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Rich People Suck

By Shawn Nelsen

Childhood is such a confusing time.  Once a kid thinks that s/he has figured out some intricate meaning of life the whole world seems to play a trick on him or her and prove to the kid that s/he is completely wrong.  There is no better example of this sad fact then the story The Stolen Party by Liliana Heker.  In this story a nine-year-old girl named Rosaura gets invited to a rich girl’s party.  Rosaura has a wonderful time up until the end of the party when she is paid and thus finds out that she was only invited as a servant. During the story, Rosaura learns that her mother is smarter than she originally thought and that rich people suck.

            Rosaura first learns that her mother is smarter than she originally thought.  At the beginning of the story, Rosaura's mother is trying to reason with her and explain to Rosaura that she should not go to the party because it will not be a pleasant experience for her. Although Rosaura's mother was preaching from a lifetime of dealing with rich snobs, Rosaura did not want to listen to her mother.  As the text states "The girl didn't approve of the way her mother spoke."(213).  Rosaura, for some reason does not believe in her mothers knowledge even snapping back to her mother "'Shut up!  You know nothing about being friends!'"(213).  Rosaura might have continued to downplay her mother's knowledge if it were not for Señora Ines handing Rosaura the money at the end of the party.  This single, cold act proves everything Rosaura's mother is telling Rosaura to be true.  As Rosaura comes to realize the truth behind her mothers "Instinctively she pressed herself against her mothers body"(217).  Now she is treating her mother more as source of comfort and knowledge rather that someone who deserves to be questioned.  

            In the story Rosaura also learns that rich people suck. It the beginning of the story Rosaura respects rich people and thinks that rich people respect her in return.  When Rosaura’s mother criticizes Rosaura’s rich friend Luciana “Rosaura was deeply offended.  She thought it unfair of her mother to accuse other people of being liars simply because they were rich.”(213). Although this thought is cute and sweet, it is, unfortunately, also very naive and quickly changes come the end of the story.  There are many events that lead to Rosaura discovering that rich people suck.  From the snobby blond girl telling her “No…you are not a friend of Luciana…”(215) to the fact that Luciana, who is supposed to be Rosaura’s friend, never comes to defend Rosaura and say that they are friends, the fact that rich people suck just lays it’s self before Rosaura’s poor eyes.  There is also the part when Señora Ines is trying to thank Rosaura for her help, but only helps to prove the suckiness of rich people by saying "Thank you for all your help, my pet."(217).   This implies that Señora Ines thinks that Rosaura is equal to nothing more than a family pet such as a dog, cat, or monkey.  Señora Ines could have found a much better way of thanking Rosaura, like the magician who is someone in the same social class as Rosaura and says, "Thank you very much, my little Countess." (216), but she didn’t.  Though much of these events Rosaura might have been able to forgive and still keep her faith in rich snobs, there is one event that cannot be ignored.  At the end of the party as Señora Ines is handing Rosaura the money Señora Ines realizes that she has hurt Rosaura, but instead of righting her wrong “Señora Ines, motionless, stood there with her hand outstretched. As if she didn’t dare draw it back. As if the slightest change might shatter an infinitely delicate balance.”(217).  Señora Ines just shows Rosaura that she thinks that rich people are better than poor people.  The heartless disregard for other people is all that is needed for Rosaura to come to the realization that rich people suck.

            Although the events that take place in the party are horrible and disheartening, there is some good that comes from it all.  Rosaura has, after all, learned two very important lessons that are going to help her through the rest of her life; Rosaura’s mother is smart and rich people suck.