When the Beatles released the song "Can't Buy Me Love" on March 16, 1964, their intention was for it to be yet another hit rock song. While Paul McCartney may not have composed the tune for philosophical purposes, the idea deserves further consideration; How can money and power influence love and affection? This concept has been applied in many different works, long before McCartney decided to put his lyrics together. In From Sleep Unbound and The Tin Flute, Andree Chedid and Gabrielle Roy demonstrate how money and social status (real and perceived) influence characters' relationships through the use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and voice. In both novels, the relationships between the various characters are heavily influenced by each person's social status and wealth. A change in social standing or finances can change any type of relationship. At the boarding school in From Sleep Unbound, Samya and her friend Sarah get separated after Sarah leaves school to get married. We were sitting together on the same benches, yet I almost didn't recognize her. High heels, furs she looked lost in, brown suede gloves dangling from her fingers. The diamond he wore gave off a brilliant light. I didn't know her anymore. She was old and ugly, dressed like that... I wanted to beat Sarah, but at the same time I wanted to hold her tight and chase away that nightmare. (Chedid 33) The images created by Chedid highlight the changes that have transformed Sarah and their effects on her friendship with Samya. Sarah treats the girls at school differently after earning money from her marriage, and Samya reacts differently to the rich version of Sarah. “Say you don't need diamond rings…” (McCartney). The acquisition or loss of m... paper halves... wealth and social status. A character's social standing and money can completely alter the nature of a relationship, both positively and negatively. Chedid and Roy both use this concept in their novels From Sleep Unbound and The Tin Flute; the characters' relationships and interactions with family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers are all based on the characters' status and wealth. With imagery, symbolism, and voice, Chedid and Roy convey that, although it strongly affects all relationships, "...money can't buy [anyone's] love." (McCartney).Works CitedChedid, Andree. From sleep without ties. Athens, OH: Swallow/Ohio UP, 1995. Print.McCartney, Paul. "I can't buy love." Rec. January 29, 1964. The Beatles. George Martin, 1964. Web. .Roy, Gabrielle. The tin flute. Toronto and Ontario: Canadian Library/New Canadian, 1980. Print.