Reverse personification [duplicate]

Personification is an object or a thing described with a human-like aspect (eg. The Sun smiled at me).

Can personification also be used to describe a human with an aspect from an object? For example, in Oliver Twist, Dickens says "[Oliver] was badged and ticketed," which describes/compares him with a package or box. Is this a usage of personification or a different type of literary device?

Solution 1:

I don't think it is a specific 'literary device', but in general when a person is depicted or treated like an object it is called objectification.

Definition of objectify for English Language Learners : to treat (someone) as an object rather than as a person (...) -- objectification [noun] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/objectify

Example:

Officials branded people with a label and filed them under a category. They were written up, numbered and 'put up for necessary action.' The applicants for social support resented such unfeeling objectification.

Please note that 'objectification' is often used not neutrally, but to express disapproval of treating people like objects.

It is not good of social work agencies to objectify the people they are supposed to help as 'subjects', 'projects' or 'cases.'

The Women's League strongly protested the objectification of women in the visual media.