“Mrs. Grundy” represents the fear of others’ judgment and the pressure to maintain social status. Barnum argues that the fear of “what Mrs. Grundy may say” keeps families working desperately to keep up appearances through horses, carriages, and fine clothing they cannot afford. This Social comparison drives wasteful spending and self-impoverishment as people attempt to equal wealthier neighbors. Mrs. Grundy embodies the psychological mechanism through which society enforces costly conformity.