A Classic Play That Portrays a Luxury-Oriented Lifestyle
Fashion is a social
comedy written by Anna Cora Mowatt in 1845. The story portrays the Tiffany
family as they attempt to gain acceptance and recognition within upper-class
society.
In the world depicted by Mowatt, appearance becomes an important element
of social status. Expensive clothing, luxurious furniture, parties,
entertainment, and displays of wealth become symbols of social success.
This context led the researchers from Universitas Negeri Medan to
examine how hedonistic behavior appears through the characters’ actions and
dialogue. In this study, hedonism is not understood simply as spending
excessive amounts of money, but as a tendency to place pleasure and
satisfaction at the center of decision-making.
Mrs. Tiffany becomes
one of the main focuses of the analysis because her behavior most strongly
reflects this tendency. She attempts to create an image of herself as a wealthy
and sophisticated woman by prioritizing luxury and social recognition.
Researchers Identify 30 Forms of Hedonistic Behavior
The researchers analyzed dialogue, conversations, and character actions
in Fashion. The identified data were then classified using six
categories of hedonism developed by Dan Weijers.
The study identified 30 instances of hedonistic behavior in the
play. The classification shows:
- Folk
Hedonism: 27 percent or 8 instances. This form is the most dominant and involves the pursuit of
immediate pleasure, luxury, admiration, and social recognition.
- Egoist
Hedonism: 20 percent or 6 instances. This behavior prioritizes personal satisfaction over the interests
of other people.
- Value or
Prudential Hedonism: 17 percent or 5 instances. Pleasure, comfort, entertainment, and
luxury are viewed as important components of a satisfying life.
- Motivational
Hedonism: 13 percent or 4 instances. Pleasure is pursued as a way to reduce stress, sadness,
disappointment, or emotional pressure.
- Utilitarian
Hedonism: 13 percent or 4 instances. Pleasure is considered valuable when it can create happiness for a
group or other people.
- Normative
Hedonism: 10 percent or 3 instances. Pleasure and luxury are considered acceptable when accompanied by
responsibility, morality, dignity, and social norms.
The dominance of Folk Hedonism indicates that the pursuit of pleasure in
Fashion is strongly associated with the desire for recognition and the
maintenance of social image.
Luxury Becomes a Symbol of Status
According to the researchers’ analysis, Mrs. Tiffany’s behavior shows
that luxury is not used solely to fulfill personal needs. Expensive
possessions, clothing, home decorations, parties, and social activities also
become ways to demonstrate a person’s position within society.
This illustrates the relationship between consumption and social
status. The more luxurious the appearance a person presents, the greater
the expectation of receiving recognition from the surrounding social
environment.
Astri Rahayu and her colleagues from Universitas Negeri Medan interpret
this pattern as part of the social criticism conveyed through Mowatt’s play.
The desire to appear wealthy can encourage individuals to overlook their
financial circumstances and long-term consequences.
Hedonism in Fashion, therefore, is not simply a matter of
personal pleasure. It also influences social relationships, economic decisions,
and the way individuals construct their identities within society.
Not All Forms of Pleasure Have Negative Effects
Interestingly, the study does not portray hedonism as entirely negative.
The researchers found that social activities such as parties, music,
food, and entertainment can also generate happiness for groups of people. Under
Utilitarian Hedonism, pleasure has value when it is shared and provides
benefits to others.
Another example appears in Motivational Hedonism. Entertainment
can be used as a way to obtain temporary relief when individuals experience
stress or disappointment. Although such activities may not solve the underlying
problems, they can provide emotional comfort.
Meanwhile, Normative Hedonism illustrates the distinction between
enjoying pleasure and pursuing excessive luxury. Wealth and pleasure may be
acceptable when accompanied by self-control, responsibility, and behavior
consistent with social norms.
These findings make the portrayal of hedonism in the play more complex.
Pleasure can benefit individuals and groups, but uncontrolled pursuit of
pleasure can also create problems.
When Personal Satisfaction Comes at the Expense of Others
The most critical aspect appears in the discussion of Egoist Hedonism.
Mrs. Tiffany’s desire to maintain her lifestyle and social reputation can
affect the people around her.
Increased family expenses caused by a luxurious lifestyle and the
burdens placed on servants during frequent social activities illustrate these
consequences.
The researchers emphasize that the central issue is not simply owning
expensive possessions or enjoying entertainment. The problem arises when
personal satisfaction takes priority over responsibility toward others.
This perspective makes Fashion relevant to contemporary society.
Changes in time and technology have not eliminated people’s desire to gain
recognition through appearance, consumption, and social status.
Relevance to Education and Social Studies
The study by Astri Rahayu and her colleagues demonstrates that classical
literature can serve as a source for understanding human behavior and social
dynamics.
In education, this type of analysis can help students examine literature
not merely as a story, but also as a reflection of social values, lifestyles,
interpersonal relationships, and moral issues.
For social studies, the findings suggest that consumer culture and the
pursuit of status have a long historical background. The desire to demonstrate
success through possessions and lifestyle is not a new phenomenon.
The study concludes that Fashion portrays different forms of
pleasure-seeking with different consequences. Hedonism can provide happiness
and comfort, but it can also encourage excessive consumption, selfishness,
social pressure, and irresponsible behavior when it is pursued without balance
and responsibility.
Author Profiles
The article was written by Astri Rahayu, Geovani Mustika Salsabillah,
Anggina Febrianti Pohan, Dion Samurai Dachi, and Syamsul Bahri, all
affiliated with Universitas Negeri Medan. Dion Samurai Dachi is
listed as the corresponding author.
The available journal source does not provide the academic degrees or
specific fields of expertise of each author. Therefore, those details are not
added to maintain factual accuracy.
Research Source
Title: Hedonism in
Anna Cora Mowatt’s Drama Fashion
Authors: Astri Rahayu, Geovani Mustika Salsabillah, Anggina Febrianti
Pohan, Dion Samurai Dachi, Syamsul Bahri
Affiliation: Universitas Negeri Medan
Journal: International Journal of Advanced Technology and Social
Sciences (IJATSS)
Year: 2026
Volume: 4, Issue 7
Pages: 827–848
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijatss.v4i7.242
https://aprmultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijatss
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