The concept from The Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorsten Veblen that "The wealth or power must be put into evidence, for esteem is awarded only on evidence . the evidence of wealth serve to impress one's importance on others and to keep their sense of his importance alive and alert" applies to Neil (Veblen, The Theory of the Leisure Class: Chapter III). The statement shows how Neil admires Mrs. Forrester's representation of wealth. After Mrs. Forrester's wealth withers away Neil begins to loose the esteem that he feels for her. In the novel A Lost Lady by Willa Cather, Neil at first has a high regard for Mrs. Forrester. After her wealth fades away, he begins to lose the admiration that he once has towards her.
Mrs. Forrester is "charming" and "ladylike" and Neil is in awe whenever he is in her presence (6). When Mrs. Forrester takes care of Neil's broken arm, he admires her looks and her house. As Neil lies in pain in the Forrester's house he feels "weak and contented" (20). Neil feels comfort in the nice surroundings of the Forrester house, "thinking that he would probably never be in so nice a place again" (20-21). Neil is in awe of Mrs. Forrester according to the description of: "what a lovely lady she was" (20) and "Oh, how sweet she smelled" (21). When Neil sees Mrs. Forrester for the first time, "He was proud now that at the first moment he recognized her as belonging to a different world from any he had ever known" (33). Neil realizes that she is at a higher social class that is unknown to him. The main factor for Neil's admiration of Mrs. Forrester is her loyalty and relationship with her husband. As shown in the book when it states, "it was in her relation to her husband that he most admired her her loyalty to him, stamped her .
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more than anything else" (65). Neil believes that Mrs. Forrester is a lady on whom the Captain depends. He fails to see that Mrs.
