Marxism, which is the theory developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, revolves around the economic and social system. The theory emphasizes the significance of class struggle within society.
Marx argues that economic processes and class struggles shape historical eras and movements. The end result of these processes is the overthrow of the upper class and the establishment of a communist society with equality. In a capitalist system, the working class, also known as “the people,” only own their labor power and have the option to sell it. Marx defines classes based on their relationship to the means of production, leading workers to feel alienated because they lack control over both their labor and its final product.
In the movie A Bug’s Life, the concept of surplus value, as explained by Marxism, is depicted. The capitalists in the movie act as the grasshoppers who threaten the colony of ants. These capitalists sell the products produced by the workers, represented by the ants, and receive a profit that is greater than what they pay the workers for their labor.
Flik, a common ant, recruits a band of circus insects to protect his colony from the grasshoppers. The film is centered on Marxist themes, depicting how the ants in the colony are forced to toil throughout spring and summer to gather food for both the grasshoppers and themselves. This double burden leaves the ants unpaid and unappreciated for their hard work.
When the grasshoppers return and discover that the ants have not collected sufficient food for the entire winter, they become upset, particularly their leader. This situation reflects Marxism as the ants represent the “working people,” also referred to as communists, who receive no compensation for their diligent labor. The grasshoppers symbolize the capitalists who take the food without offering any payment to the ants. Despite still possessing enough food from the previous winter, the grasshoppers continue to exploit the ants by making them toil relentlessly for nothing. However, towards the end of the movie, the ants stand up against the grasshoppers after realizing that their collective strength can overpower them, ultimately saving their colony.
Another instance of Marxism is depicted in the film when the circus insects toil under their proprietor, who fails to compensate them adequately for their performance, which constitutes their act. Although the bugs lack authority over the boss’s pricing decisions, they are cognizant of the inequity. In this case, the circus bugs embody communism, while their owner represents capitalism. Consequently, this exemplifies Marxism as the bug owner remunerates them less than their efforts merit.
The performers engage in strenuous work every night, going from one location to another. However, they lack control over the distribution of money until they depart. Subsequently, their absence causes their owner to become frantic and desperate for their return. This parallels the principles of Marxism, which assert that working individuals constitute the foundation of society. Without laboring individuals, a majority of our possessions would cease to exist. This notion holds true both in reality and in the movie, as the departure of the performers renders the owner insignificant. He eventually agrees to fairly compensate them if they agree to reinstate him as their owner.
This movie generated a significant amount of revenue. It can be assessed from two distinct perspectives: one from the standpoint of a child, finding it amusing and providing pleasant entertainment, and another from a professional viewpoint, interpreting it as closely associated with Marxism.
