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The Marxist Lens In Liliana Heker's 'The Stolen Party'

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The Marxist (Socio-Economic) Lens is based on the theories of philosophers & economists, Karl Marx & Friedrich Engles. It says that a society is made up of a set of concepts, beliefs, values, & ways of thinking that are influenced by that society’s economic & class structures. Critical lenses serve to showcase another person’s perspective & background in life. By using & understanding lenses, we can come to understand where someone else is coming from & better meet in the middle in discussions & debates. Even if we don’t agree with the other person’s perspective or ideas, we have a better understanding of them which reduces misinformation & encourages disagreements to be talked out civilly. For example, in “The Stolen Party”, Liliana Heker …show more content…

Within the text there are 5 moments of foreshadowing throughout the story before it’s revealed that Luciana doesn’t see Rosara as a friend & that Rosaura isn’t at the party as a guest. But this ain’t about that. This is about when Rosaura was leaving & Senora Ines “rummaged in her purse [& held out] two bills” to Rosaura (Heker 63). Senora Ines paying Rosaura for coming instead of giving her a bracelet or yoyo like other party guests had gotten was the plot twist that revealed Senora Ines used a child as a servant. Senora Ines invited Rosaura to Luciana’s party, let her participate in the activities, & had her set- & clean-up to then give Rosaura $2. Which is $4 by today’s standards. Senora Ines no longer sees lower class citizens as equals to herself & her family. She sees them all as less human than herself. She sees them all as potential employees. She tricks Rosaura into being a child-maid under the guise of an invitation & an implication of being the most trustworthy of all the children at the party. Senora Ines told Rosaura that she is the only child allowed in the kitchen because “[the others are] much too boisterous.” (Heker 13) Senora Ines doesn't just see Rosaura as Herminia’s daughter, she sees Rosaura as an employee's daughter, & therefore sees Rosaura as an employee herself. Which is exactly what Herminia says at the beginning

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Tita also fought for Esperanza to go to school (Esquivel 239). Tita’s stubborn stance on Esperanza’s education was born out of a desire to make sure this child had a better childhood than she had. Rosaura only wants to control Esperanza’s life, not out of motherly care, but because she views Esperanza as her property. This is evidenced when Rosaura claims that Esperanza taking care of her is her right as her mother (Esquivel 239). These events prove that Tita is a loving, maternal person and Rosaura does not truly care for the wellbeing of her

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In “The Stolen Party” by Liliana Hecker, there is one piece of evidence that correctly supports the claim because according to the story on page 3 section 3, “‘What employee?’ said the girl with the bow. The employee in a shop? ‘No,’ said Rosaura angrily, ‘My mother doesn't sell anything in any shop, so there.” Also, later in the story on page 3 section 6, it states, “... and when no one was looking she kicked her in the shin” This evidence shows how the rich girl with the bow was so rude to Rosaura and kept asking questions about her mom being an employee. She also rudely kicks Rosaura in the shin and walks away.

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Rosaura's mom had tried to explain that she isn't there for the party. But Rosaura insisted that that isn't why she was going. When she arrived, everyone was treating her like she is really was. But at the end, Rosaura was handed two large bills and she was very shocked. Not Rosaura or the readers were expecting such a surprise.

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(Hecker 40). The quote uses symbolism because it shows that Rosaura was represented as the monkey of the party. The literary device is built to the theme of the innocence of a child because Rosaura, not knowing she was working at Luciana’s birthday party, was not attending the party as a friend. A second piece of evidence is another symbolism. In line 38, it stated, “Senora Ines had asked her to help pass the cake around, and Rosaura had enjoyed the task immensely, because everyone called out to her, shouting ‘Me, me!’

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Consequently, this evidence reveals that Rosaura thought that Senora Ines was going to give her a yo-yo and a bracelet, but, Senora Ines gave her money and she called her “pet” because she was used as a pet, was not invited as a guest. The short story suggests the guests of the party, the rich people, are treating Rosaura and her mother differently as a pet, like as discrimination. Moreover, the short story states, “ And you? Who are you?” , “I’m a friend of Luciana”, said Rosaura.

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Senora Ines only saw Rosaura being there as a duty to be paid. Since Herminia was a maid for them she saw Rosaura as a maid or a servant as well. This is where the social classes start to clear up. This story starts out with Rosaura’s mother trying to be cautious about letting Rosaura go to Luciana’s birthday party.

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She is in charge of getting her siblings to school and feeding them, all while taking care of herself. This is not the same for Tom, he is in the lowest class because he is African-American.

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While in the beginning of the story Rosaura’s mothers argument is accurate, but her reasoning behind it is flawed. However, the girl with the bow’s argument, and personality gives both evidence and reasoning to her mothers

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The maid's daughter, that's what.' ” In the quote, Rosaura's mother informs her that others will view her as the maid's daughter and not as a friend just because of Rosaura's social status. The mother's concern is that Rosaura will be discriminated against by others and treated differently than other kids at the party because she is the daughter of a maid. The author uses his tone to dramatize the scene to add tension to the conversation between Rosaura and her mother to intensify the conversation. Rosaura's mother has a firm opinion and feels as though Rosaura should not go to the party because she will be treated

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You know what you are to them? The maid’s daughter, that’s what” (Heker pg.1) This really upsets Rosaura because she doesn’t believe that money should be what disconnects people. After lots of arguing with her mother, she ends up getting to go to the party anyway. The day of the party comes and Rosaura is extremely cheerful.

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She is involved within heartbreaking conversations between the principal and her grandfather. The principal’s body language tells the reader that he disagrees with the fact Marta might not be able to receive the jacket. When Marta is called upon to his office, “He looked away and fidgeted with the papers on his desk.” In addition, he avoided making eye contact with her, which a reader can infer that he has some grief for her. In the second conversation with Marta’s grandfather, the reader learns that her grandfather refuses to pay the fee; “Then if you pay for it, Marta, it’s not a scholarship jacket, is it?”.

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This is also shown in paragraph 68 Senora Ines gets 2 bills and says to Rosura. “ ‘Thank you for all your help, my pet.’” Senora Ines doing that after Rosura thought she was invited to the party as a friend shows that it wasn’t the case, and because of her rank she was just seen as a maid's daughter.

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A marxist lens views literary works as a reflection in which they originate. A marxist lens addresses human history and its many struggles with classes according to the theory of Karl Marx. Karl Marx was a theorist and a historian, and he examined many

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Holland Arrowsmith explains Marxism as a term which refers to “a hugely diverse set of social, economic, philosophical, historical and cultural theories”. Several theories such as social, economical, political and critical theories have been derived from Marxism philosophy. Marxism advocates equality amongst the class structure of society. Marxism is divided into two fundamental classes. According to Marx there are only two classes which exist: Bourgeoisie, which means powerful or dominant class and Proletariat, which means the peasant or working classes.

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A Marxist sociologist is a materialist and a sociologist that follows the ideas of Marx. Marx’s main concern was that of capitalism and class conflict. In the words of Giddens and Sutton (2013), capitalism is ‘a system of production that contrasts radically with all previous economic systems.’ It was Marx’s belief that all societies, including capitalist societies, are divided into classes, with one being the dominant class. In the case of capitalism, there are two main classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

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