Beggars in Spain

By a significant margin, the dominant symbol in Beggars in Spain are the “beggars” which Tony invokes when warning Leisha of the class warfare he predicts will erupt between Sleepers and Sleepless. Throughout the book, the meaning of the term “beggars” and its symbolic connotations shift dramatically. In most of Book 1, the term uses literal beggars on the street as a metaphor for those who resent the economic achievements of the Sleepless. By the end of Book 2, Leisha thinks of beggars not so much in economic terms but in emotional ones, as she comes to realize the extent to which she relies on Alice for emotional support despite giving little back in return. The most dramatic recalibration of the term comes when Miri christens her rebel group of Supersleepless as “the Beggars.” It serves as a reclamation of the word that positions the Supers as an out-group, representing values contrary to Jennifer and the Sanctuary council. Furthermore, the Supers recognize that even they, with all their productivity and earning potential, are sometimes beggars based on the situation. For example, when Miri asks Leisha if she will provide the Supers a safe haven in the wake of the bioweapons showdown between Sanctuary and the United States, she says, “We come to you as beggars.