Orwell published his first novel, Burmese days in 1934. In this second novel (title above) the aspidistra, a common house decor plant becomes the symbol of middle class conformity and obeisance to Money God.
Gordon Comstock, a classics scholar and poet in his late twenties finds that the lack of money and the need to earn it, hamper his desire to write poetry. He has to work as a copy writer in an ad agency but he loathes his work of whipping up desires and making people buy the sponsored products.
He starts his private rebellion of saying no to money. He chucks his job and becomes a salesman in a bookshop. The job is even more loathsome to him and the pay is barely adequate for his food and board.
He works on his writing in the spare time: London Pleasures, a collection of poems. With inadequate money, writing becomes more and more difficult. Most of his poems are returned by publishers.
His public school education (which meant privation to his parents and sister) has given him a code of honour. He knows the rules: never let other people buy your drink for you, for one. He walks miles and goes hungry but does not let his girl friend buy things for him. He is very careful not to be seen as sponging off his rich friend, the only one he has.
The girl friend is an honest soul and dearly loves Gordon. She does not understand his rebellion and the bitterness that enters his soul. Gordon is sure that money vitiates everything, creeps into and spoils every relationship. His despair leads him to descend further into poverty. The girl friend wants to marry but is afraid to say so as he cannot support them both. She becomes pregnant but says heroically that she would not force him to marry but raise the baby on her own.
That and the grudging realization that the lower classes comprise decent people who do their best to keep their values and raise families while struggling for money, that they are not senseless, witless morons thrust hither and thither by Money God finally convince Gordon that his embrace of poverty for two years has been a fruitless journey. He realizes that there is nothing positive or redeeming about poverty; it deadens the body, mind and spirit.
He goes back to his first job, sets up home and marries the girl friend. He chucks out London Pleasures and decides to grow an aspidistra plant. His rebellion is over.
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