Principles and Values

Principles and values are a big part of the book and the cause of all the conflict. To Olympia, the coming-out ball is just an evening that results in pleasant memories and a good time for everyone. She doesn't view the event in terms of snobbery or social statements, although she makes the strongest statement by the people she invites to the WASP event. Her twins, who are to take part in the ball, have opposite reactions to it. Virginia, the frivolous twin is all in favor of the ball and wants to begin shopping for the event right away. Veronica, the more serious of the two, sees the event as a form of social effrontery. It represents everything that her father stands for in terms of snobbery and WASPishness and because of that, she doesn't want to attend.

For Chauncey, who is an insufferable snob...