ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how fictional literature can provide nuanced insights into the complex relationship between money and interculturality. In the introduction, the author discusses the role of money in shaping personal and social identities, highlighting themes of ambition, the commodification of relationships and sacrifice. The chapter then reviews selected works by authors such as Honoré de Balzac, Émile Zola, Oscar Wilde, Lao She and others, examining how they critique the dehumanising effects of money, the illusions of financial security and the ethical dilemmas arising from materialism. These literary works offer vivid illustrations of how money can both unify and divide societies, influencing human behaviour, social hierarchies and intercultural dynamics. By integrating these fictional insights with, e.g., broader economic and philosophical critiques, this chapter aims to build a more comprehensive understanding of the role of money in interculturality, raising awareness of the need for ethical and communal responsibility as well as critical reflection on today’s economic systems.
