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(a) The brother and sister belong to an upper, wealthy social class. The brother, who is the narrator, notes that they do not need to work to earn a living, and instead receive money from the farms on their estate. Their wealth is also proved by the fact that they can afford to do very little during the day, live in a large house that they don’t need to sell for parts, and pursue their hobbies wholeheartedly and with few barriers (Irene knits constantly and the brother collects French literature).

(b) The characters’ hobbies show their wealth as they are able to pursue them all day long, without needing to work. Irene can afford to knit constantly, with yarn bought by her brother, and is not impeded by financial difficulties. Likewise, the brother collects French literature, which is difficult to come by in Argentina.

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(a) During sleep, the restrained characters act very differently, showing expressive and active sides of themselves. Quiet, docile Irene talks loudly in her sleep, and the static narrator flails and shakes violently.

(b) This difference suggests their deep fear and sadness over the invasion of the house. While awake, they talk very casually about the invasion, and try to find a way to go about their quiet lives. In sleep, however, the characters are unrestrained in their reactions and express a depth of emotion about the fact that their family home is no longer their own, and their beloved possessions must be left behind.

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The unexplained invaders have a nightmarish quality, as it is unclear who or what exactly they are. The feeling of fear generated does not always have a clear cause, and Cortazar creates a similar story in “House Taken Over.” The reader knows that Irene and her brother are threatened by the invaders, but the threat is never fully explained. The tone of the story echoes the trapped feeling that a bad dream evokes, as the sleeper and reader cannot escape the stifling, claustrophobic atmosphere.

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“House Taken Over” shows that fear can be portrayed in very subtle, implicit ways. Irene and her brother act nonchalant about the invaders taking over their home while they are awake, but express intense emotion in their sleep, showing how they really feel. The story creates a sense of unease through unanswered questions and unexplained occurrences. The reader never knows what exactly is overtaking the house, but feels fearful as a result of the suspense built as the house is increasingly invaded. The draw of the story comes from the intriguing questions and unsettled atmosphere. While answers about the invaders are never given, readers still leave the story with a sense of satisfaction and interest, as the characters give up their home and belongings in order to avoid an unseen menace.