The world has always classified people into social classes based on a person’s working status, income, or nationality. These social classes indicate the abilities and characteristics of the people who have been strategically placed into them. These classifications are degrading and biased because many factors are not taken into consideration when placing people into them. Yuri Hererra’s short story, “The Objects,” is an allegory that adequately reveals how people are put into different social classes, and how the people in lower social classes are discriminated against and treated with disdain.
“The Objects” takes place inside of a building where the characters work. Each night, after working, the characters pass through a vestibule, which …show more content…
He represents a person of the lower class at this point. Based on his characteristics, he cannot do much on his own because his value is so small. Herrera illustrates the narrator’s lower class status by writing, “After crossing the vestibule a rat is a rat is a rat, even if sometimes it’s still got human opinions” (53). The narrator is asserting that it does not matter that he has human opinions because he is only seen as a rat; therefore, his opinions do not matter to those above him. His thoughts portray how people of the lower class in today’s society are viewed as pestilent animals as well. People with a high social status often discriminate against those below them, making them feel inferior to the rest of …show more content…
The objects on the top floor were originally the people at the top of the social hierarchy; however, they became so wrapped up in themselves and their desires that they have been dehumanized and transformed into the meaningless objects they obsess over. They have taken away all their qualities as a human because of their wealth or job. They believe that they are above all others to the point where they are just objects. These objects do nothing now but sit there and everything is done for them by the people on the lower floors. Because they are transformed into objects, Rafa can now overcome his social class by carrying “out his new job pushing the bosses from the building” (53). Rafa is physically changing the social hierarchy by removing the objects. It also illustrates how the people on the upper levels of the building are so consumed in their own lives that they are not concerned with the lives of those below them, proving that they are selfish and lacking empathy. Analyzing the characters’ transformations illustrates how “The Objects” is an allegory for the world’s actual social hierarchy. Herrera uses his short story to inform readers that the people with lower social statuses are mistreated and discriminated against. By experiencing the narrator and Rafa’s transformations, the reader can gain empathy for those who are confined
“The Objects” takes place inside of a building where the characters work. Each night, after working, the characters pass through a vestibule, which …show more content…
He represents a person of the lower class at this point. Based on his characteristics, he cannot do much on his own because his value is so small. Herrera illustrates the narrator’s lower class status by writing, “After crossing the vestibule a rat is a rat is a rat, even if sometimes it’s still got human opinions” (53). The narrator is asserting that it does not matter that he has human opinions because he is only seen as a rat; therefore, his opinions do not matter to those above him. His thoughts portray how people of the lower class in today’s society are viewed as pestilent animals as well. People with a high social status often discriminate against those below them, making them feel inferior to the rest of …show more content…
The objects on the top floor were originally the people at the top of the social hierarchy; however, they became so wrapped up in themselves and their desires that they have been dehumanized and transformed into the meaningless objects they obsess over. They have taken away all their qualities as a human because of their wealth or job. They believe that they are above all others to the point where they are just objects. These objects do nothing now but sit there and everything is done for them by the people on the lower floors. Because they are transformed into objects, Rafa can now overcome his social class by carrying “out his new job pushing the bosses from the building” (53). Rafa is physically changing the social hierarchy by removing the objects. It also illustrates how the people on the upper levels of the building are so consumed in their own lives that they are not concerned with the lives of those below them, proving that they are selfish and lacking empathy. Analyzing the characters’ transformations illustrates how “The Objects” is an allegory for the world’s actual social hierarchy. Herrera uses his short story to inform readers that the people with lower social statuses are mistreated and discriminated against. By experiencing the narrator and Rafa’s transformations, the reader can gain empathy for those who are confined