Poverty and Wealth

Dangerfield as a character is a contrast of wealth and poverty. Born of a wealthy family, Dangerfield is used to having everything he could want. His experience with wealth makes him impatient with poverty. Dangerfield's experience in Ireland, however, is an experience entirely of poverty. As a student, he is constantly out of money. He lives on credit and runs up bills he can't afford. The only thing that allows him to sink more and more into debt, ironically, is his wealth. Dangerfield has the "right" accent, a wealthy English accent. He uses it to get credit in shops, which he has no way to repay.

Dangerfield often finds temporary wealth, through pawning possessions, checks from the G.I. Bill, or loans from friends. However, his wealth is fleeting. He can't manage his money and spends it immediately on drink and revelry. Dangerfield is always seeking...