Gemstones

Gemstones are used symbolically to describe various class structures present in the airline’s membership system. The first are “Pearl and Coral Club members” (Line 7), both gems derived from the sea. Later, the speaker lists a series of precious and semiprecious stones as metaphors for the people they represent. This framework positions wealthy, privileged people as rare commodities to be protected and prized.

Clothing

Clothing and accessories is another way the speaker compartmentalizes the wealthy. The first hint of this materialistic perspective comes when the speaker calls “Military personnel in uniform” (Line 8). Rather than showing valid identification, the characters are only acknowledged by what they wear. Later, the speaker displays this attitude again when they invite “travellers of elegance and style / wearing designer and/or hand-tailored clothing / to a minimum value of ten thousand US dollars” (Lines 23-25). In each case, clothing represents a flawed and...