Genre
Philosophical nonfiction
Setting and Context
The book is concerned with the worldly ideas of altruism and economical ambition in relation to feministic contemplations with not particular setting.
Narrator and Point of View
Narrator: the author
Point of view: first person.
Tone and Mood
Contemplative, questioning
Protagonist and Antagonist
While there is no exact protagonist and antagonist, the idea self-absorbed economic and societal pursuit can be seen as an antagonizing force against altruism and those in need of care.
Major Conflict
The economic boom is diminishing selflessness and damaging family values in exchange for selfish economic pursuits.
Climax
Altruism and self-interest shouldn't exclude one another, but there should be a way to include both. Mentioning things that money can't buy shouldn't exclude the value of those that it can, and care-giving and selflessness are crucial aspects of society and rewarding of those shouldn't be frowned upon.
Foreshadowing
N/A
Understatement
"Now that women have gained rights similar to those of men, they are entering a world in which they have more freedom to consider the penalties imposed on unselfish behavior."
-understatement of how badly the women were underestimated in their selfless work in taking care of families, without the prospects of exploring self-interests.
Allusions
Allusion to the nineteenth century economist Adam Smith and his idea of the "invisible hand".
Imagery
The language of economy, for instance: young people and their education are described as "human capital" in economic terms. "If human capital is so important, maybe we should pay more attention to how and where it is actually produced - in families and communities."
Paradox
"Economics is full of rhetoric about human capital, but economics seldom try to measure the value of the existing human capital stock, or ask how it might be appreciating over time."
Parallelism
"Since household work did not create value, there was no need to produce items like washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, or vacuum cleaners that might ease the burden."
Metonymy and Synecdoche
"When the eighteenth century economist Adam Smith extolled the invisible hand, he was referring to the decentralized, automatic, self-regulated forces of supply and demand in the competitive market."
-the invisible hand as a representation of the entire body of providers and consumers.
Personification
"The actions of the hand affect the feelings of the heart, though it is often difficult to say exactly how."
