Is The Theme Of Consumerism And The Emergence Of The Middle Class In Colonial America

Written by Christina Hodge, the book Consumerism and the Emergence of the Middle Class in Colonial America: The Genteel Revolution, was to portray a woman during the eighteenth century and daily life in Newport. Hodge talks about Widow Pratt throughout the chapters, she is not the main character. The book is also based on a historiography, which is the study of historical writing. The theme of the book is on gentility, the social superiority by genteel manners, behavior, or appearance. There is also the way of being genteel, the way to act proper. In the way that Hodge explains and characterizes the ways of the 18th century were partially dull, but she also gave a very good insight on how the turning of the 18th century has made people during

Widow Pratt begins to have troubles keeping her shop to herself when other people are trying to obtain it from her. In the eighteenth century, women are becoming the dominator of exporting the demand instead of men. Widow Pratt has been through many things in her life including the court appearance she had to make to keep her shop to herself from her son-in-law(s). In the shop Pratt kept many valuable things she did not want to part from and was worth around six hundred pounds. In the end of the chapter, Hodge explains the similarities between refinement, trade, and consumerism bounded Newport together during the eighteenth century. In the last chapter, Legacies of the Genteel Revolution, it begins with the discussion of a painting of ‘A Cottage Interior: An Old Woman Preparing Tea. Looking through the painting there are gloves and a handkerchief hanging from a laundry line above the fireplace, which means that the woman even though she is poor she is able to afford expensive objects. There is also the pile of books that are stacked on a shelf against the wall, giving that the woman is knowledgeable. The painting gives a depiction of selective refinement, but also the widening of the eighteenth century material world. Chapter six is the summary of an argument that began in the very first chapter of the book

The paintings she incorporated in her readings give a better glance at the way the eighteenth century genteel revolution was not based on fiction. Including painting and drawings that are directly related to the information that Hodge provided in each of the chapters. Hodge does a great job at giving similar occasions in her chapters and relate them to a painting. There is also the fact that Hodge, even though she is a Harvard professor, her writing can be too professional for a college student to read. She didn’t really relate the information in a way that can appeal to those who may be interested in her readings. Using big words that many people many not understand and examples that are also hard to understand. Hodge should be more interested in her audience understanding and relating to her readings instead of trying to obtain an older audience. In my opinion, there are some factors that appeal to me in how they are being put to the audience. I believe that her audience was tended for women, because of all the efforts the Widow Pratt took may lead women into leadership positions for their future. Also offering the view of gentility as a whole into the lives of