Published in 1873, the novel satirizes the rapid economic and social changes happening in the United States during the Gilded Age. While it doesn't explicitly accuse all wealthy Americans of greed and narrow-mindedness, the book's characters are often depicted as materialistic, superficial, and obsessed with social climbing, highlighting the negative aspects of wealth and status during that era.
The title itself, "The Gilded Age," is a metaphor for a period of apparent prosperity masking underlying social problems and corruption. The book's critical portrayal of the wealthy and powerful contributed to a broader societal discussion about the ethics of wealth accumulation and the social responsibilities of the elite.