The Worship of the Wealthy – G K Chesterton

The Worship of the Wealthy – G K Chesterton

G K Chesterton born in London on 29^th May 1874 educated at St Paul’s School, later obtained degree of English Literature from a University College London. He chose to be a writer, as his tastes were literary and journalistic. As Journalist, he wrote essays on social criticism. The present essay ‘The Worship of the Wealthy’ is an excellent example of social criticism. The scintillating wit and paradoxical style sparkle with the with glow of glamour and novelty make the common reader peep through his paradoxical style and wit in describing day to day incidents which are left unnoticed.

‘The Worship of the Wealthy’ is about how he journalists and literary people falsely praising the people those who are wealthy and great. The author also says some examples how the poor and common people praise the wealthy persons. The author says that he noticed in literature and journalism this type of falsehood is silently creeping as a tradition praising the wealthy people. The common people are wishing to please a rich man for their personal gains simply saying all types of flattering words. The courtiers sang that their king almost resembles the sun at noonday, that they should shade their eyes when he enters the court. Further, they say that they could not breathe without him. He is one who conquered all continents with his single sword.

The moderns have invented a much more poisonous kind of eulogy. The modern method of flattery is to take the prince or rich man to give a credible picture of his type of personality by enormously exaggerating his natural qualities. The newer and cleverer flatterer takes for granted that he is extraordinary, and therefore even ordinary things into extraordinary flattering.

Thus, the author G K Chesterton has tried to give his paradoxical instances how poor and common people are always flattering the rich and the great for the personal gains and benefits.

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