Rosaura The Stolen Party

No matter who someone is and what they look like people will always be classified in some way or another like in the short story “The Stolen Party” Rosaura was invited to a party as a guest and was treated like the help, because her mother is the cleaning lady for the house. When Rosaura is first invited to the party her mother warns her that she should not go because she claims it is a rich people party and that Rosaura is not really the birthday girls friend. Rosaura goes to the party despite what her mom warns. At the party Rosaura is asked to help with small little chores but the girl does not think anything of it except that she is trusted and more responsible than the other children. At the end of the party though Rosaura is waiting to

get a party gift but instead is paid two bills and realizes why she is really there and that her mother is right. Although this story could show that mothers always have the best intentions for their children, the theme of how that throughout history and still currently people are put into social classes, and how some friendships and relationships are only based on money and status is shown much more.
Many examples are shown throughout the book of social class and how Rosaura is treated differently one is when Rosaura first gets to the party and was question by Luciana's, the birthday girl, cousin.

When rosaura first walks into the party Luciana's cousin goes “And you? Who are you?” (Hecker). as which Rosaura answers with “ I am a friend of Luciana's.” The girl continues to question her and Rosaura's answers make the girl see her as someone who does not belong at the party and seeing Rosaura less then herself. If the girl would not have been so judgemental when she did not recognize Rosaura it would have been seen differently and not as the girl sees her as an

outcast.
Another example of Rosaura being treated differently is when she was asked by Senior Ines to help pass the cake around. “Senor Ines had asked her to help pass the cake around and Rosaura had enjoyed that task immensely” (Heker).Rosaura was being asked to do chores and little things to help that other kids were not being asked to do, that which Rosaura took as she was more responsible than the other kids and was not a clutz. If Rosaura had seen that as she was being asked to do that out of working for Señor Ines instead of helping her out Rosaura would have realized earlier in the story that she was there to help not to be a guest.
Lastley Rosaura was treated differently when at the end of the party she was paid instead of given a party favor like the rest of the kids.

“Señora Ines didn't look in the pink bag. Nor did she look in the blue bag. Instead she rummaged in her purse. In her hand appeared two bills” (Heker). When she pulled out the money Rosaura was hurt and realised that her mom was right all along, that the rich will never see her more than the maid's daughter. Rosaura felt betrayed and stuck, because she sees how there is no other way for them to treat her as an equal and like them. She sees that all she is to them is not a friend but the

help.
Some may say that the theme of the story is that mothers always have the best intentions and even though they may not say what one wants to hear, she will say what one needs to hear. An example of this is when Rosuaras mom says “Listen Rosaura...that one's not your friend. You know what you are to them? The maid's daughter. That's what!”(Heker). Showing that from the start Rosauras mom was just trying to look out for her and her feelings. Although that theme is very important in the story the theme of social classes and how people are judged based on money is more prominent and is displayed more throughout the book.
This story shows that social class is still going on today and is an important issue that shouldn't happen and should be resolved. No one should be judged on what they do for a living, how much money they have, or where they live. People should respect and love other people for who they are as a person not who they are in society or how other people view them. Love and friendship should not be based on what one brings home in a check but how much one can bring joy to another.