The Wings of the Dove Society and Class Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Volume.Book.Chapter.Line)

Quote #7

[Lord Mark] had interposed, taking the words out of the lady's mouth and not caring at all if the lady minded. That was clearly the right way to treat her—at least for him. (1.5.2.19)

Lord Mark quickly cuts off a woman when she tries to invite Milly to a party. Normally, it would be a pretty rude gesture. But Milly can tell from the woman's reaction that Lord Mark can treat her this way because he's high class.

Quote #8

[Susan] had high-lights as to the special allowances made for the class, and since she saw them, when young, as effete and overtutored, inevitably ironic and infinitely refined, one must take it for amusing if she inclined to an indulgence verily Byzantine. (1.5.4.5)

Susan doesn't care all that much for upper class snobs. But that doesn't mean she'll pass up a chance to be Milly's hanger-on. Susan is a proud and intelligent woman, and it's because she's proud that she seems determined to treat the much wealthier Milly as a sort of possession, using her age as a way to be a mother-figure to the girl.

Quote #9

You're an outsider, independent and standing by yourself; you're not hideously relative to tiers and tiers of others. (1.5.6.19)

Milly is very baffling for the people in London because they have no clue how to place her within their rigid class system. First of all, she's from the States, so they don't know her family. Second of all, she's crazy rich, which is something they respect. But for all that, they can't tell whether they should treat her like they would a duke or duchess.