Final Essay

A Chess Match Between Karl Marx and Bill Gates: Analysis of Marxism and Capitalism in the Animated Film, Wall-E.

Sir Thomas More tells the story of a nation, which equally shared its resources, where no exploitation by one class over another existed, where everyone “…enjoy[ed] a perfect social, legal, and political system” (OED). Ironically this nation was called Utopia, which by definition is also described as “an imaginary island” (OED). Arguably, More’s account was effective in illuminating the difficulties and favorable aspects of full-scale socialism, while jointly criticizing capitalism. Would Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels consider a socialist society “imaginary” (OED)? Would it be at all possible to launch a full-scale socialist society, equal and free of subjection, and most important, would it function?

The film Wall-E, reveals the story of a robotic droid in a post-apocalyptic world, toiling away as the sole sign of life on an empty planet. Although there are many plots and themes to the film, the Marxist connotations offer a truly sublime reflection of our society, in the film. If art represents life, then the film reflects thousands of artistic expressions in literature, art, and film, which remind us of continuous class struggles. Emanating exploitation, our artwork serves as a constant reminder that we should transcend beyond a capitalist economy. But would socialism work in place of a capitalist society? Is Marxism, the answer to the worlds economic and social problems, would it bring the demise of subjugation by ruling classes, and does it instill proper motivation for communal good and advancement; or is it a deluded utopia which, is not only non-existent, but also tragically unattainable?


Is there fault in Marxist theory? Is it possible to turn a capitalist society to that of a socialist society? Vladimir Pozner calls attention to “the futility…of having attempted to move Russian to socialism prior to that country’s having experienced capitalist development” (Marx xvii). Is this not a concession on behalf of Marxist theorist and dually a critical argument in favor of capitalism. The continuous improvement of technology: Electronics, medicine, agriculture, energy, biology, engineering, computer science, etc a constant “revolutioni[z]ing [of] the instruments of production” seems to be spearheaded by capitalism (Marx 21). When can a society decide and declare that it no longer needs to fervently pursue improved medicine or engineering? Without some form of compensation or recognition will man have little motivation to work, create, or improve? “Money is the crucial incentive. . . no other incentive or motivational technique comes even close to money…subsequent meta-analyses have tended to support this conclusion (Rynes, Gerhart, et al. 572). Although fictional in account, More retells the story of the people of Utopia, living in a land “free of poverty and suffering” (DC). Nonetheless the seamen are “ignorant…in the use of a compass” (Greenblatt 527). Arguably, without the constant pursuit of maximized profits, and most effective production methods, society would still be in a much more primitive technological state.

Although improved technology is a clear benefit to society and the common good, it also has the unfortunate side effects of obliterating “all distinctions of [skilled] labour, and nearly everywhere reduces wages to the same low level” (Marx 28). In contrast, the assembly line method of production itself, has improved product quality and control since it’s first inception, Wall-E’s ability to replace a broken eye quickly and efficiently, and at one point his mother board, representing his heart, is a splendid example of how capitalism works (Stanton). Not only does Wall-E’s repair represent the assembly line as a uniform method to quickly repair and replace technology, but also as metaphor to the rise of medical advancements associated with prosthetic limbs, surgery, and overall medicine. Thus, Pozner himself makes an argument for capitalism, technological advancement can be effectively achieved by a capitalist economy, a socialist economy with no financial reward system, would have slow technological progress (Marx xvii).

Given that capitalism yields great advancement in all forms of technology, and the potential is present for socialist programs, should there exist a class, which holds most of the assets and power in society? The bourgeoisie by definition, are “the class of modern capitalist, owners of the means of social production and employers of wage-labour” (Marx 17). They are few in numbers, but wield great power as they posses uncontested control of the economy. By continuously reaping the benefits of profits, and the advancement of technology, which improve profits, they perpetually obtain more wealth and increase their hold on resources and means of production. All the while, the proletarian class, commonly known as “proles,” are compensated with wages in a society in which seeks to obtain the most profit from sales and services. Thus, the proles are kept in a constant work pattern, as they must continuously purchase goods that are needed and desired, while continuously being bombarded with media that suggests they need to buy-more. An interview with Noam Chomsky reveals reminds us of a human’s possible state of worth in a capitalist society, “your only rights are what you can get on the market. If you can’t buy water for your children, they can drop dead (Chomsky).



