Analysis of The Stolen Party by Liliana Heker Essay Example

Everyone wants to feel they belong in some way. In fact, sometimes outsiders will act in surprising ways just to fit in. When people realize their friendship is not genuine, they can be disappointed. In Liliana Heker’s short story, The Stolen Party, Rosaura believes she and Luciana are friends even despite their social and class differences. Rosaura’s understanding of her relationship with Luciana changes when she realizes Luciana does not see her as an equal. This shows how people are willing to ignore social behaviors in order to belong.  

At the beginning of the story, Rosaura believes that her friendship with Luciana is genuine. When Rosaura got invited to the party, she and her mom argued about why she was going. “I’m going because I’ve been invited,” she said. “And I’ve been invited because Luciana is my friend.”  This shows how Rosaura believes that her friendship with Luciana is real and that she is even willing to defend Luciana in an argument with her mom. “Rosaura blinked hard: she wasn’t going to cry. Then she yelled: “Shut up! You know nothing about being friends!” Indeed Rosaura believes that her friendship is genuine despite what her mom says about how they only think of Rosaura as the maid’s daughter. Rosaura was in for quite of a surprise at the end of the party.

By the end of the story, it becomes clear to Rosaura that her friendship with Luciana is not genuine. “Just then Señora Ines arrived saying shh shh, and asked Rosaura if she wouldn’t mind helping serve out the hot dogs, as she knew the house so much better than the others.” This shows how Senora Ines was giving hints that her friendship with Luciana was not genuine and Rosaura was ignoring them. “You really and truly earned this,” she said handing them over. “Thank you for all your help, my pet.” This quote shows the moment when it became clear that she and Luciana are not friends and Luciana was just using her. Clearly, Rosaura’s understanding of her friendship with Luciana is mistaken.

Outsiders are willing to overlook social behaviors to feel they belong. In the story, The Stolen Party, Rosaura was willing to overlook the social cues that her friendship with Luciana was not genuine just to feel included. In some way, everyone wants to feel they fit in. Many outsiders will even change the way they act to feel part of a group but by doing so they are hurting themselves by not hanging out with peers that accept them for who they are. When outsiders notice their friendship is not genuine they will be disappointed. In conclusion, it is important to be genuine in a relationship.