King of Greed

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-11

Chapters 12-22

Chapters 23-33

Chapter 34-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Dominic’s Lighter

The lighter that Dominic clicks on and off at different points in the novel symbolizes the fragile state of his relationship with Alessandra. She gave the lighter to Dominic years ago, reminding him, “No matter how dark it gets, you can always find a light” (158). Dominic holds onto this lighter during his darkest and most stressful moments. For example, at the beginning of the novel, when Dominic stays late at work and misses meeting Alessandra for their 10-year anniversary trip, he clicks his lighter in the midst of his distress, and the “solid, comforting weight of silver focuse[s] [his] thoughts on the task at hand instead of the insidious whispers crowding [his] brain [and] filling [his] head with doubts” (14). Although Dominic does not yet realize it, he clings to the memory and presence of Alessandra to get him through work emergencies and conquer the doubtful voices in his head. Although he might outwardly prioritize work over Alessandra, she represents his highest priority even though he fails to articulate his love to her in a meaningful way for 10 years of marriage.

After Alessandra divorces Dominic, he begins clicking the lighter not in response to work stressors, but whenever he thinks of their relationship. As he clicks the lighter in Chapter 9, he suddenly imagines “snippets from the past few years” and wonders when his “marriage [had] devolved to the state it was now” (62). Dominic clings to the item that symbolizes their relationship, understanding that Alessandra is the light to his darkness, and he reminisces about the start of their relationship. Prior to his success, they ate dinner together every night, had date nights every Friday, and always shared their daily experiences with each other before going to sleep. The lighter keeps Dominic tethered to his relationship even as Alessandra remains intent on freeing herself from it. His compulsion to check the lighter throughout the novel mirrors his growing desperation to change himself and save their marriage before it is too late.

Floria Designs

Floria Designs is the small pressed-flower company that Alessandra creates while she is still married to Dominic. Floria Designs begins as an online shop, but Dominic never really took notice of Alessandra’s efforts during this phase. While Alessandra did not emphasize her endeavors at the time, this enterprise marks her first step toward the independence she lost while sinking into the passive role of Dominic’s supportive wife. Post-divorce, Floria Designs continues to grow and evolve, symbolizing Alessandra’s new emphasis on Maintaining Independence in Relationships.

Mere weeks after her split from Dominic, Alessandra finds empowerment when she rents a shop space in New York City and decides to give her shop a physical presence. She decides “to take control and create [her] own future; [she] didn’t want to be someone who put herself last” (65). For most of Alessandra’s life, she has always been the supporter rather than the star. Floria Designs represents her determination to prioritize her own dreams, and she begins putting herself first and creating a life for herself independent of her relationships with others.

As the official launch of her new Floria Designs shop approaches, Alessandra renews her relationship with Dominic, but he now sees her in a new light thanks to her bid for autonomy. His recent mindset change allows him to recognize her own successes and express his pleasure in her accomplishments. This change in their relationship allows Alessandra to further embrace herself and put important new boundaries in place so that she may preserve her individuality while rebuilding her marriage.

Materialism

Although Dominic grew up with nothing, his success in adulthood prompts his values to change, and he becomes obsessed with materialism as a balm for his former lack of social standing or stability. His value system is rooted in how much wealth he can accumulate and the most expensive things he can own, and this mindset reflects The Illusory Connection between Wealth and Happiness. As Dominic mentions at the beginning of the novel, “If it wasn’t the best, I didn’t want it” (23). He wants a bigger and more expensive penthouse, not because the current one is too small or doesn’t make him happy, but because the bigger and more expensive penthouse is likewise a bigger and better symbol of his power, wealth, and influence.

After growing up in foster care and struggling through school due to his dyslexia, Dominic has developed many insecurities. Only when he finds financial and business success and starts gaining others’ approval does he begin to find a sense of belonging and confidence, and he is therefore reluctant to relinquish his hold on these superficial symbols of success. At the beginning of the novel, Dominic’s self-worth and self-esteem rely on material belongings, rewards, and praise from others. Though Dominic believes that accumulating enough material possessions will make him and Alessandra happy, he eventually learns to adjust his priorities and value quality time over quality purchases. Upon buying a brownstone to replace the ostentatious penthouse, Dominic and Alessandra decorate it with meaningful items that celebrate their relationship together. By shifting his priorities to a less materialistic mindset, Dominic finds true contentment, and he realizes that “[n]o matter how much money [he] lost or made in a single day, [he] was, at [his] core, happy because [he] had everything [he] needed in front of [him]” (310).