Content Warning: The section discusses suicidal ideation, alcohol and substance use disorders, pregnancy loss, abuse, and involuntary hospitalization.

The iconic apartment building is a symbol of the extreme financial disparity of the decades in which the text is set: the 1880s, when the building was constructed, and the 1980s, when many residents sought to update their apartments to suit more contemporary, but equally decadent, tastes. Even during its construction, Theodore calls the building “overdo[ne]” and “a last gasp in an age of excess” (65): the lavish apartments an indulgence that only the wealthiest can enjoy. Though the building’s residents are not the richest members of society like the Rutherfords or the Astors, most are absurdly rich, having made their fortunes in business rather than by inheriting. Despite America’s impression of being a more equitable and open place than England, Sara recognizes that the social hierarchy is strictly enforced, as she reminds herself that Theodore is an affluent tenant while she is but a working-class employee. Their affair eventually raises eyebrows not simply because he is married but also because she is from a lower class, a difference highlighted by his comparison of her to Cinderella.

Likewise, when Bailey was young, her family’s visits to the Dakota to see their “cousins” emphasized the stark economic divide between them, described as a sizable chasm.