Many of George Saunders' works focus on capitalism, which is a recurring concept in several of Saunders' Pastoralia tales. However, Pastoralia not only focuses on the general functioning of capitalism, but also enumerates the difficulties faced by the poorer working class. Saunders slowly reveals the reality of the poor throughout the book and how each individual must sacrifice a part of their humanity to survive. The narrators of many tales perform unusual and sometimes unrealistic jobs, such as stripping or acting like a living caveman, but they face the same trials as wealthier working-class citizens, if not more. By developing unrealistic works but realistic experiences, Saunders “creates an environment that is both profoundly strange and uncomfortably familiar” (Hower). He meticulously creates such environments in works such as “Pastoralia” and “Sea Oak,” where he denounces the injustice of capitalism through the exploitation of the impoverished working class. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In both “Pastoralia” and “Sea Oak,” the main characters are “pathetic, trapped in soul-sucking existences, with demeaning jobs and dysfunctional relationships” (Magee). Despite their atrocious jobs, they are motivated ​​to continue their careers due to financial shortcomings at home. The narrator of “Pastoralia” works in an exhibition park as a living caveman. He is expected to embrace his role as fully as possible, doing things like skinning and eating a dead goat, speaking no English while on display, and even living at work in a separate area. His job is incredibly demanding and humiliating, but it turns out he has a sick son and a wife at home who depend on the salary which he receives. Nelson, the narrator's son, has a condition that causes his muscles to stiffen to the point of immobility. Doctors have prescribed him a drug that reduces the stiffness but also causes painful muscle swelling. Describing the situation, the narrator states that "They had a name for what they initially thought he had, but when the medicine made him swell, Dr. Evans had to admit that whatever he had, it wasn't what they had thought." it was originally thought to be” (Saunders 18). Because the family is strapped for money, they may not be able to afford a doctor who can properly diagnose and treat Nelson, and so they settle for convenient, if apathetic, treatment and unfairly misdiagnose him. In a fax to the narrator, his wife Louise mentions Nelson's health and that “Evemplorine came to $70 for 120 counts. God, it's all crap, crap, crap, you should see me, I look about ninety” (Saunders 34). This once again implies that they are settling for the cheapest treatment options for Nelson, because in modern times, 70 dollars is a fairly cheap price for drugs, especially those for the treatment of such a rare disease, and the fact that Louise you talk about it with such exasperation indicates the price increase could bankrupt you. Later in the fax, he also states that “a large strip of trim or trim came floating down as we were getting into the car and almost killed the twins. The insurance said they won't pay. What do I do, do I forget?" (Saunders 34-35). Louise asking whether or not she should forget about the siding that fell off the house is her way of asking the narrator if he thinks he has enough money to repair it, now that the price of Nelson's medicines increased. Louise doesn't work, so all theneeds must be funded by the narrator, which means his job may ask him to do ridiculous things and he must follow orders or face “remix” (Saunders 16). If the narrator's family can't afford to fix up their house because of Nelson's medication, they most likely won't be able to afford much else, leaving the narrator with no choice but to stay in his job, no matter how unfair the treatment. . Like the narrator of “Pastoralia,” the unnamed narrator of “Sea Oak” also does degrading work. As a stripper at Joysticks, he relies on his clients' advice to support him and his family. Although the narrator is not the only one bringing home a paycheck in his family, his income is the largest and there are six people - him, Aunt Bernie, Min, Jade, Troy and Mac - who depend on his income, not just three. as in “Pastoralia”. Aunt Bernie also earns a salary, but was recently demoted after fifteen years as a cashier to greeter in Drugtown, reducing her already meager salary. When Aunt Bernie dies, it puts even more financial strain on the family, because now the narrator must also cover the cost of Aunt Bernie's funeral proceedings. The narrator experiences emotional turmoil over Aunt Bernie's death, but not enough to discourage him from going to work the next day. However, his boss, Mr. Frendt, notices his lack of enthusiasm as he tries to entertain a table and takes him aside. When the narrator explains what has happened and that he needs money now more than ever, Frendt responds, "Should I let you dance without vigor just because you need money?" (Saunders 111). Frendt perfectly embodies the injustice of capitalism towards the working class due to his indifferent attitude and his reluctance to help unless services are offered in return. Later, the undead Aunt Bernie also serves as a symbol of capitalism's injustice to the working class. When Aunt Bernie returns from the grave, she warns the family that if they don't move to a safer place than Sea Oak, “Troy will be caught in a crossfire in the yard. In September. September eighteenth. He will be thrown from his tricycle. With one leg bent under him and blood coming out of his ear” (Saunders 119). The narrator feels the need to protect his family and move them out of Sea Oak, and is “fueled by care, but also by patriarchal initiative and feelings of male responsibility” (Rando). The narrator is the only man in the house, which would traditionally indicate that he is the provider. However, his need to take on such a traditional masculine role may also be fueled by the emasculation he experiences in his job. The narrator feels as if he is not manly enough because of his job and must prove his masculinity by providing for his family. However there is no conceivable way the family could move at the narrator's current income rate, so Aunt Bernie devises a plan to move them out. To speed up the process, he tells the narrator to “start showing your dick. You will show it and you will show it. You go to a lady, if she wants to see it, if she pays to see it, I'll make a fingerprint on her forehead. See the fingerprint, ask” (Saunders 111). The narrator sees a woman with a fingerprint the next day, but fails to carry out Aunt Bernie's plan. Not only is he compromising his morality in the name of money, but he also risks getting fired. Although exposing himself to the specified women can earn him extra money, he will lose his job if he is caught, which effectively turns his conscience against his needs. However, after much reflection, the narrator decides to.