The scene that follows is a metaphor for the relationship between the People and their taskmasters. Nostromo, as always, represents the common People -- the mass of toiling mankind who provide the labor for the great dream-ideals such as progress. Paquita represents the Ruler -- her golden comb is superior to Nostromo's silver. Their relationship is presented as a love affair in which both sides need and scorn the other at the same time. In this case, Nostromo is trying to pull away from the relationship -- the People feeling the first stirrings of the "labor troubles" that will arise under material progress -- but Paquita seduces him back.