Tono-Bungay explores the capitalist system and social hierarchy in the English world. The science of marketing and the focus on income generation fuels the creation of immense amounts of wealth. Selling a product to a consumer who can otherwise get by without it requires some level of fraudulent persuasion.
Advertisements conjure the notion that as a consumer you must want this specified product and being without it would be a great disservice to society. They are intentionally designed to be personal, encompassing the whole of humanity. That's why corporations often align their philosophy with that of most of its customers to build a repertoire. A synergy of codependency is built, where the corporation keeps churning products and the consumer buys in faithfully.
The story of George Ponderevo dabbles in these socio-economic issues that define his everyday life. He attempts to draw a line between his principles and the desire to pursue capital gains, but soon enough he gets lost in the chaos.
Wells attempts to deconstruct capitalism and expose its true nature that exploits the weak and rewards those that are aligned with it. The advertising industry is one of the pinnacles of the system, as it works to control the narrative and keep the deception alive. The idea of first come first served in innovation and development has bred a level of wealth inequality. This raises the question whether the system is serving the working-class or the privileged shareholders.
In the defense of industrial magnates, the excruciating process of developing these revolutionary products, that would've otherwise never existed, is enough to justify their astronomical wealth generation. Tono-Bungay explores life beyond the trappings of corporate bottom lines and into the limitless potential of the human condition. Unfortunately, Wells doesn't offer an alternative that addresses all the issues swiftly.
