Corruption in Capitalism

CAPITALISM
DOES IT CREATE UNITY WITHIN SOCIETY, OR DOES IT DISCONNECT US FROM ONE ANOTHER?

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Today, prominent figures continue to warn society that capitalism creates a divide within the human economy. Instead of creating a system of balances, capitalism severs relationships and creates a hierarchy of power. Pope Francis argues that the benefits of capitalism are overshadowed by its negative effects.

In the book The Gift, author Lewis Hyde describes the consequences that come from a gift economy versus capitalism’s commodifying characteristic. He states,

The cardinal difference between gift and commodity exchange [is] that a gift establishes a feeling-bond between the two people, while the sale of a commodity leaves no necessary connection.

WHAT IT CAPITALISM?

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In order to understand the dangers of commodification, it is essential to first understand the beginnings of capitalism. The rise of capitalism began after monumental events, such as the exploration of America, and the Black Death, occurred. Class systems that had financially struggled in England, now began to economically prosper due to these events. People now found themselves with more money than they had previously experienced. According to Graeber, this sudden prosperity created a consumer culture, where people could spend their income, not only on necessities, but also on lavish goods. Thus emerges the economic system, capitalism, where men created businesses, also known as markets, in order to profit from this surplus of money. At the most basic level Graeber defines markets in capitalism as Ways of exchanging good through the medium of money…capitalism is first and foremost the art of using money to get more money (M-C-M). 

 Thus, the focus of capitalism is to increase profit and personal gain.

BEFORE CRITICIZING CAPITALISM WAS COOL

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But before Pope Francis and other skeptics questioned the idea of capitalism, another man prophetically warned the public of its dangers, his name, Ben Jonson. Ben Jonson was a popular playwright during the seventeenth century, who was known for his satirical plays and risqué content. Jonson wrote the satire Epicene for the stage. Although the play is meant to make us laugh and question the sanity and morality of these characters, I believe that it contains more than just satirical humor. It is through this play that he subtly declares his true views on capitalism and its corruptive characteristics. Jonson codes his political views through his characters and their relationships with one another. It is only by decoding the symbolism within these relationships that readers can interpret his underlying message; connections create humanity, and capitalism stunts relationships.

Epicene: The Dangers of the Consumer Culture

During Jonson’s era capitalism was still a fairly new concept, being introduced in 1450, and yet, Jonson recognized the negative effects that slowly began to change the structure of society. By understanding Jonson’s use of satire, and the lack of connection within relationships in Epicene, we can understand Jonson’s attitude towards the dangers of capitalism that, he believed, would eventually lead to civilization’s downfall.

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MOROSE

I now introduce Jonson’s brainless consumer, Morose. Morose represents the consumer infatuated with the capitalist society; he was never satisfied with what he had. Instead of regarding human life with respect, and desiring to develop deep relationships, he desires a product to fit his specific needs. Unfortunately these products are not objects, rather people.

So what does he do? He searches for a wife that will produce the most value to his posterity and give longevity to his name. But he only has one requirement. According to Morose, she needs to be silent, no matter the form or...quality, so she be able to bear children” .

In order to comprehend how consumerism has warped Morose's perception of marriage, we must first understand how the Oxford English Dictionary defines marriage, and then compare it to Morose's definition.

• Oxford English Dictionary- An intimate union; a merging or blending of two things. 
• What Morose says to his servant Cutbeard when first meeting Epicene- This gentlewoman is she you have provided and brought in hope that she will fit me in the place and person of wife? 

THE REAL REASON FOR MARRIAGE

It is important to understand the lack of human connection between characters, but in order to understand Morose’s downfall, it is just as important to identify his true motives for marriage. At the end of the play, Morose’s loss of power arises because he is motivated by revenge and his desire to have an heir to carry his name forward.

Morose does not have any children; thus, the next in line to receive his inheritance is his nephew, Dauphine. But Morose wants to cut off his only nephew from his fortune because he disapproves of his lifestyle. So what should Morose do? *Hint, whatever logical strategy you have come up with, he didn't do that* He decides to marry a complete stranger, start a family to carry forth his legacy, and make his nephew suffer.

Maybe Morose should take this advice.
You can't marry a woman you just met.
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Marjorie Swan describes a new trend occurring in the seventeenth century in order to gain power and social status. She states, 

the genealogically minded individual [- or husband-] regarded himself as ‘a trustee for the handing on of blood, property, and tradition,’ and strove to perpetuate his bloodline by procreating within marriage. 

She explains that not only were men the sole "trustees", but they also needed to find a virginal and morally pure woman, in order to increase this power. And that is how Morose’s quest began. 

But actually courting a woman, and getting to know her was beneath him. Naturally he had to hire someone else to take his place. So for six months he hired a man, who searched all over England, to find him a silent woman, be she of any form or any quality, so she be able to bear children. Hiring another to take his place in finding a wife, shows Morose wants to avoid all obligations tied to building a relationship. Morose has no intentions of creating a family built on deep relationships; he simply wants to preserve his legacy of power. Ladies, this is what we call a "red flag".

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So What's the Point?

THE CON MAN

Dauphine's character is meant to represent the market system, and the dangers of disconnect that are caused by this market. It is only through trickery and wit that Dauphine outwits his consumer for profit and personal gain. Ironically this consumer is his uncle.

So what does a man have to do in order to secure himself the good life? Dauphine knows he is going to lose his inheritance, so he creates a plan to secure a comfortable life without having to work. Morose falls for Dauphine's plan and foolishly marries Epicene. After marrying her, Morose recognizes that his product does speak, and she has a mind of her own. Oh the horror! After recognizing that he has no power over her words he searches for every escape possible. What he thought would have been the deal of the lifetime, becomes his most expensive purchase.

A modern day Epicene.  Would you be able to tell the
difference?
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In the end, Morose irrationally gives up his entire inheritance in order to receive quick relief, Come, nephew: give me the pen. I will subscribe to anything, and seal to what thou wilt, for my deliverance. Thou art my restorer. Here I deliver thee as my deed.  Morose recognizes that the product he thought would increase his fortune will now drive him insane. Instead of logically creating an escape plan, he is consumed by his desperation for an escape; this is evident when he pleads to his nephew, I will subscribe to anything. Morose blindly marries Epicene because his qualifications have been met, but devastatingly finds out the truth because he never takes the time to get to know her.

The great disconnect, between market and consumer, is once again established at the end of the play when Dauphine reveals the true identity of Epicene. Epicene is a young boy that Dauphine has trained for six months to play the role of a silent woman. This revelation comes as a shock to all because no one takes the time to build relationships. All are blinded by the exchange of the good. Although Morose states that he wants a wife to fulfill his impossible expectations, in the end, he marries a boy. Thus proving that what he really desired wasn't a companion, but a product to produce him an heir.

OH THE IRONY

Above all money is never an isolated reality; wherever it is, it influences all economic and social relationships” and with capitalism, the desire for more money and more power affects these relationships and blinds people. 

Truer words have never been spoken. Capitalism blurs the lines between the importance of relationships and money. Morose searches for personal gain, but in the end he marries a boy. He desires continued power and influence, but is unable to achieve it due to his "consumer blinders". Dauphine receives no punishment for his evil actions towards his own family. The irony and satirical elements of that situation is what highlights Jonson's views on the dangers of the markets, and the consumers drive for more. Today the ideas of capitalism continue to be scrutinized, but even before this trendy debate emerged, Ben Jonson warned us of the dangers of Capitalism. If this idea has been questioned and circulated for hundreds of years, maybe we should pay closer attention to the effects of capitalism.

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