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As they arrive in Paris, Kate, the quintessential ugly American, forcefully yanks a telephone out of the hands of a Parisian woman in order to call back home. She elicits a subtle swear from the woman, disguised in an accent.
“Hello? Hello? Hello? She’ll have to call you back,” Kate says to the person on the other end of the line, hanging up (30:32). Her niece looks on in horror.
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When Kate finds out that there are no flights available to Chicago, she enquires about hiring a private plane. This is an outrageous request unless the family is of considerable means. “No I’m afraid we don’t do that,” the airline worker says (34:50).
Kate ultimately decides to wait at the airport in hopes of getting on a standby flight back to her son. The rest of the family continues on to meet other family members in Paris. As they separate, Kate’s husband warns her “Don’t you get lost,” foreshadowing Kate’s upcoming struggles as the family becomes further separated (35:28).
This is a reference to consumerism spoiling the religious holiday of Christmas. Quite literally “Nobody is home.” Everyone is, in a sense, home alone: plagued by consumerism and greed.
In Paris at his brother’s house, Peter McCallister works the phones to try to contact neighbors in hopes of reaching his son. “No, I can’t find anyone. They’ve all gone shopping. Nobody is home for the holidays (46:39).”
This is a reference to consumerism spoiling the religious holiday of Christmas. Quite literally “Nobody is home.” Everyone is, in a sense, home alone: plagued by consumerism and greed.
“If I have to sell my soul to the devil himself”
As Kate tries desperately to catch a plane out of Paris, her wealth and privilege do not help her. Kate resorts to trying to swap her material possessions to people who have tickets to the U.S.
“So we have the $500, the pocket translator, the two first class seats. That’s an upgrade from your coach,” she says to the woman whose plane ticket she is trying to get (49:40).
However, Kate’s attempts to use her wealth are not successful. It’s only when she appeals to the woman’s sense of humanity that she succeeds.
“I’m desperate. I’m begging you. From a mother to a mother. Please,” begs Kate, choking up (50:19).
Kate’s spiritual journey to reunite with her son comes to a climax when she is in Scranton trying to find a connection to Chicago. Kate is told she cannot get home until the next afternoon. Kate steps aside and then cuts back in line, again, showing her sense of entitlement. She declares that she’s willing to give up everything.
“This is Christmas! The season of perpetual hope! And I don’t care if I have to get out and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own. If I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son!” she tells an airline employee (58:21).
Note that as Kate says this, behind her on the right is a dark haired, bearded man who symbolizes the devil, waiting to take her soul. To the left is Gus Polinski (John Candy), wearing a gold jacket and symbolizing an angel.
Polinski ultimately saves Kate from ‘selling her soul to the devil’ by offering her a ride to Chicago to reunite with Kevin. “Sure, we will. Why not? You know, you’ve got to get home to see your kid…Sure. It’s Christmas,” Polinski says (1:00:04).
Note that, as in the earlier scene at the airport in France, it’s ultimately not the McCallister family’s wealth that solves their problem. It is compassion and neighborly love, first of the woman who traded the airline ticket and then ultimately Polinski.