The fault, in their view, lay with no single person, but with the middle class composition of the colony, which, feeling itself imperiled, had acted instinctively, as an organism, to extrude the riffraff from its midst.
The perspective presented in Mary McCarthy's "The Oasis" suggests that the issues faced by the colony were not the result of any one individual’s actions. Instead, it highlights the collective behavior of the middle class, which, feeling threatened, responded by instinctively rejecting those they viewed as less desirable. This instinctive reaction can be seen as a defensive measure to protect their social status and integrity.
This dynamic illustrates how social groups can sometimes act as a single entity, motivated by fears and perceived threats. The middle class, in this context, sought to eliminate elements they considered disruptive, thus revealing the underlying tensions and conflicts within the colony's social structure. Their actions reflect not just personal biases but also a broader societal mechanism aimed at preserving cohesion amidst perceived chaos.
