Society and Class Quotes in The Corrections

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"Hey, funny thing, Fred, the only people that don't belong in your jail are upper-middle-class northern European men. And you're on my case for wanting things my way." (4.531)

This line, it must be mentioned, was spoken by a hallucinated talking turd. Yeah, really. Jokes aside, it shows that Alfred is at least aware of the cultural biases he holds against his fellow humanoids.

Quote #5

It rankled her that people richer than she were so often less worthy and attractive. More slobbish and louty. Comfort could be found in being poorer than people who were smart and beautiful. But to be less affluent than these T-shirted, joke-cracking fatsos— (4.595)

Enid came from poverty and has worked her butt off to build a middle-class lifestyle. So you can understand her frustration when the upper class lacks, well, class.

Quote #6

Eager, perhaps, to repay the favor of listening, Sylvia nodded with encouragement. But suddenly she reminded Enid of Katherine Hepburn. In Hepburn's eyes there had been a blank unconsciousness of privilege that made a once-poor woman like Enid want to kick her patrician shins with the hardest-toed pumps at her disposal. (4.712)

The idea of "privilege" is one that's central to The Corrections. While the concept is bemoaned at times, there's no doubt that it's present in the novel's wealthier characters.