The economics of the characters is the driving force behind what the play is about and the actions that occur within it. The most prominent economic plot point is that the character Ricardo has gone into debt from squandering from the bank he works at and must repay what he owes. Ricardo requests that his love interest Maruja give back to him the cross necklace he gifted her in order to pay off his debts. Ricardo is 10,000 pesos in debt and Diderot, Ricardo’s friend, offers Ricardo 500 pesos to help pay off his debts and Ricardo declines because it is not enough. Ricardo, referring to Maruja’s necklace says “Giving me her jewelry to sell. Her gem-filled cross would be enough”.The cross necklace connects economy in the play to the relationships; Ricardo asking for the cross to improve his economic standing causes strife in his relationship with Maruja. Her hesitation to give it to Ricardo leads to his suicide. All of these actions stem from Ricardo’s financial trouble.
Other economic statistics within the play are 1,000 pesos and 200 pesos which are values given by Diderot of the cost of having a relationship with a woman per month. Ricardo says that Meruja’s youth was worth “20 pesos per night”, referring to her as a prostitute and degrading her by calling her services cheap.
The main material culture in the play is Maruja’s necklace. The cross necklace that Ricardo seeks is the cause and potential solution to his economic problems. Maruja’s necklace is worth at least 10,000 pesos since it would pay off Ricardo’s debt and is the only material piece of monetary value of real importance throughout the play.
For reference- 1 U.S. dollar is equivalent to about 19 pesos