Morality in Theodore Dreisers The Financier: A Character Analysis of Frank Cowperwood - Essay Example

?Morality in Theodore Dreiser’s The Financier: A Character Analysis of Frank Cowperwood Introduction The morality of an action determines the values of a person as well as justifies the intention of that certain act. Morality is a critical issue in the society because it is a cultural construct that defines the actions of the people. The world economy today is highly dependent on businesspeople, and it is also highly influenced by their business activities. As a result, businesspeople, more than ordinary people, benefit the increasing economic growth. In addition, it is also observable that some, if not all, business practitioners sometimes bend morality values to implement their policies. While this situation is rampant in the society today, Theodore Dreiser, in his novel The Financier, explores and tackles morality issues in business, social order and marriage (“Theodore Dreiser,” n.pag.). As this novel focuses on Frank Cowperwood, this paper evaluates his character in the context of the morality of his acts. Personally, I see Frank Cowperwood as having no moral fiber, and I aim to justify my claim in the next parts of this paper. The Author and The Story: An Overview Theodore Dreiser, born on April 1871 in California as the ninth of ten siblings, grew up in a poor family (Hussman, n.pag.). His father, who Dreiser consider as ineffectual, was mostly out of work, while the affectionate attitude of his mother was his source of encouragement. As a result of his material deprivation, Dreiser, even in his younger years, strove to acquire wealth and success. Specifically, his success as a novelist lies in his ability to tell the truth concerning the nature of human beings in the context of their actions and decisions they make in the significant events of their lives. The main characters, in most of his novels, are drawn from the people that Dreiser had encountered. As a result, most of his works tackle morality issues which may lead readers to understand the American culture, orientation, and daily experience. In his novel The Financier, Dreiser narrates the life of Frank Cowperwood as he introduces readers to the American experience during his time (Frum, n.pag). In the beginning of the story, Dreiser introduces Frank as an intelligent boy interested in business and politics. Frank does not concern himself with people and things that are not beneficial to him. The story continues following the life of Frank as a child, married man and a businessperson. Specifically, morality issues develop during Frank’s marriage and in his business career. For the reason, that Frank’s relationships with his wife, business partners and friends have conflicts, themes and issues in morality are revealed and explored in those relationships. Frank’s decisions reveal his moral values, if he had any. Cowperwood as a Child In the beginning of the novel, Dreiser describes Frank as an intelligent boy, organized and competitive as well as enthusiastic in business and politics; he enjoys the company of intelligent people because he knows that he will learn from them. Once, when he was a child, he saw a lobster and a squid confined together in a tank. He witnessed the hungry lobster eat the helpless and weak squid. He enjoyed watching the squid’s struggle and the lobster’s success, and he wish to have the same feeling, the feeling of success. In this instance, he realized that the law of nature does not depend on morality, rather it is according to needs of the time. He realized that nature favors those who have stronger defense mechanisms as they are most likely to survive in life and death situations. After the incident, he decides to become like the lobster, capable of getting whatever he wants in life. As a child, Frank uses his time in learning things he thought would be useful in achieving his dream of becoming a banker. He does not show abusive inclinations and does not hurt other children. In this case, I can say that Frank is not inherently immoral. In fact, he was raised in a comfortable household, his father being a banker. His insensitivity toward other people develops as a product of his experiences. As he grows, the bitter realities of the world as well as his hunger for power, wealth and success made him realize that it is not practical to be moralistic. With this, I can say that his morals are compromised in the process of achieving his dreams. Cowperwood: His Morality in Business Frank starts his business career at the age of thirteen. By this time, the lobster and squid incident is still in his mind. In all his ventures, he strives to be the lobster. As mentioned by Schneider, Frank is insensitive of other people’s feelings as he only sees them as his prey (n.pag.). In this situation, Frank is selfish as he does not care about others; his only concern is himself. For me, selfishness is a sign of immorality, and I can say that Frank does not have morals because he is selfish. Selfishness leads a person to do things that can hurt other people. Frank strives, always, to get what he wants regardless of what others may feel about him. He was even put to jail because of his unethical and fraudulent business practices. Aside from this, Cowperwood is unlike other businesspeople as he has an entirely different set of business principles. He compares the business world to a jungle in which only the strongest animals survive. In this case, he sees himself as the stronger animal who is capable of taking business opportunities of others even under their nose. The treasurer-elect of Philadelphia, George Stener, a character in The Financier, describes Cowperwood as a person having a distinct sense of financial individuality. “They want money, but not for money’s sake...whereas the financier wants it for what it will control, for what it will represent in the way of dignity, force, power” (Dreiser 195). Cowperwood, as a financier, is an expert in making money and manipulating it to make a reputation. Relatively, for the reason that he sees business as a jungle, the only aim of Cowperwood is to take the money and opportunities from other businesspeople regardless of what those mean to them. Taking this into account, it can be said that Cowperwood has no consideration for other people as he does not hesitate to take whatever interests him. He sees other people as his prey, a source capable of giving him power and money. While attaining our dreams makes us happy, it is not reason enough to permit us to do fraudulent and unethical practices. The business practices of Frank, although not entirely evil, still does not value morality as an essential element in the process. Frank conducts his business affairs basing on cost benefits, which is but normal in business (“The Financier,” n.pag.). In regard to this, I can say that in business, there must be a balance between the analysis of cost benefits and morality of one’s business practices. As for Frank, he has troubles achieving this kind of balance because it is not in his