The $30,000 Bequest

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/

SaveMoney/8lotteryWinnersWhoLostTheirMillions.aspx

After reading "The $30,000 Bequest," I was struck by how elusive wealth can be. Although Sal and Aleck Foster often dreamed of what they would do with their money, the money never materialized and so their dreams never came to fruition. However, it is evident that if the money arrived, it would have corrupted them. This is suggested by the fact that Sal has "perfect and pathetic trust, and [Aleck] holding Sal by a thread" can complete control over their relationship. Previously, they had never hide anything from one another. Because they never had wealth to be extravagant with, they do not know how to behave correctly.

This encouraged me to think about the stories of lottery winners who lose all their wealth. In the article above, Evelyn Adams explained how she lost all of her wealth after winning the lottery twice. Because she had never had money, she did not know how to manage her new riches.

The theme of the “nouveou riche” not being capable of acting the right way has been important in our readings thus far this semester. In the Foster’s imagination they were admired and revered by their community. Similarly, Silas Latham was sure that his family was in the same social circles as the Corey family. Those with new wealth desire to appear as wealthy as those with “old money,” yet often do it in a gaudy or ostentatious way. This begs the question of who decides what is the correct cultural capital. Is it the media that shows fancy cars and huge houses? Or celebrity magazines that highlight clothing and traveling? Regardless, only those with money have a voice and power to dictate what wealth, as we know it, looks like.