Leisure Class Festivities and Social Obligations: An Analysis of Veblen's Theory

Extract

[...] The nobles who cannot finance this leisure life therefore register in a lower rank within a hierarchical system. Veblen calls them the 'lower idle'. These individuals are therefore forced to work anyway, but for the upper classes. They become courtiers, attendants, and servants of members of these upper classes. What interpretation does Veblen propose for the wearing of uniforms and livery? The uniform and livery allow for the identification of the patrons of these less favored nobles and to ensure that everyone knows their position in the social hierarchy. [...]

[...] What is the role of the wife in certain social classes? How to explain the notion of 'leisure by proxy' proposed by Veblen? In certain less favored social classes where the noble does not have servants of his own, it is his wife who must devote herself to leisure activities while her husband works to allow her to do so, even in a field considered ignoble. In this case, it is not considered degrading and the wife's leisure activities allow her husband to maintain his reputation. [...]

[...] This is a way to measure oneself against competitors from the same class, by showing that one has more money than they do. It is not really about having a "desire" to organize a party (although Veblen explains that in certain situations, desire and religion can be part of the motivations). Why does Veblen define leisure as an obligation for certain classes? Why can't some people fulfill this obligation? What happens to them then? Leisure is a social obligation for these classes, as it allows them to manifest and therefore preserve their belonging to the nobility. [...]