Nascent Capitalism: “L’Illustre Gaudissart”

Abstract

“L’Illustre Gaudissart” uses comedy to make significant points about “Nascent Capitalism.” The beneficent changes of the Industrial Revolution required the involvement of the entire society. Gaudissart is sent to the provinces to encourage the developmentally arrested provincials to unearth their assets and provide the financial liquidity desperately needed by the economy. The madman Margitis exemplifies the retrograde provincials, who understand little about the new capitalistic society. Chained to present circumstances and pleasures, he is unable to see beyond the daily weather, and he has no grasp of the importance of events occurring outside his neighborhood.