ENGL 200 D: Reading Literature: Literature in the Marketplace

For my paper I’m planning on analyzing James Bond, since he is something of a paradox, living in luxury without desiring money.

Throughout the novel Bond remains only slightly interested in his own finances, such as when he notices he would spend his year’s salary in three weeks at Du Pont’s fancy resort, and instead uses significant wagers to irritate Goldfinger.  Bond’s apathy towards money offsets both Goldfinger’s lust for gold and Mr. Du Pont’s ostentatious exhibition of wealth, emphasizing both the corrupting and destructive powers of greed.  However, despite his distaste for their excessive wealth, Bond has no qualms with taking advantage of their generosity.

The economic system Bond is involved in is a sort of meritocracy, in that he has earned a high enough rank that he has essentially unlimited credit, and as such has no need for his own money.  As long as he remains useful and doesn’t inflict too much harm to either the agency’s credibility or civilians, the agency overlooks most of his missteps and chiding him for his greater mistakes.

Bond’s motivation is fairly straightforward since he is presented as a sort of champion of the English way of life, working to foil traitors to the crown who are working with other foreign enemies to undermine society.  Despite his guilt after the murders of several individuals, both innocent civilians and a thug who was just following orders, Bond carries out his orders despite his misgivings, an example of a model British agent.