Class

Throughout her novel, Counterfeit, Chen thematically inspects class. At the outset of the narrative, Ava does not understand the point of designer handbags. The protagonist sees the accessories as frivolous expenditures until Winnie explains their cultural allure. She tells her friend that Chanel purses and Birkin bags are “status symbols. A Harvard degree is not so different from a designer handbag. They both signal that you’re part of the club, they open door” (31). Chen suggests that American culture uses status symbols to delineate class and differentiate the elite from the mediocre. In the same way that Ava pursued a degree at a prestigious university because the Stanford name would open career opportunities, others invest in designer bags to gain access to exclusive social circles. By purchasing an expensive and recognized name, through education or accessories, individuals attempt to signify that they are a part of...