"I was just very interested in the American frontier and the growth of capitalism - those enormous fortunes that were being made, more often than not, on the blood of poor people, black people, Indian people. They were the ones who paid very dearly for those great fortunes"

Peter Matthiessen's quote seriously examines the historical backdrop of the American frontier and the increase of commercialism, spotlighting the plain contrasts in between vast wealth accumulation and the human expense underpinning it. The quote reflects on the expansionist period in American history, a time when commercialism rapidly developed, generating huge fortunes for some, juxtaposed against the exploitation and suffering of marginalized neighborhoods.

Matthiessen highlights the dichotomy between the wealthy elite and the impoverished, stressing how these fortunes were frequently built on systemic injustice. The referral to "the blood of poor people, black individuals, Indian people" is a poignant recommendation of the historic truths faced by these groups. Native Americans, for example, were dispossessed of their lands, subjected to treaties that were often broken, and experienced military actions and required relocations such as the Trail of Tears, all to give way for economic growth and settlement.

Similarly, African Americans, a number of whom were enslaved during this period, were vital to the economic engine that sustained early American capitalism, especially in the South with the production of cotton and other goods. The systemic inequalities and harsh exploitation they sustained laid the fundamental wealth for many people and markets.

The expression "paid extremely a lot" recommends an extensive oppression, implying not just economic but also social and ethical costs borne by the oppressed. Matthiessen's reflection is a review of the moral ramifications of industrialism's growth, questioning the human toll extracted in the procedure of nation-building and economic development.

This interpretation welcomes a broader discourse on the ethical responsibilities of wealth accumulation and economic development, motivating reflection on historic oppressions and their remaining effect on modern society. By conjuring up these historical stories, Matthiessen highlights the requirement for recognizing and attending to the ingrained inequalities that continue to shape the socio-economic landscape.