CHAPTER 2 – The Moth and the Star

“The Moth and the Star,” Chapter 2 from “Worldly Ways and Byways,” explores an intriguing paradox within American society—the widespread fascination among the general populace with the lives of the wealthy and fashionable, despite seemingly no direct connection or similar life experiences. The chapter delves into the puzzling interest ordinary Americans have in the elite’s social activities, contrasting it starkly with expectations based on societal norms observed in countries with hereditary nobilities, where people traditionally idolize their aristocracy.

This fascination is unexpected in America, where the social landscape lacks the historical foundations that typically engender such interest. Yet, the author confirms the undeniable existence of this curiosity through personal experiences, noting that people across the country, even those far removed from the epicenters of high society, avidly follow the social exploits of New York’s elite, evidenced by an encounter where strangers referred to prominent social figures by first names, as if they were familiar acquaintances.

The author proposes that the root of this phenomenon lies in the monotony and practicality of the average American life, devoid of the cultural and leisurely engagements readily available in old-world societies. The narratives of the wealthy doing grand and exotic things provide a form of escapism and a touch of romance absent from the everyday lives of the middle class. Through these stories, the public vicariously experiences adventure and luxury, feeding into the American dream that they too, or their descendants, could achieve such a lifestyle through hard work and enterprise. This interest, the author suggests, is more than mere idle curiosity—it offers hope, inspiration, and a momentary respite from the drudgery of daily existence, all without the bitterness of envy typically associated with close proximities to unattainable wealth.

Moreover, the chapter concludes by emphasizing that this phenomenon of unfettered intrigue in the escapades of the upper crust is largely benign and reflects a uniquely American optimism and aspiration, untainted by class resentment. The widespread fascination is characterized as akin to a child’s enjoyment of a fairy tale, highlighting a collective yearning for beauty and adventure that transcends the bounds of socio-economic status.