Snowpiercer

The movie Snowpiercer demonstrates a Marxist perspective because it embodies the power struggle caused by class conflicts and social inequality. We see this manifest in the movie in three ways:

Firstly, the proletariat is exploited and oppressed by the bourgeoisie.

Secondly, there is a huge wealth gap among classes.

Thirdly, this social force pushes the lower class to rebel the bourgeoisie due to unequal treatment.

Topic Sentence

The proletariat represented by the protagonist has been oppressed and exploited by the bourgeoisie represented by the protagonist, thus a clear class conflict has been set.

Text Structure

Conflict

The main type of conflict in the movie is person VS. person.

Characterization

The protagonist is a dynamic character in the movie. Due to a series of unequal treatment on the train, the protagonist has determined to bring the lower class people to rebel against the bourgeoisie, while the antagonist is a static character.

Setting

The story is set in AD 2031 after an apocalyptic ice age struck the planet forcing the remaining human race to find a new home in the Snowpiercer, a globe-spanning supertrain.

Theme

The theme of the movie is class and sacrifice. The tail of the train represents the oppressed and exploited proletariat, while the front of the train represents the bourgeoisie. In order to pursue equality for all, many people sacrificed in this class conflict.

Literary Devices

The film adopts a depressive and serious mood throughout, which foreshadows the class conflict that will occur soon.

Quote 1:

"I belong to the front, you belong to the tail, just like the feet can never reach the position of the head, the status is completely different, know your place! keep your place!" (00:18:35- 00:18:54). The quote demonstrates the class inequality and oppression that exist in the movie, and the bourgeoisie considers itself superior to others.

Quote 2:

"They are gone of bullets! they are gone of bullets!" (00:27:17- 00:27:19). This quote is a signal that the proletariat is rebelling against the bourgeoisie. Due to constant oppression and exploitation from the bourgeoisie, social forces push the bottom groups to revolt.

Choo, Matthaeus. “Exploring the Marxist Themes behind Bong Joon-Ho's 'Snowpiercer'.” Sinema.SG, 27 May 2020, https://www.sinema.sg/2020/05/26/marxist-themes-snowpiercer/. Accessed December 2, 2021.

Claim

This movie reflects the class conflict and inequality existing in society through Marxist perspective; with the rich living, comfortable lives in the front of the train and the lower class surviving like rats in the tail section a defined class system is set. Moreover, due to capitalism’s oppression and exploitation of the proletariat, the wealth gap and the status of power between the classes has become larger which resulting in the protagonist has determined to emancipate the poor from the tyrannical rule of the elite.

Proof

Quote 1:

“You ungrateful bastards, if it were not for the sacred Wilford, you were frozen to death 18 years ago today!” (00:47:40- 00:47:53). The bourgeoisie believes that they have given life to the proletariat, so the task of the proletariat is to provide them with cheap labor and a steady stream of children. It can be seen from this evidence that the proletariat suffered unfair treatment.

Quote 2:

"We need your help, we are going to the front." (00:31:21- 00:31:27). This evidence supports my claim that the inequality of class conflict and power brought about by oppression and exploitation has pushed the proletariat to formally rebel against the bourgeoisie.

Significance

It embodies the power struggle caused by class conflicts and social inequality.

Feeling & why

From my perspective, I feel sad and angry for the people living in this social background which people use the class system to define their position. The bourgeoisie has become more and more powerful and wealthy by exploiting the proletariat, while the proletariat can only provide them with cheap labor. It can be said that the rich are getting richer and richer, and the poor are getting poorer and poorer.

Connection with society

The difference in class inequality existing in society is getting bigger, which will eventually lead to the proletariat rebelling against the bourgeoisie. The ideal social system should be a society where everyone is equal.