Question

Compare how Chesterton and the author of “The Instinct that Makes People Rich” interpret the Midas myth. How do these different interpretations support Chesterton’s overall argument?

Answer 1

The writer of "The Instinct that Makes People Rich" interprets the Midas myth as the story of a man who could not fail.

Chesterton, however, says that Midas DID fail. He starved because he could not eat gold.

Chesterton says that success always comes at the sacrifice of something else, something "domestic." (By this he means that, yes, a millionaire has money but will lack something else, like love or friendship, etc.) He says that people who think Midas succeeded are just like the author of the article -- both worship money.

Chesterton says that worshipping money has nothing to do with success and everything to do with snobbery.