Objects are Merely Possessions

                There are many things in life that instills happiness in individuals. However, these feelings of happiness never do derive from simply money. However, in East, Wet, written by Salman Rushdie, the main character believes the materialism of the glass slippers worn by Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” will bring his love back to him, and most importantly the wholeness and happiness within his soul. His love is Gale, a woman who happens to be his cousin, and who also cheated on him with , “a hairy escapee from a caveman movie” (Rushdie 98). The main character hopes that with the purchase of these slippers at the auction, he will be able to click them together three times, just as Dorothy did, and Gale will once again return to him.

                At the auction the reader finds many types of individuals. Each individual ready to buy items that will bring to them the same happiness that the main character is pursuing. Political refugees are present, along with movie stars, memorabilia junkies, fake wizards, tramps, and also the homeless. Most importantly, in attendance are the auctioneers. “The auctioneers believed this prize would tempt us from our banker.” (Rushdie 87). The auctioneers represent the battle between the main character and his journey for completeness. Suddenly, at a time when the auction becomes nothing more than a waging war he sees the truth.

                The narrator begins to see how the slippers will not win back the heart of his love. Instead they are holding the weight of his hopes upon them. All the possessions that were up for auction; the statue of liberty, the Taj Mahal, the sphinx, are mere objects that can be purchased. However, what he seeks cannot be bought. He begins to see who Gale really is; the unloving partner that showed her affection towards another man. At this point the narrator decides that the slippers will not make him happy, but rather he will find his own happiness without Gale.

                This story of the glass slipper is a perfect reflection of the present world. People tend to believe that those things most cherished can be bought; but in reality nothing of passion or emotion has a price tag. Happiness comes from the inside and the narrator in this story was finally able to realize that.