This story by Virginia Woolf reflects the period in which the moral decadence of British aristocracy led to its loss of respect among the people and the rising influence of newly rich commoners. It also shows how both groups could be equally ruthless in achieving their goals. Extensive use is made of symbolism, examples of which include: 1) The portrait of the Jeweler’s mother, representing his conscience; 2) Some fake (rotten at the core) pearls, representing the Duchess’s shallow, dishonorable character; and 3) The Jeweler’s purported love for the Duchess’s daughter, representing his desire for respectability and higher social status.
Another possible theme is antisemitism, as argued in this article in the OpenEdition Journal of the Short Story in English. If true, Woolf’s stereotypical description of a successful but dishonest jeweler with an elephant’s trunk nose is made all the more delightful through the irony of his surname (Bacon) and likeness to a giant hog nosing the ground for profits.
Original Text / PDF / Audio (2,522 words)