Maria fights "The Man"

There are a couple of interpretations that came to my mind as I read through the short story Maria. But aside from my different impressions that I got from the reading, I truly believe that this story is about how nobody can truly rely on the government to solve their problems. In her old age, Maria is dependent on receiving social security, to which she is entitled to. But in the process of receiving that entitlement you can clearly see the flaws in the system. The amount of time that she has to wait in line and the overall care of the receptionist is the author’s way of displaying the problems that go with the way the government runs itself.

The question Marie asks the receptionist, “why you have me wait so long if she wasn’t there”, is the author’s way of showing the lack of care that goes with a government employee. Marie’s mother was certain that “a human bein could take they troubles to Washington and things would be set right.” Unfortunately Marie had to experience the lack of order and care that comes with governmental service.

So in conclusion I feel that this piece of literature was written in order to illustrate the authors feeling’s and beliefs about government oversight and control and how if we as citizens of the United States let the government slowly overtake our programs, then they will dictate the way we live life and we will all be waiting in line for something.