Thelma & Louise: Analysis Using Marxist Perspective
In the chapter “Marxist Criticism,” Stephen Bonnycastle writes, “Marxist criticism pays a lot of attention to the social structures that allocate power to different groups in society. (Bonnycastle 200)” These social structures, caused by economic factors, are prominent in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise by Callie Khouri. This film follows two women undertaking a lengthy journey by car. Along the way, they are angered by a truck driver, and they destroy his vehicle. In this scene, a Marxist perspective reveals that economic differences result in “The victory of the winner being paid for by the suffering of the loser” (200). This is first shown when Thelma and Louise destroy the man’s truck …show more content…
The text says, “Louise drives through the desert back towards the road, past the burning debris of the truck…. Thelma climbs into the front seat.” This shows that they are able to escape in their car. However, if they were of a lower social class, they may not have a reliable vehicle in which to depart. In that case, they would be trapped at the scene with the trucker, and he could plan revenge. Contradictorally, if they did not have a worthy car, Thelma and Louise might not have attacked at all, which would result in no suffering on the the trucker’s part. Since they can leave, no harm is done to them, so Thelma and Louise are victorious. Finally, the power that Thelma and Louise gained through their economic status is shown when they reflect on their interaction with the trucker. Thelma asks, “Where'd you learn to shoot like that?” Louise replies, “Texas….” This shows that Louise obtained her shooting skills by traveling to another state. Therefore, she must be wealthy enough to afford to travel. If she had not gone to Texas, she may not have learned how to shoot, and the destruction of the truck would not be as successful. However, because her wealth allows her to destroy it, the truck driver must suffer due to the loss of his
In the chapter “Marxist Criticism,” Stephen Bonnycastle writes, “Marxist criticism pays a lot of attention to the social structures that allocate power to different groups in society. (Bonnycastle 200)” These social structures, caused by economic factors, are prominent in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise by Callie Khouri. This film follows two women undertaking a lengthy journey by car. Along the way, they are angered by a truck driver, and they destroy his vehicle. In this scene, a Marxist perspective reveals that economic differences result in “The victory of the winner being paid for by the suffering of the loser” (200). This is first shown when Thelma and Louise destroy the man’s truck …show more content…
The text says, “Louise drives through the desert back towards the road, past the burning debris of the truck…. Thelma climbs into the front seat.” This shows that they are able to escape in their car. However, if they were of a lower social class, they may not have a reliable vehicle in which to depart. In that case, they would be trapped at the scene with the trucker, and he could plan revenge. Contradictorally, if they did not have a worthy car, Thelma and Louise might not have attacked at all, which would result in no suffering on the the trucker’s part. Since they can leave, no harm is done to them, so Thelma and Louise are victorious. Finally, the power that Thelma and Louise gained through their economic status is shown when they reflect on their interaction with the trucker. Thelma asks, “Where'd you learn to shoot like that?” Louise replies, “Texas….” This shows that Louise obtained her shooting skills by traveling to another state. Therefore, she must be wealthy enough to afford to travel. If she had not gone to Texas, she may not have learned how to shoot, and the destruction of the truck would not be as successful. However, because her wealth allows her to destroy it, the truck driver must suffer due to the loss of his