The Custom of the Country

Material goods are an important symbol in the novel. An example of symbolic material wealth is the string of pearls Peter gifts to Undine. To Undine, the necklace signifies luxury and wealth, but to others it represents her shocking betrayal of her husband and her immoral ways. Another example of this symbol are Raymond’s tapestries. To Undine, the tapestries are simply art worthy of selling and making a profit, but to Raymond, they symbolize French history and his family’s integrity. By buying the tapestries from Raymond’s family, Undine undermines his family’s integrity. For many characters, material wealth is unimportant in comparison to keeping wealth for the future. However, to Undine, material wealth symbolizes freedom and happiness. Because material wealth is symbolically tied to happiness, Undine can never be fully happy because there will always be another material thing or level of wealth to possess.

These settings also function as symbols. New York represents the custom of opulent wealth. New Yorkers like to show off their wealth, and it’s the ticket through the door to society. Therefore, whether people are from “new money” or “old money,” if they have the financial means, they’re welcome to participate in finer society. Paris, however, represents the custom of community wealth.