Money is king in Sulaco. Well, technically, Charles Gould is the one known as "El Rey [king] de Sulaco"—but he gets that title because he is crazy wealthy, so we think the principle stands. Money is viewed as the key to getting things done, which is why people go so crazy protecting the Goulds' silver supply when the Monterists are about to attack the town.
That all said, money has a huge downside in Nostromo: A Tale of The Seaboard. For example, that whole Monterist uprising thing happens because Charles used his money/influence to help Ribiera come to power. Also, there's the fact that extreme wealth seems to make people (e.g., the gringos of local lore, Charles, and Nostromo) a little nutty.
Questions About Wealth
- Is Montero's desire for wealth better or worse (or even different) from Charles's? Why or why not, and how do we know?
- Do you think Nostromo covets the silver for revenge, or is he just greedy?
- What's the "takeaway" about wealth and its power for this novel? Does it actually have the power to do good, or is it always a corrupting force?
Chew on This
Can't deny it: extreme wealth just turns people bad. It can never be a force for good because it clouds the minds of those who possess it.
Despite initially seeming totally opposite in terms of their morals and motivations, Nostromo, Pedrito, and Gould are all ultimately portrayed as equally stupid and greedy.