There Was Not a Penny, but Suddenly a Dime

Main Ideas

• Social inequality and class differences: Ostrovsky highlights the contrast between the poor and the rich, their lifestyles, and attitudes towards money.
• Morality and ethics: The author explores how money and wealth influence people's moral principles and behavior.
• The power of love and loyalty: The work emphasizes the importance of true love and loyalty, which are not dependent on material wealth.
• The illusion of happiness through wealth: Ostrovsky demonstrates that money does not always bring happiness and can lead to moral decline.
• Critique of mercantilism: The author criticizes a society where money and material values are placed above human qualities and relationships.