What is the significance of the red stapler in the movie "Office Space"?

We all know Milton loved his red swing-line stapler. Yes, it does "signify" Milton's self respect, seeing as how he has actually been fired and no one told him and just cut off his paychecks, they put boxes in his cubicle, they take "his red swing-line" stapler... i guess you could say the red stapler is his soul... BUT it really is the fact that Milton is a "rules" person, he is obsessive compulsive, he kept his red swing-line by hiding it when they switched out everyone's staplers, because "it didn't jam up" like the other ones... I think it is really just that simple for Milton... he didn't want one that jammed up. by the way... swing-line made the red stapler just for the movie, there was no color red in its model line until the movie... they added red after making one for the film.

The red stapler symbolizes that which drives every peon in corporate America. Despite management's attempts to hold us down, we have a goal to strive for, something that we can call our own. It is the pinacle of achievement.

Or...it's somehting that the guy really really wanted.

It signifies Miltons Dignity, yo!! or thats what i think..

It鈥檚 an object of obsession for Milton. And when it鈥檚 taken from him it finally puts him over the edge. If you don鈥檛 know who Milton is he鈥檚 the guy with thick glasses that mumbles to himself all the time.

The movie is based on one of Mike Judges animation shorts called Milton. In it Milton goes through all the same stuff he does in the movie with Lumberg, being moved into the corner, having boxes stored in his cubical and having his stapler taken away ultimately causing him to burn the place down. It was featured on the old MTV show Liquid Television