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DheerajMiglani
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“The Duchess and the Jeweller” was first published in 1938. As with most of Woolf’s other writings, the story addresses the British class system and ambitions of all those dependent upon this system. Woolf spares no expense in her critique of both the aristocracy and those seeking to clinb up the social ladder. As such, her insightful critique not only points to the conceits of the upper class, it highlights the robable conceits of lower class individuals who seek to raise themselves up but have neither the education nor ethics to make a change in the system.
The two main characters of the story sre the jeweler, Oliver Bacon, and the Duchess. Woolf portrays the Duchess as careless individual who is used to the extravagancies which her money and title afford her. She is both pampered and self-absorbed, though when the reader meets her in the story, the Duchess has fallen on somewhat hard times. The fact that she requires even more money for her decadence places her in the path of the jeweler, Oliver.
The two share an acquaintance, though it is not really a friendship. Bothe need something from the other, and they both have no qualms about attempting to dupe the other individual. As such, the Duchess wants to sell some pearls to Oliver. It is suggested that the pearls are fake, but the Duchess manages to manipulate Oliver into purchasing the jewels for a lofty sum. Though Oliver can say no, especially as he has his doubts about the authenticity of the pearls, the rewards offered by the Duchess are perhaps pricier in Oliver’s eyes than the pearls.
The Duchess invites Oliver to a high-society dinner where both royalty and her daughter, Diana, will be in attendance. For Oliver, this is a godsend of an invitation. He will be able to hobnob with the upper crust of society. Moreover, the Duchess has suggested that Diana can be his – for the right price. With the possibilities inherent in the invitation, Oliver accepts the offer and purchases the pearls.