In the second chapter of Part 1, Nathan learns about the concept of the “plastic hour,” in which people undergo suffering in order to grow into something better. As the potential loss of the family wealth looms over the Fletchers, Brodesser-Akner suggests that wealth insulates people from suffering and thus prevents growth.

When Charlie urges Beamer to write what he has always needed to say, he critiques Beamer’s access to wealth. Unlike Charlie, whose living has always depended on the success of his projects, Beamer has always had his wealth as a safety net, which means that he could have written anything with relatively low stakes. The same safety net also incentivizes his lack of effort. As Beamer writes the Santiago story over and over again, he is working through a private trauma rather than considering his audience. Beamer’s financial security does not insulate him from envy at the success that Charlie enjoys, however. He covets Charlie’s success, especially when Charlie’s greater clarity of vision allows him to steal Beamer’s life story from right under his nose.

Nathan similarly covets the success of his colleague, Dominic Romano, when the latter is made a partner at their law firm.