“But nowadays and in our part of the world, more and more people are neither rich nor poor: they dream of wealth, and could become wealthy; and that is where their misfortunes begin.”
Perec’s narrative speaks largely on materialism and consumerism in 1960s, a dynamic that is still prevalent in our current society. Industrialization is a global phenomenon that brought with it the habit of accumulating possessions in pursuit of gratification. In Jerome and Sylvie's case, they too have fallen into the same cycle of seeking abundance to fulfill the supposed pleasure. Thus, the statement highlights that such a quest has an optimal in terms of gratification and once reached then issues arise.
“What they liked in things they called luxury was only the money behind them; they loved wealth before they loved life.”
The statement demonstrates where the misfortune arises, the gravitation towards abundance rather than living life itself. Jerome and Sylvie are numbing themselves by choosing to prioritize money than the other things around them. By chasing the same thing boredom sets in, as it is cyclical in nature; however excitement and happiness come from the unpredictability of everyday life. Rather than seek gratification from just living life despite the uncertainties, they chose to chase wealth and accumulating possessions.
