In "Small Wonder," Barbara Kingsolver reflects on the pervasive influence of advertising in our lives, emphasizing how electronic beams penetrate every barrier, creating a spectacle driven by global commerce. This shadow play symbolizes the constant desire manufactured by advertisers, illustrating the extent to which they shape our wants and needs. Their overwhelming investment in marketing, exceeding a hundred dollars per person annually, highlights the scale of this manipulation across the globe.

The excerpt underscores the intersection of commercialism and human experience, where individuals become mere spectators in a grand performance orchestrated by powerful puppeteers. Kingsolver critiques how these forces not only dictate consumer behavior but also perpetuate a cycle of desire that can lead to dissatisfaction and disconnection. Through her lens, the reader is invited to consider the implications of living in a world so heavily influenced by corporate interests.