The Secret of the Old Clock

The Secret of the Old Clock focuses sharp attention on the differences between people who are wealthy and those who are not. This recurring motif speaks to another of the book’s themes: The High Price of Greed. Based on her leisure-class lifestyle and country club membership, Nancy Drew would be described as upper-middle class. Given that the original book was written in 1930 and revised in 1959, the class system in the US was more rigidly defined than it is today. The Topham family frequently tries to make social distinctions between themselves and those they consider “inferior.”

Even though Nancy isn’t a snob, the cultural norms of her time would have made it unlikely for her to circulate among people who weren’t her social equals. However, the book goes to great pains to place Nancy among people who are disadvantaged in some way. The Turner sisters are aged seamstresses. This occupation isn’t known to be lucrative. In addition, they have a small child to raise, putting further strain on their resources. Both the Hoover sisters and the Mathews brothers are engaged in agriculture, and neither duo is making a fortune at it. Both have higher aspirations that require money, however. Allison wants to be an opera singer, and the Mathews brothers want to travel. Abby Rowen relies on a meager pension check that is insufficient for her upkeep. Rather than judging them and their lack of resources, Nancy moves heaven and earth to get them the resources they need. Her behavior offers a silent rebuke to the greedy Tophams, and the “have-nots” end up collecting the inheritance.