A Look into Cynthia's World

We need more Cynthia Moreys in this world. I have found Cynthia in The Privileges my favorite character thus fas. From the very first page Jonathan Dee introduced her I have found myself fascinated by her values and what she brings to the table in terms of her family life. The author begins with narration of how she married a remarkable gentleman named Adam (how ironic) who "only cared about making her happy" (7). What a lucky woman! She sees this opportunity at a life of happiness and prosperity (for Adam was quite intelligent) and seizes it! I am very moved by her initiative and decisiveness to marry this fellow and feel that if only more people would capture these moments of sure self-benefit, our nation would rise to a much better state than the present one.  We would raise a new generation of self-reliant individuals who do not seek support for their future from anyone else.  Furthermore, I see a certain selfishness in Cynthia. While many rebuke selfishness, it has its uses. For instance, when Cynthia's children ask her to play "Go Fish" and she refuses and says "I want to play poker" (38). This is not some petty, immature demand! Whilst the childish diction "I want" suggests a mere desire to do as she pleases, I believe Cynthia simply knows that her children must understand the art of gambling in order to succeed in life and takes the time to teach them this valuable lesson. Also, I recognize a very profound sense of self-pride in Cynthia which surfaces several times in the beginning of the book. Some may label this self-pride "cockiness" but I am not fond of that word for it has certain negative connotations surrounding it. For example, at a cocktail party Cynthia finds herself "visibly smashed" and encircled by single men (73). This direct characterization of "smashed" underscores a striking self-confidence such that she would enjoy herself without regard of losing her reputation.  I am in awe of her and wish more people in today's world would act so impulsively and not worry what others thought of them.  Well, she leads these men on until her husband walks by in which case she yells "This, losers, is my husband" (73). The author's amused tone suggests that her favorite time of the night occurred when showing off her immensely successful and handsome husband even though she, ironically, had nothing to do with his fortune or fame.  To bluntly put it, I am very intrigued by Cynthia's decisiveness, selfishness, self-pride, and self-confidence for she truly just takes Darwin's "survival of the fittest" theory to heart, and who can really fault her?