Parvenu: Difference between revisions

The word ''parvenu'' typically describes a person who recently [[Social mobility|ascended the social ladder]], especially a ''[[nouveau riche]]'' or "new money" individual. The famous [[Margaret Brown]], who survived the ''[[RMSsinking of the Titanic|sinking of the ''Titanic]]'' sinking]] in 1912, was portrayed as a "new money" individual, most notably in the "climbing social classes" musical ''[[The Unsinkable Molly Brown (musical)|The Unsinkable Molly Brown]]'', because of her impoverished [[Irish people|Irish]] [[immigrant]] roots and lack of social [[Pedigree chart|pedigree]].

A '''social climber'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> is a derogatory term that denotes someone who seeks social prominence through aggressive, fawning, or obsequious behavior.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Class in America: An Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia|last=Weir|first=Robert E.|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2007|isbn=9780313337192|location=Westport, CT|pages=789}}</ref> The term is sometimes used as synonymous with ''parvenu'', and may be used as an insult, suggesting a poor [[work ethic]] or disloyalty to roots.

Established royal families of Europe regarded the [[House of Bonaparte|Bonaparte]] family as ''parvenu'' royalty. [[Napoleon III]] tried to marry into Swedish and German royalty, but was unsuccessful because he was a ''parvenu''. For instance, his plan to marry [[Anna Pavlovna of Russia|Anna Pavlovna]], one of the sisters of the [[Alexander I of Russia|Emperor Alexander]], did not push through because the [[Maria Feodorovna (Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg)|Empress Mother]] objected to the union on account of Napoleon's status as a parvenu.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Life of Napoleon Bonaparte|lastlast1=MacFarlane|firstfirst1=Charles|last2=Haweis|first2=Hugh Reginald|publisher=George Routledge and Sons|year=1880|isbn=|location=New York|pages=280}}</ref> The reason given for the misalliance was difference of religion.<ref name=":0" /> This was also said to be the case with the marriage of Egyptian [[Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt|Princess Fawzia]] to the future [[Pahlavi dynasty|Shah of Iran]], [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]]{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}. One of the reasons speculated for their divorce is that Fawzia's family, including [[King Farouk I]], viewed the Pahlavis as ''parvenus''{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}. Though the [[Muhammad Ali Dynasty]] of [[Egypt]] and [[Sudan]], to which Fawzia belonged, had humble beginnings, it had solidified its status in Egypt and the [[Arab World]] since 1805. In contrast, the Pahlavis were a far more recent dynasty, owing their position entirely to the ''[[Iranian coup of 1921|coup d'état]]'' of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's father, [[Reza Shah|Reza Khan]], in 1921.

* In the novel ''[[Enigma Otiliei]]'' by Romanian writer ''[[George Călinescu]]'', Stănică Rațiu represents the newly rich. He obtains his wealth by stealing money from a rich old man and by marrying into the elite.

* In the novel ''[[The Great Gatsby]]'', Gatsby represents the newly rich. He obtains his wealth through [[Rum-running|bootlegging]], spends it lavishly, and struggles to gain the acceptance of older money.

* Pip, from Dickens's ''[[Great Expectations]]'', would be considered a ''parvenu'' by many.

* Edmond Dantès as [[Edmond Dantès|The Count of Monte Cristo]] in [[Alexandre Dumas]]' [[The Count of Monte Cristo|work]].

* John and Alisoun in "[[The Miller's Tale]]" by Geoffrey Chaucer.

* The Franklin in ''"[[The Franklin's Tale]]''" by Geoffrey Chaucer.

* [[Bennet family#Mrs. Bennet|Mrs. Bennet]], and [[Pride and Prejudice#Charles Bingley|the Bingleys]], in [[Jane Austen]]'s novel ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''.

* Philip Elton in [[Jane Austen]]'s novel ''[[Emma (novel)|Emma]]''.

* Jane Wilson in [[Anne Brontë]]'s novel ''[[The Tenant of Wildfell Hall]]''.

* Barry Lyndon, the protagonist of the novel ''[[The Luck of Barry Lyndon]]'' by [[William Makepeace Thackeray]], as well as the eponymous [[Barry Lyndon|film]] by [[Stanley Kubrick]].

* ''[[The Necklace]]'' by [[Guy Dede Maupassant]] tells the story of Madame Mathilde Loisel and her husband. Mathilde always imagined herself in a high social position with wonderful jewels. However, she has nothing and marries a low-paid clerk who tries his best to make her happy.

* "[[William Wilson (short story)|William Wilson]]", a short story by Edgar Allan Poe.

* In ''[[Stan & Ollie]]'', [[Stan Laurel]] calls [[Hal Roach]] a parvenu when he refuses to give them raisesa raise.

* [[Nouveau richeCovetousness]]

* [[Social mobilityHypergamy]]

* ''[[SnobberyNouveau riche]]''

* ''[[HypergamyNovus homo]]''

* [[CovetousnessSnobbery]]