Mary Poppins can be viewed from the point of view of Marxism as there are aspects such as social class, bourgeoisie, and proletariat. Earp (2021) notes that this piece is rife with hidden socialist ideas. The central figure, nanny Mary Poppins, is a representative of the proletariat. Chimney sweep Bert belongs to the same class, forced to do all kinds of work in order to make money. In turn, the Banks family are representatives of the bourgeoisie. Mr. Banks is a busy banker who strives for order and stability in his work and his home. Mrs. Banks is a suffragist preoccupied with her march and protests for women’s right to vote.
Social class is determined by access to various resources, including wealth, property, power, and prestige. Therefore, thanks to the living conditions of the heroes and their manners, it can be concluded that it is possible to determine the belonging of the heroes to one or another social class. Thus, the Banks family owns a beautiful and large house in a quiet and prestigious area, which testifies to their belonging to the upper class of society – the bourgeoisie. It is also confirmed by the description of the interior decoration of the house, including the magnificent furniture and beautiful decor. Moreover, Banks’ upper class status is highlighted by the presence of two servants and a nanny. In turn, Mary Poppins’ affiliation with a particular social class is difficult to determine. By her demeanor and the way she speaks, one can tell that she is probably from the upper middle class. However, since she works as a nanny, she can be identified as part of the proletariat.
The work clearly traces the scourging of bankers and banking and financial capitalism. An illustrative scene is when a bank director offers a boy Michael Banks, who has two pence, to invest money. Michael’s response to all of this is disgusting; he and his sister slowly huddle against the wall as bank directors enthusiastically sing about the merits of investing and then flee from there with all their might.
Work Cited
Earp, Joseph. How Disney Accidentally Made A Socialist Masterpiece With ‘Mary Poppins.’ Junkee, 2021.