Who Is Maud Dixon?

Who is Maud Dixon? highlights the stresses of contemporary life regarding success and fame, specifically in the publishing world. Andrews suggests that much of the stress and competitiveness of contemporary life is exacerbated by social media. With the surge of social media, comparisons between lifestyles, job opportunities, family life, and personal success become more prevalent. Although healthy competition can be a positive motivator for some, the novel suggests that competition can also become an unhealthy obsession under certain circumstances.

Andrews suggests that an unhealthy amount of comparison can lead to poor mental health, which Andrews highlights through Florence’s inner turmoil about her insecurities. Florence feels insecure around people who seem to have their careers in the publishing market figured out. She feels pressured to reinvent herself to become successful in her own right. Her keen interest in Maud Dixon, who is a successful novelist, contrasts with her sense of inadequacy and failure as she struggles to publish her own work. This constant cycle creates a level of unhealthy competition in Florence that breeds more anxieties around comparison and achievement.

The ultra-competitive world that Andrews portrays in the novel thus reveals the dangers of constantly comparing oneself to other people, especially in professional settings, and how this can take a toll on an individual’s physical and mental health.