is that individuals in both the upper classes and lower classes strive to attain a higher position in the hierarchy of their classes (Williams 61). Literature has been used to depict this fact in different contexts that exist in various societies all over the world. The most common factor in class differences that literature seeks to highlight and draw criticism upon, is the difference created by the need for power and wealth. This is because these two entities possess the ability to better one in their social class position. Thus, literature is used to critique the manner in which different social classes interact and its effects. People in upper classes derive their status from reverence by the lower classes without which the significance of their class is lost. Thus people in upper classes are always devising new ways and means of getting the lower classes to continue revering them in order to get satisfaction and confirmation of their position in society. On the other hand, the common folk or those who belong to lower social classes are always in a constant struggle to move up the social class ladder. This is in the sense that these individuals change their behaviors and take certain actions which they believe will change their fortunes and raise them to a better and higher social class (Williams 45). This is exemplified by the Pelayo family that takes advantage of the strange old man’s features to offer him to the public as an exhibition at a fee. This helps them amass a considerable fortune that enables them to build a mansion that definitely illustrates their elevated social class position in their society. It can thus be conclusively postulated that neither upper class individuals nor those in lower classes get to live a truly free life. This is in terms of the level or extent in satisfaction in the lives they lead because they are always struggling to attain a higher social class position. The story highlighted in this paper offers useful insights into the nature of class differences and it affects the way people exhibit their desires and aspirations to attain higher positions of social class. There is no satisfaction in human life because there is the ever present desire for more, thus people can never be truly free because of their desires and aspirations. Works Cited Williams, R. L. A Companion to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. London: Boydell & Brewer, 2010. Print. Read More