As Wall-E, our representation of the proletarian class, treads though the desolate city, he is bombarded and surrounded by scores of media streams: ads, billboards, banners, 3d signs of all shapes and sizes, and multiple large screens advertise for a singularly powerful corporation know as the “Buy and Large” or “BNL” (Stanton). This corporation, exists as an exaggerated representation of the bourgeoisie class, which feeds a desire to shop at warehouse stores, further inculcated by propaganda such as “do your part, fill your cart.” A recent “Jack-in-the-Box” commercial makes light of this consumerist propaganda while showing Jack, euphorically purchasing a “[widescreen] plasma T.V. twin pack” along with “twenty pounds of jerky” (Jack). Humorous yes, but also an uncannily accurate picture of the bourgeoisie class using media to stimulate certain purchasing habits. To keep the proletarians purchasing, means they are kept in frequent, perpetual subjugation, both mentally and physically.



However the control of the BNL Corporation does not only extend to advertising media. As the BNL Corporation gained profits, it expanded and conquered new markets as it depleted old markets, or as Marx would reiterate, the thorough “conquest of new markets, and by the more thorough exploitation of thee old ones” (Marx 25). Another exaggerated example from the film grants us remaining probes and robotics from at the location of the original moon landing, with a flashing neon sign adjacent to the lander, “mall coming soon” (Stanton). Did the Earth deplete it’s own resources, and was it forced to expand to adjacent planets, or in this case, markets? Does this not also represent a positive effect of capitalism, as clearly there would have to be a great advancement in technology in order to populate the moon and other planets.

Ironically, it is the exploitation of resources by the capitalist regimes that depleted Earth’s resources, also creating a new market, based on cleaning up the world of all its trash, the very problem that out of control production and consumption created, “to much garbage in your face? There’s plenty of space, in space” (Stanton). The BNL Corporation creates propaganda, to deflect the very problem they created, while as a caring entity they will take charge and “clean the mess while you’re away” (Stanton). Herein we find another negative aspect of capitalism, the BNL Corporation also owns the newspaper, a representation of all media, which it obviously controls and slants. Curiously, behind the picture of the CEO of BNL, Shelby Forthright, is an uncanny resemblance to the back drop of the white house press room, an implication that the corporation is in total control of government. At this point, we find the BNL Corporation in control of virtually all systems, banking, commerce, transport, space travel, and media making it a corporation standing in the role of government.

Upon boarding a ship called the Axiom, which care for humans to the point where they no longer walking, they simply hover and consume, Wall-E’s mentality begins to “infect” other robots. The infection, is clearly, a new consciousness, and new way of being, or living. Wall-E’s first introduction to a robot occurs with M-O, whose duty it is to keep all incoming probes 100% clean from “foreign contaminants” (Stanton). Although M-O is also a proletarian, he is also apart panoptic system that controls the ship, the multiple “eyes that must see without being seen” attempting to keep full control and prevent any new ideas from challenging those in power (Foucault 171). Even though Wall-E brings a physical foreign contaminant, it is really the foreign contaminant of consciousness that is M-O’s duty to cleanse. This new foreign consciousness, introduced into the ship, could be considered a form of radical questioning and thinking which would work against the bourgeoisie. Without knowing, M-O’s reaction to Wall-E, in attempting to cleanse him, causes him to jump off the “assembly line” and fallow Wall-E, something he does with great difficulty (Stanton). Not following the line established for him by the ship, or by association the corporation, M-O now follows his own agenda. This new kind of thinking or awareness is further evidenced as Wall-E also comes into contact with two other humans, who would represent the middle class. His interactions with the humans, John and Mary, seem to almost jolt them out of their current state and almost reawaken them from a sedentary lifestyle, in which they have been bombarded by the ship’s mass media pushing consumption. The lifestyle of consumption itself, seemed to displace even two random humans, having a conversation via telescreen, even though they were sitting in hover chairs next to each other. Notably, the large hallways serve an uncanny resemblance to the America’s Wall Street, where everyone is so involved in their desperation to get to work that there is very little if not, no human interaction.



