Echoing the many real-world, tragic natural disasters experienced in recent years, the destruction at Bellaloha demonstrates natural forces that overrule the most carefully laid human plans. In a similar thread, Rene receives excellent medical treatment but is ultimately at the mercy of his illness. In the novel, what other examples did you see of problems that money can’t solve?
Freddy has money but struggles with trust and finding real love. Prince Julius is technically royal, but he’s broke and trapped by expectations. Even Augie, who’s surrounded by wealth, can’t escape the pressure to make a “smart” marriage. The book makes it clear—money helps, but it can’t fix heartbreak, loss, or who people really are.
Aside from not guaranteeing happiness, health, and love, the characters’ wealth didn’t fix their lack off decency to others, addiction, greed, depravity, lack of integrity, loneliness, and a myriad of other afflictions from which they suffered. In other words, it didn’t help them be better human beings.
I think most of the characters are afflicted with a condition that cannot be fixed with money. Mostly in the love and family department. Greed is a common theme, so much so that a woman like Arabella doesn’t even realize her greediness or desire for more wealth and treasures. Luis Felipe is another who cannot escape the bounds of addiction and it ultimately costs him his life.
Luis Felipe can’t escape the pain of believing his father didn’t love him. Arabella can’t escape the fear that she - or her children -could lose everything - because without money and position, she fears they will be seen as worthless. Eden, a doctor, and Bea, a rich girl are assumed to be servants simply because they look Asian.
The first thing, that comes to mind, is love. Love is something that goes way beyond dollars and cents. It involves a commitment to another person “rich or poor”. The other thing that money can’t solve is reputation. Luis F. is known to be drug addict and irresponsible no matter how much money he has. He is not someone that others would really want to be around unless those people have the same inclinations. Dr. Tong on the other hand is much respected. He is not considered wealthy in terms of money but wealthy in terms of relationships.
Certainly the parent/child relationship was shattered and no amount of money could fix that. Whether it was Lady Arabella and her children or Rene and Luis. The Romantic relationships didn’t seem to bode well either, given poor Augie and even the relationship between Lady Arabella and Francis, talk about toxic! I was a little frustrated in the end when Eden inherits all the money and now things seem to wrap up happily. I do love that she intends to give all the money away in her lifetime, but the whole now the relationship with Lady Arabella is fixed irked a bit.
I was also annoyed that Eden’s relationship with Arabella was “fixed”. The same thing happened in Crazy Rich Asians. Maybe the sequel to this book will show that Eden gave Arabella a modest allowance significantly lower then what she was used to and anything above that Arabella would need to get permission!! or even kneel when asking (Daughters of Shandong)
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We have all read stories of the “poor little rich girl (or boy)” who has monetary wealth but experiences poverty in relationships, self-esteem, love, health, etc. Arabella and Luis could not overcome self-hatred; Augie’s marriage fell apart almost immediately; Freddy and Eden both long for the love of their mothers. Money cannot fix any of these problems.
As seen throughout the book, money couldn’t really fix any of Lady Arabella’s deeply rooted problems with race, identity, social acceptance, and her relationship with her husband and children. None of her kids seemed to be saved from their own problems by money.