Wednesday, September 23, 2015

In " The Stolen Party", by Liliana Heker, what do you think the author means by the phrase "an infinitely delicate balance" in the last sentence?

In "The Stolen Party", by Liliana Heker, the story closes
referring to "an infinitely delicate balance."


The
character, Rosaura, is caught off guard when the party's hostess, Sefiora Ines offers
her money. With her hand extended, thinking that she is about to receive a yo-yo and
bracelet, Rosaura presses against her mother when offered money. Rosaura, a cold look
bearing down on Ines, freezes.


Ines, aware that she has
crossed a line, knows not what to do. She, as frozen as Rosaura, is afraid to move. She
is fearful that she moves, she will "shatter an infinitely delicate
balance."


What is meant here is that, to this point,
Rosaura has not looked at herself as the child of a cleaning-woman. Instead, the
societal class lines for her were not distinguished yet. It is not until Ines offers her
the money that she realizes she is not, and will never be, of her class. Rosaura's
identity is in jeopardy of being shattered, just like the delicate balance between the
tow standing together.

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