Again, this consumerism is only a method of keeping the proletarian in a form of perpetual passive subjugation. Keeping them apart of the consumer cycle, with the rewards of instant gratification and consumption, “try blue, it’s the new red,” and attire is changed by the push of a button (Stanton).

Foucault’s revealing of panoptic control joins hand in hand with that of capitalistic power. If Wall-E represents a revolutionary, who brings a new stream of consciousness, then it is the plant brought from Earth, that is his manifesto. The BNL Corporation goes to incredible lengths to keep the plant out of possession of the proletarians and the middle class. As a minor skirmish erupts, started by Eve’s accidental release of the “sick” robots, it must be considered that Foucault also recognizes the need for society to take people that question authority, the law, and the status quo and label them as “mad,” “dangerous,” and “abnormal” (Foucault 199). By creating this propaganda, the corporation attempts to create a division and effectively “brands” the “rogue robots” effectively undermining their new political position (Foucault 199). We see the same tactic used in George Orwell’s novel, 1984, in which radicals made to who repent their crimes against the party, and admit they are “sick in mind and body,” then as Winston states, they are vaporized (Radford). "People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, and your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized (Radford). By doing so, society effectively undermines the validity and power of such individuals who may gain power and incite movements for political reform or even equal rights. Eve’s blast, releasing the sick robots, is actually the release of many revolutionaries armed with questions, thoughts, and the power rebel against power, which is in control for their own benefit. The captain, the representative of the middle class rebels and exclaims “I can’t just sit here and do nothing. That’s all I’ve ever done…I don’t want to survive, I want to live!” The middle class desire to drop the sedentary consumer life-style and join the revolution against the bourgeoisie.



The film Wall-E represents exaggerated class struggles of “human history from the perspective of who owns and who works” (Rivkin 653). Yet, perpetually there will always continue to be class struggles, as historically, there always seems to be groups who desire control and power over the rest of the populace, whether it be by conditions of war or capital.

There can be no pure capitalist society, nor can there be a purely socialist society, indeed only a stable balance will offer tranquility, equity, and a between the proletarian, all it’s various factions, and the bourgeois. Unfortunately, until superpowers attempt to distribute wealth and services equitably there will still be the “exploitation of the many by the few,” and the ever-present reality of a massive revolutionary movement, first peaceful, and lastly violent (Marx xi).

If Karl Marx could walk amongst us now, he would find desperation in all our artwork. A desperate plea by the muses, their instruments, and the populace, each speaking different languages but attempting to understand one another. What would this message be? Declare opposition, incite revolution, and demand that each human be treated as they should, a human, instead as an appendage of profit. Truly until we can hold ourselves accountable, how can we hold our leaders accountable for the creation and maintenance of classes? Do our own politicians have their own investment and retirement programs, or have they equally invested their own finances in what is available to the average consumer, the average proletarian? Neither full-scale socialism, nor all out capitalism, offer a stable and equitable solution for all humans, but it is by our own complacency that the balance in its current form, is unsustainable.






Works Cited

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Rivkin, Julie and Michael Ryan. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 1998.

“Rogue Robots” Wall-E. Dir. Andrew Stanton. Walt Disney Animated Studio, 2008. Still Photo and link. < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G8CWRowazY >

Rynes, Sara L., Barry Gerhart, and Laura Parks. "Personnel Pyschology: Performance Evaluation and Pay for Performance." Annual Review Psychology. 56(2005):571-600. Web. 18 Aug 2009.

Wall-E. Dir. Andrew Stanton. Walt Disney Animated Studio, 2008. Film.

“Wall Street Crash History Video.” Posted by Thomas21748. Youtube.com 18 Aug 2009
< http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqoGau07eYs >