Power and Wealth

Through the character of Maurice, the novel argues that power and wealth can rob someone of a happy life by skewing priorities. Maurice amasses land and wealth trying to build power over the Dollard family, a power he never felt he has as a child, but he comes to realize that power and wealth can distract a person from the things that really matter. While Maurice was a child, Maurice felt powerless against the Dollards as he and his family were abused while employed by them. Maurice was empowered as an adult as he was able to buy the Dollards’ property from them as their wealth dwindled. Maurice realizes his need for the power he feels wealth gives him is destroying his life when Molly is stillborn.

Because Maurice’s family was not rich, he and his mother were forced to work for the...