Essay on Short Stories
Alina Rozental
Mrs. Muzaurieta
English 9, pd 1A
12/19/2012
9th Short Stories, Formal Essay Final
“Poor people put a low value on themselves and their efforts” (Daymond John). This represents the great work many underprivileged people must go through to earn simple things that would be easy to acquire for people of a wealthy society. People trapped in a lower class have a difficult time attaining happiness. A poor maid’s daughter struggles for a simple friendship and to gain respect from her peers and adults alike, but fails to accomplish this. A bright girl with the highest grades in her school wishes to receive the Scholarship jacket, a token of her hard work in school for eight years, but her social status and wealth conflict with reaching her wish. A woman who marries a poor husband desires the luxury and finery of being wealthy, but she fails to find this wealth and is obliged to find happiness with hard work and struggle. All these people were denied the same rights and opportunities that wealthier people have, making it harder for them to find happiness and reach their goals.
In the short story, “The Stolen Party”, by Liliana Heker, Rosaura struggles to become friends with a rich girl and go to her party because she is merely a maid’s daughter. Rosaura assures herself and her mother that her invitation to a rich party is the result of a friendship between her and a girl named Luciana. As she explains this to her skeptical mother, her mother contradicts her by stating: “That one’s not your friend. You know what you are to them? The maid’s daughter, that’s what” (Heker 81). Rosaura’s mother understands that her daughter will not be able to earn respect and friendship from the wealthier kids because of her social standing. Eventually, Rosaura goes to the party and has a good time, but at the end, when all of the guests receive small party gifts, she is handed two bills for her service and is thanked for being so helpful during the party. Senora Ines
Mrs. Muzaurieta
English 9, pd 1A
12/19/2012
9th Short Stories, Formal Essay Final
“Poor people put a low value on themselves and their efforts” (Daymond John). This represents the great work many underprivileged people must go through to earn simple things that would be easy to acquire for people of a wealthy society. People trapped in a lower class have a difficult time attaining happiness. A poor maid’s daughter struggles for a simple friendship and to gain respect from her peers and adults alike, but fails to accomplish this. A bright girl with the highest grades in her school wishes to receive the Scholarship jacket, a token of her hard work in school for eight years, but her social status and wealth conflict with reaching her wish. A woman who marries a poor husband desires the luxury and finery of being wealthy, but she fails to find this wealth and is obliged to find happiness with hard work and struggle. All these people were denied the same rights and opportunities that wealthier people have, making it harder for them to find happiness and reach their goals.
In the short story, “The Stolen Party”, by Liliana Heker, Rosaura struggles to become friends with a rich girl and go to her party because she is merely a maid’s daughter. Rosaura assures herself and her mother that her invitation to a rich party is the result of a friendship between her and a girl named Luciana. As she explains this to her skeptical mother, her mother contradicts her by stating: “That one’s not your friend. You know what you are to them? The maid’s daughter, that’s what” (Heker 81). Rosaura’s mother understands that her daughter will not be able to earn respect and friendship from the wealthier kids because of her social standing. Eventually, Rosaura goes to the party and has a good time, but at the end, when all of the guests receive small party gifts, she is handed two bills for her service and is thanked for being so helpful during the party. Senora Ines
Cited: Heker, Liliana. “The Stolen Party.” Literature and Language, Orange Level. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, Inc., 1994. 81-85. Print. De Maupassant, Guy. “The Necklace.” Literature and Language, Orange Level. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, Inc., 1994. 70-76. Print. Salinas, Marta. “The Scholarship Jacket.” Literature and Language, Orange Level. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, Inc., 1994. 126-129. Print.