George Orwell’s ‘Keep the Aspidistra Flying’ Will Change Your Perspective on Money
Published in 1936, there is still much to learn from Orwell’s musings
Keep the Aspidistra Flying, first published in London 1936, is a socially critical novel by George Orwell. It is set in 1930s London.
The main theme is Gordon Comstock’s romantic ambition to defy worship of the money-god and status, and the dismal life that results. — Penguin Books
Money is at the centre of everything we do, at the centre of everything we are.
In the western world, consumerism reigns supreme as the largest religion.
We work and consume, work and consume; it’s what we do.
And now even China, the world’s largest communist state seems to whiff increasingly stronger of a money-centred society.
An increasingly, capitalistic Chinese society, driven by independent gains in wealth and increased desire for social status.
It’s the reason why George Orwell’s ‘Keep the Aspidistra Flying’ rings with an ever deeper relevance as time shifts by.
Since the time of Orwell’s writing, the developed world has only accelerated it’s plunge into the grip of money and the reliance of wealth as an indicator of social status.
But what surprised me most about this read was the mixed set of signals that Orwell is sending out.
The main theme of the book, as you might have guessed from the title of this article, is of course money.
But more particularly the life of Gordon Comstock (Orwell’s protagonist) who decides to wage war against money.
He decides to reject the ‘money-god’.
This all seeing, all encompassing god-like thing that effects every person, in every corner of the world.
Gordon’s logic being that if he simply steps away from money, doesn’t strive for it, doesn’t desire it and steps aside from the ever sliding conveyer belt of success, aspiration and social status that money brings; he can somehow exist outside of it.
His ambition is to sink.
Sink deeper and deeper beneath the claws of money, existing in an underworld of poverty, dismay and lawlessness in the hope that there must be a sort of tipping point, a point where you can become so entirely unhooked from the addiction of earning more money that you can actually just float along, in a utopian way, without needing it…
Money makes us who we are, who we stand for, it determines the clothes we wear, the people and friends we make, the confidence by which we carry ourselves, it influences the jobs we acquire, it can dictate who we love.
The only trouble with this plan is that he can’t live a decent life in poverty; he lives a horrible life, and each time he becomes worse off financially, his life experience deteriorates.
Gordon also realises that if he had more money he would be more attractive to women, and to people in general.
But, the most pertinent point that Orwell makes in this novel is that a life pushing against the grain of money is nigh-on-impossible.
Gordon tries to sink and escape but he can’t, he realises ultimately that money is the only true key ingredient to be happy — yes, you need other things but without money entirely we are only empty at the core.
It really caused me to think about how far money spans into not only our daily lives but also deeper into our being and character.
Money makes us who we are, who we stand for, it determines the clothes we wear, the people and friends we make, the confidence by which we carry ourselves, it influences the jobs we acquire, it can dictate who we love.
The list could go on.
If you get a chance to read this book you’ll begin to appreciate just how far money reaches into the very depths of our soul, it touches every decision we make and every exchange we have.
The truth is, after much reflection, I didn’t experience a feeling of negativity and discontent at Orwell’s shining light on the grip of capitalism.
But rather a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling of maybe Orwell was trying to tell us that it’s okay to need money, to even love money a little bit.
Because the reality is, it’s very difficult to empathise with Gordon Comstock’s character, he’s obnoxious, self-centred and clearly sadistically enjoying his demise from the realms of society.
Of course, we can all probably list a handful of people who love money too much, they let it control them, they put it first over family and friends.
That’s no good either.
But the truth is we should be grateful that we’re alive in a world with a functioning system, yes it’s not perfect and yes it’s not working for everyone but a battle against money is a battle against your own doorway to opportunity…
Have you read Keep The Aspidistra Flying? If so, did it change your perspective on money?
Drop your thoughts and feelings into the comments below.
If you haven’t read it, you can pick it up from Amazon here for between $7 and $10. Enjoy!
Peace. RH.
