The children’s book The King’s 6th Finger by Jolby and Rachel Roellke addresses the issues that can arise in an authoritarian power structure. The story, although not explicitly stated, is an authoritarian text. The ruler is King Mortimer, who commands the kingdom to follow his unorthodox rules. Marxist views can be used to examine the distribution of power and inequalities of social classes in this story. In its barest elements, this story describes how a total ruler is able to oppress the lower and middle classes. However, at the story’s end, King Mortimer allows the kingdom to regain their freedom. Marxist oppression is evident throughout the course of the story. At the expense of fulfilling his personal desires, Mortimer forces the kingdom
