Literary notes about money (AI summary)
In literature, the word "money" is not merely a marker of wealth but a multifaceted symbol that can evoke magic, power, morality, and even destiny. In some works, money takes on a mystical quality—as seen in Frazer’s account of a devilish bargain [1]—where it is tied to supernatural forces, while in others, it underscores stark social realities and personal conflicts, such as Chekhov’s portrayal of familial coercion [2] or the intricate negotiations in Agatha Christie’s mysteries [3]. Authors like Dickens and Shakespeare use money to explore themes of greed, trust, and betrayal [4, 5], whereas in texts by Dostoyevsky and Conrad, it embodies the corruption or transactional nature of human relationships [6, 7]. Thus, across diverse genres and historical periods, "money" serves both as a literal necessity and a potent metaphor for the values, ambitions, and contradictions of society.