The Core Goal of Consumerism and Wealth Accumulation - Essay Example

The contemporary society has been pervaded by the power of money and materialism. The essays by James B. Twitchel and E. M Forster attempt to offer insight on the various paradigms revolving around the increasing materialistic society. Forster’s literary narration demystifies the effect of the property acquisition on the consumer or owner of the good. Furthermore, his literary explanation pertaining to his ‘wood’, offers a symbolic representation of the capitalistic society. In addition, Fosters narration is based on a reflective and spiritual nature. This is evident from his personalization of the effects of property (his wood) on his persona. James Twitchel essay entitled, “In Praise of Consumerism,” offers a significant view on the effects of consumerism to the society. His narration depicts a holistic view on the perceptions and adverse effects of consumerism in society. Furthermore, Twitchel offers a positive perspective of consumerism as highlighted by capitalists. A comparative analysis of both essays reveals complementing views and at time divergent views on the effects of a capitalistic and material oriented society. According to Twitchel, today’s society has been significantly enslaved by consumerism. In light of this, he states that ‘consumers are led around by the nose.’ This is an apparent depiction of the blind enslavement of consumers by the producers. .However, there exist divergent views pertaining to its effect on the society. To this end, he states that from a Marxist perspective, the buyers are being consistently duped by the aggressive marketers or sellers of products. Forster’s perceptions highlight the same issues when he states that, ‘creation, property and enjoyment’ have formed a suspicious trinity in the human mind. However, property seems to have appealed to the senses of the human mind. Consequently, property appears to offer a better option in the promise of satisfying all desires. Moreover, it is an unavoidable precinct since it is forced upon humans by the economic system. As a result, man opts for property rather than face starvation. Furthermore, Foster believes that the soul has succeeded in deceiving humans that with property; lays self development. Moreover, it has consistently deceived humans in believing that life on earth ‘ought to be material.’ Consequently, today’s society has been plagued by the insatiable desire to gather more wealth and property. As a result, humans have been enslaved by the capitalistic society through consumerism. On the contrary, Twitchel reveals a capitalist perspective by stating that producers are simply satisfying the growing demands of the consumers. Furthermore, consumerism is believed to be the success of the popular will. This is because the goods and services present the better option of achieving people’s desires. Consequently, the production of further goods only serves to fulfil the growing desires of society. Twitchel argues that the definitions and justification accorded to capitalism, has been degraded over time to exclude the customers’ values. Consequently, he states that past descriptions of capitalism since the early 1920’s, were clearly ‘so understandable, so acceptable.’ However contemporary definitions have become devoid and unaccountable to the values of the consumer. To this end, it seems that the capitalistic society has become an exploitative, deceptive and enslaving tool for the consumers. Thus, Twitchel states that ‘How and why did the consumer get dumbed down and phased out so quickly?’ The producers of goods and services have deceived consumers by creating a perception of ‘false needs’ to the society. However, Twitchel believes that the consumerist society has been fuelled the human affinity to possessing more stuff. In comparison to Forster’s essay, this is equally self evident when he divulges that he feel that his ‘wood’ (property), ‘ought to be larger.’ Furthermore, he reveals that he was displeased when he thought somebody was depreciating the value of his tree by ‘blackberrying’ it. On the contrary, when he saw that it was just a bird he was pleased since he assumed it belonged to him. Fosters’ literally narration reveals a symbolic representation of the ‘bird’ to additional goods and services. His pleasure from seeing the bird arose from the human nature of acquiring more stuff. Another interesting perspective exhibited in the essays pertains to issues of spirituality and religion. Forster states that his property makes him feel heavy. Furthermore, he offers a symbolic relation when he goes further to state that only men of weight failed in their cause to enter heaven. On the other hand, Twitchel criticizes consumerism by stating that it only lives to satisfy the needs of today and glorifies the body. Furthermore, he argues that it has displaced religion in society. To this end, the representation of ‘a man of weight’ by Forster depicts the adverse effect of capitalist society on man. Furthermore, the glorification of the body by consumerism equally depicts the adverse effect on the physical aspect. The problems of consumerism and wealth creation have preoccupied the minds of men at the expense of spirituality. As a result the symbolic depiction of ‘failure to enter the Kingdom of God’ represents the departure from the moral and religious values in society. According to Twitchel, the consumerist society has been plagued by deception instigated by the masters of the industry. To this end, he states that the media gurus have colluded in the mastery of deception aimed at arousing ‘reified desire.’ The ultimate aim of the deception has been to create a dominion over the consumer. Concomitantly, the consumer exhibits an innate desire to improve upon his/her good or service. As Forster states in one of his effects, the owner ‘feels that he ought to do something.’ The restless desire created by the deceptive marketers leads the consumer or owner into desiring more goods or services. These desires or impulses created, as Forster alludes, are pretentious, fake and empty. Greed and selfishness are pervasive elements of consumerism. Twitchel observes that the market has been transformed through the manipulation of people in society in favour of the few. The greedy and selfish market producers have amassed profits at the expense of consumers. In comparison, Forster states that he has grown increasingly overwhelmed by the desire to fence of his ‘wood.’ Moreover, he is disturbed at the thought of the bird flying off from his wood to Mrs. Henessy’s yard. Greedy and selfish thoughts of buying out Mrs. Henessy or murdering her are not far from his mind. However, he is upset by his limitations of taking such an action. To this end, Forster has symbolically represented the selfish and greedy thoughts brought about by the capitalist society that focuses on wealth accumulation at all costs. Consequently, both Twitchel and Forster have exhibited the elements of greed and selfishness attributed to consumerism and materialism. The core goal of consumerism and wealth accumulation is to achieve prosperity. As a testament to this fact, Twitchel observes that ‘getting and spending’ have defined the tenets of modern life. Moreover, the bearings of a good life are defined by a material life. This precinct is equally expressed in Forster’s essay. He acknowledges that he aspires to wall in and out until he tastes the ‘sweets of prosperity.’ It is no doubt that consumerism has shaped the perception and affected the people in society. Capitalism has fuelled consumerism that has resulted in a material oriented perception in human beings. Both essays have comparatively expressed this fact through the divergent narrations. Read More