Examples

"So as I see it, the Upper-world man had drifted towards his feeble prettiness, and the underworld to mere mechanical industry. But that perfect state lacked one thing even for mechanical perfection- absolute permanency."

(The Time Machine, H.G Wells)

The new 'species' of humanoid creatures that he observed were a symbol for the working class and the corporate class: The high-class society had turned into a primitive and child-like race, and the working class had turned into an animalistic and necessity-based set of creatures.

" Well, let's try and have a fine time.'
'All right. I was trying. I said the mountains looked like white elephants. Wasn't that bright?'
' That was bright.'
'I wanted to try this new drink. That's all we do, isn't it - look at things and try new drinks?"

(Hills Like White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway)

Buying more drinks represented the attempt to change the topic of conversation to avoid the 'elephant in the room': every time the woman brought up a topic that hinted at their situation, the man's demeanor would change, and one of them would mention getting another drink, and return to 'casual' conversation.