The Stolen Party, by Liliana Hoker

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Learning through experience is a necessary part of life. In Liliana Hoker’s “the stolen party”, Rosaura learns a valuable lesson about her social position. In the beginning Rosaura is innocent about her social class. While at the birthday party, her naivety continues and causes her to be oblivious to her surroundings. However, at the end of the party, Rosaura’s innocence is shattered when she becomes unaware of her social standing. In the story, Rosaura’s innocence before the party causes her to be ignorant to the reality of her social class. Experience inevitably leads to a loss of innocence. Before the party, Rosaura is strong-willed and ignorant about the limitation of her class. During the argument with her mother, Rosaura attempts to persuade her mother to allow her to attend Luciana’s birthday party. Belligerently, Rosaura insists, “I’m going because I’ve been invited....And I’ve been invited because Luciana is my friend. So there”(Heker 1). Rosaura attitude and insistence demonstrate her ignorance towards the nature of their friendship. She does not understand that she being the daughter of the employee, and therefore belongs to a lower social class than Luciana. As Rosaura becomes more aggravated with her mother she is disrespectful and yell, “Shut up! You know nothing about the being friends”(1). Rosaura belittles her mother’s opinions thus highlighting the narrow-minded perception of her position on the social ladder. In this way, Rosaura feel superior to her mother and she tries to distance herself from her. Near the end of the conversation, Rosaura is still naive about her mother’s point of view. At this point, Rosaura thinks, “It was unfair of her mother to accuse other people of being liars simply ... ... middle of paper ... ...hat her effort and supremacy is not complemented and was able to understand the ignorance and innocence that blinded her perspectives about the difference between the social classes. Thus, Rosaura is able to see clear view of actual reality as her ignorance and innocence is mercilessly sabotaged. In conclusion, throughout “the stolen party” by Liliana Heker, Rosaura’s continued ignorance keeps her sheltered from the reality of her position in society. Before the party Rosaura maintains a confident and arrogant attitude. Her feelings of superiority progress while she completes tasks and wins games at the party. It is the truth about her social standing and its limitations. In this way, Rosaura’s experience birthday party leads to her loss of innocence. While it is often said that ignorance is bliss, experience can ultimately unveil the facade.

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