John Dos Passos's work highlights the growing economic disparity in society during the early 20th century. The gap between the affluent and the impoverished widened, leaving small farmers struggling to survive and laborers working long hours for minimal wages. This situation underscores how wealth and power were concentrated among the rich, creating a landscape where their interests dominated the social and economic structures.

The narrative illustrates a stark reality where the laws and enforcement systems favor the wealthy. As profits flowed primarily to the rich, those at the bottom faced increasing hardships, suggesting a systemic inequality that marginalized the working class. This critique reflects on the broader social injustices and the failures of a system that prioritizes wealth accumulation over equitable treatment for all citizens.