The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today

What are the biggest differences between the time period in the book and today? What similarities can you identify? Do you think the authors expected these changes? What elements in the book support your reasoning?

The book’s dialogue reflects the widely varied dialects and speech patterns of its characters. How do the authors achieve characterization through the manner in which the characters speak? What other purposes do they achieve in this way?  Use specific examples from the text to support your reasoning.

What social values and other aspects of society does the book criticize? What values does it promote? Are the promoted values still relevant? Why or why not?