Dollars had once gathered like autumn leaves on the wooden collection plates; dollars were the flourishing sign of God's specifically American favor, made manifest in the uncountable millions of Carnegie and Mellon and Henry Ford and Catholina Lambert. But amid this fabled plenty the whiff of damnation had cleared of dollars and cents the parched ground around Clarence Wilmot.
In John Updike's "In The Beauty Of The Lilies," the narrative explores the past prosperity of America, where wealth was plentiful and symbolized divine favor. Figures like Carnegie and Ford represented the success that flourished in the nation, suggesting a direct correlation between riches and God's blessing. The imagery of dollars as autumn leaves highlights the abundance that once characterized the landscape of American philanthropy and enterprise.
However, this wealth was not universally experienced. For Clarence Wilmot, the richness surrounding him was overshadowed by a sense of damnation and despair. Despite the prosperity of his contemporaries, Wilmot found himself in stark contrast to the affluence, with his life devoid of the blessings that money brought to others. This juxtaposition underscores the idea that wealth does not guarantee happiness or favor, as it often leaves some individuals longing for meaning amidst the excess.
