The robots
The main metaphor used in the play is represented by the robots sold by Honest Sancho. These robots are used by the white ruling class to appeal to the Mexican community and to prove they are not biased or racist. The robots are thus used as a metaphor which stands for the prejudice the Mexicans had to endure while also being used to transmit the idea that they were not seen as real humans but rather as disposable machines.
Mag shoes
When Honest Sancho presents Johnny Pachuco for the first time, he is presented as wearing Mag shoes and the Sancho uses the shoes as proof that Johnny is capable of integrating into the modern American society. The shoes thus become used here as a metaphor, representing the ideal qualities the Latino people were expected to exhibit.
Oil change
The play ends with the robots coming to life and protesting against the way they were treated by Sancho. When the robots leave the shop, they decide to take Sancho with them, claiming he is in need of an oil change. The oil change is a metaphor here used to represent the way through which many people, both American and Latino needed to change their attitudes and to learn how to be more accepting.
Bilingual
The robot presented in the most positive light is Eric Garcia, a robot which learned English, went to college and is ambitious. Sancho points out on numerous times that Eric is bilingual and because of this, the capability of being bilingual becomes a metaphor. This characteristic is used here to suggest complete assimilation and the capability of becoming American from all points of view.
Money
At the end of the play, the three robots gain freedom and are able to go on their own paths using the money dropped behind by Mrs. Jiminez. Up until that point, the characters had no independence and were unable to control their own destiny. Because of this, the money is used here as a metaphor for freedom and independence.