nature; by nature, he is cold and insensitive. In this aspect of Frank’s life, I can say that he does not have morals as he disregards the situation of others. Cowperwood: His Morality in Marriage The unhappy marriage of Frank leads him to have extramarital affairs with other women. In the words of Pattison, women in Cowperwood’s life (Lillian, Aileen and Berenice) help develop his character, specifically, his morality in the context of marriage (4). For the reason that most of his relationships do not last, it can be said that Cowperwood does not have a thorough understanding on the concepts of marriage and relationships. I think, he views women as possessions, the same as his money and power. As money is the source of his power, women are the source of his physical satisfaction. Relatively, by the time women cease to give him what he wants, he loses his interest in them. If women stop to satisfy him, he also stops to take concern for them. In this case, Cowperwood’s view on marriage deviates from what is moral as he treats it like a commodity. In addition, he questions the value of marriage in the sense that it prefers monogamy. Is he not entitled to another woman if his first wife is sickly? “Anyhow, was a man entitled to only one wife? Must he never look at another woman? Supposing he found some one?...If a man could, and not be exposed, it was all right” (Dreiser pp. 76-77). He had these thoughts in mind because he had seen Aileen again. Considering this, it can be said that polygamy, for Cowperwood, is not a violation against marriage if it remains a secret. While Cowperwood takes his responsibility as the provider of the family, he is not a loyal husband. Considering this situation, I can say that Cowperwood does not have any moral fiber in the context of marriage. Marriage, for Cowperwood, is another way of getting what he wants; women, especially those who are young and beautiful, are prey to his desires. As he continues to think that having a second wife is reasonable, his relationship with his wife worsened. The unreasonable quarrels he had with his wife only create gaps that eventually led him to go with Aileen. “Although the problem with her was insoluble unless Mrs. Cowperwood should formally agree to give him up...neither he nor Aileen were deterred by that thought. They were going to build a future together--or so they thought, marriage or no marriage. The only thing that Cowperwood could see to do was to take Aileen away with him, and to trust to time and absence to modify his wife’s point of view” (Dreiser pp. 469-470) In this situation, Cowperwood shows his negligence as a husband as he does not have another solution to his problems except to run away. Although Cowperwood’s efficiency in conducting business is superb, he is inefficient in establishing lasting relationships, especially with women. In addition, he does know how to deal with his wife knowing that she is the one greatly affected by his clandestine affairs with Aileen. While confronting Lillian, his first wife, about Aileen would hurt more that leaving her, Cowperwood would, at least, exert effort in talking over those matters. Thus, while it is true that he is a successful businessman, he cannot be considered a successful father and husband. Cowperwood’s Morality in Business and Marriage The contrasting situations of Cowperwood’s business and married life show that a person cannot have everything in life. The character of Cowperwood shows that a person cannot be perfect. If persons excel in one aspect of their lives, they are doomed to failure in other aspects. As for Cowperwood, although it can be said that his excellence in business ensures his financial stability, it is not a guarantee for him to have a stable and happy family. In business, Cowperwood is stern and objective; his emotions do not suspend his judgment as well as his business dealings. As a result, he rises as one of the most successful tycoons during his time. However, he lost interest in business by the time he realizes that it is not everything in life. As a family man, he often had conflicts with his wife which led to their divorce. For the reason that the emotion is one of the factors influencing a person’s moral principles, it also determines how far a person would go to achieve what he/she desires. Emotions make us sensitive to other people; it makes us ponder on our decisions in such a way that we would become aware of its effects to others. Cowperwood, as a stern businessman, does not have any emotions reserved for other people, even for his wife and other women he had an affair with. “From odd moments in his own home, stolen when there was no one about to see, they advance to clandestine meetings beyond the confines of the city...the more he thought of this rather unexpected affectional development, the certain he was that he must not let it interfere his business time and judgment” (Dreiser 134). This passage confirms the true identity of Cowperwood. Business and relationships do not share a common level in his priority list. He views business as more worthy of his time than his relationships with women. Business is all that matters; he puts it first before anything else. Relationships are his pastime, an entertainment that would cease to make sense when business calls for immediate attention. His certainty that relationship can obscure his sound judgment proves that relationship, especially his marriage, cannot stop him from conducting business. Conclusion All things considered, the themes and issues on morality in The Financier are best manifested in the character of Cowperwood because of his ambitions and views of life. For the reason that he believes that life is a constant battle for survival and conquest of success, he fails to evaluate the morality of his decisions and actions. While these views serve Cowperwood well in business, those perceptions hinder him from sustaining favorable business relationships as well as having a successful marriage. Lastly, Cowperwood’s story made me realize that a person cannot have everything in life. For me, the important thing is to achieve balance in the context of practicality and morality of our actions. Works Cited Dreiser, Theodore. The Financier. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2005. Pennsylvania State University. Web. 21 Nov. 2011. . Frum, David. “The Financier.” FrumForum. FrumForum, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Hussman, Lawrence, E. “Theodore Dreiser.” History.com. History.com, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Pattison, Roberta Margaret. “Women in Dreiser’s Cowperwood Trilogy.” Thesis. McMaster University, 1976. Print. Schneider, Jessica. “Book Review: The Financier by Theodore Dreiser.” BC Books. Blogcritics.org, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . “The Financier.” The Creation of Corporate America. Typepad.com, 11 Nov. 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . “Theodore Dreiser.” American Literature Online. American Literature Online, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Read More