The story portrays the struggles faced by impoverished family members who have been cheated out of their due money. It discusses the law of primogeniture, which gave the eldest heir everything and prevented the other siblings from receiving their just compensation.
The author mocks the impoverished relatives who show up to family feasts with their heads down in shame because of their lack of wealth through the voice of Elia, the wealthy heir and protagonist. They worry about how they look and behave, and they are self-conscious about it.
To Elia, they are unimportant. The host is not sure if they should be there and does not want them either. But their inability to get a better supper forces them into this scenario.
They frequently appear when wealthy people are hosting wealthy friends. Even though there isn’t enough food for everyone, it is polite for the wealthy to ask them to share.
Though at first they try to be shy and reject, the poor relatives end up stealing the largest portions of everything. Despite their anxiety, they act as though they belong. While the guests are captivated, the staff who are serving them are equally perplexed by their behavior.
However, the suffering doesn’t stop here. Then, these relatives share some of their most embarrassing stories, which are awkward and degrading at the same time.
Then Elia discusses cousins who are even more inappropriate for their gender than their male counterparts are. It is considerably harder for them to cover up their flaws and shabby appearances.
They are too aware of how shabby and tattered their clothes are. Elia, one of them, recalls a relative who attended university but had to take over the family business following the passing of his father. His sorrowful and abrupt transition from an academic life to a trade one was evident.
In contrast to its tone of humor and mockery, the novel closes with sympathy for those who find themselves in such difficult circumstances. Elia recollects how his wealthy sister made fun of one of his impoverished uncles for being so poor.
But he left enough money for his funeral when he passed away. More significantly, than riches and material belongings, the fact that he never owed a man in his life speaks volumes about a guy’s character and talents. Nobody can ultimately take their fortune with them throughout eternity.
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