“The Gilded Age” captures the timeless struggles of those who chase status, acceptance, and social capital in every era
In every society, social capital carries power. It helps to create a network of relationships that enable people to function effectively in social, economic, and political life. This plays a pivotal role in determining upward mobility and access, enabling individual growth Whether in 19th-century New York or 21st-century Lagos, social climbing is not just about wealth or power, but about leveraging connections, influence, and public perception. HBO’s “The Gilded Age”, with its vivid portrayal of the ambitious Bertha Russell, offers a compelling window into how individuals manoeuvre through rigid social systems to gain acceptance, legitimacy, and authority. Notably, her story parallels the strategies employed by many in contemporary Nigeria as they navigate complex socio-economic landscapes.
Bertha Russell and the architecture of social power
In “The Gilded Age”, Bertha Russell is a quintessential social climber — a new-money woman determined to break into New York’s old-money aristocracy. Her approach is strategic, calculated, and relentless. She hosts grand dinners, donates to great causes, and uses her husband’s wealth from the railroad industry as leverage in society. Every move she makes is a chess piece, not just for status, but for establishing a lasting legacy.
This mirrors the Nigerian experience, especially among the growing class of entrepreneurs, politicians, and social influencers who understand that wealth without connections rarely yields influence. Like Bertha, many Nigerians invest in high-profile weddings, philanthropic ventures, and align themselves with elite institutions or political figures to boost their social legitimacy. It’s not uncommon to witness individuals spend beyond their means to belong to elite circles, whether it’s securing a job or being photographed at exclusive events. Nigerians, especially in Lagos, are well-versed like Bertha in playing the politics necessary to create opportunities for their lives.
Bertha’s character teaches how influence is as valuable as money, a lesson Nigeria’s rising class is well aware of.
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Social currency and why it’s still relevant in modern society
George Russell’s success in the railway industry is not just economic; it’s deeply political. His business empire opens doors for Bertha, and she knows she must transform capital into social currency. She leverages his position to broker alliances, gain favours, and curry influence within New York’s elite. In the same way, Nigeria has centred its socio-political ecosystem on patronage and networking. Business leaders often form symbiotic relationships with politicians and power brokers. They is using those ties to win contracts, licences, or regulatory favours.
In both worlds, merit alone is rarely enough. You must know the right people and be in the right places. Social climbing in “The Gilded Age” is not merely a personal ambition; it’s a family strategy. Just like in Nigeria, where social mobility is often a collective effort involving extended families and communities. One person’s success can elevate many people, so they carefully cultivate and fiercely maintain alliances.
Just as Bertha must play against the gatekeepers of old New York society, Nigerian professionals must often outmanoeuvre the gatekeepers of legacy and power structures.
How marriage serves as a strategic alliance, shaping power and status
The “Gilded Age” is a study in the strategy of social ascension, where every dinner invitation, alliance, and decision is part of a greater plan. Bertha Russell’s journey is not unlike that of many ambitious Nigerians who understand that influence is built through social engineering as much as hard work. The politics of visibility, patronage, and networking echo strongly between the fictional world of 1880s New York and the real-world dynamics of modern Nigeria.
Bertha Russell’s meticulous orchestration of her daughter Gladys’s marriage to the Duke of Buckingham is a masterclass in calculated social mobility. Showing how many marriages are less about love and more about legacy. She understands that aligning her family with old-world aristocracy secures not just status but permanence in elite circles. In much the same way, many Nigerian parents view marriage as a strategic alliance. They seek out the most eligible bachelors not just for their daughters’ personal happiness, but for the doors those unions can open. Through an alliance, they hope to gain political access, elevated standing, and generational security. Whether in Manhattan’s drawing rooms or Lagos’ high society weddings, marriage becomes a currency in the economy of influence.
In both societies, those in power also tilt the board, and the game is not always fair. However, for those who understand the rules, like Bertha, each move is a step closer to the top.
Ultimately, “The Gilded Age” reminds us that social mobility is rarely accidental; it is engineered with precision, strategy, and often, sacrifice. Bertha Russell’s ascent reflects a timeless truth: in any society, you must earn, construct and perform. In modern-day Nigeria, those who master the politics of visibility, relationships, and perception can write their own story.
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