In the excerpt, titled Gentlefolk, the author clearly presents a disliking for people of the upper class. The author tries to convince readers that people who are of wealth are basically useless through the negative tone and characterizations of these people. Making broad generalizations and giving sarcastic praises, is how the author drills his message of hatred. One of the major of problems the author has with the wealthy is their lack of motivation. Characterizing them as an idle group. Their laziness is the result of many bad habits.

The gentlefolk go out to catch newts, insects, and frogs. Spending time pouring over their insides. The author puts this activity on the same level as a child playing in mud. Saying ” You dabbled in nasty mud and mud pies when you were a child; and you dabble in nasty sciences, and dissect spiders, and the spoil flowers when you grow up. ” He or she cannot comprehend how this is helpful to society at all. Claiming that the wealthy person is not learning anything from this, but instead “Nine out of ten they take to torturing or to spoiling something… ” (lines 7-8). This is viewed as wasteful to the writer.

The fact that gentlefolk are being wasteful causes the author to see them as uncaring. He doesn’t believe they realize what they are doing to these creatures. Describing them as “without a pang of remorse,” for the experiments they are carrying out. The author uses sarcasm to show the disgust he truly possesses for this group of people. It stems from their lack of respect for other creatures. He sarcastically remarks that the wealthy are Just “poor souls” trying to do well for themselves. When really, en tells that gentlefolk are incapable to doing anything productive for society.

The author believes “that you have got nothing to think of in your poor empty head, and nothing to do with your poor idle hands” (lines 32- 34). The rich don’t know what real work is. Dissecting living organism isn’t ever comparable to the days work of a middle or lower class citizen. These harsh criticisms really set a negative tone for the whole passage. Generalizations are made about anyone who is well off. It is made very clear to readers the author is not fond of anyone who is rich. He uses nasty characterizations including laziness and cruelty as well as sarcasm to paint the picture of an evil society.