Marx believed that the bourgeoisie owned the means of production and profited from the surplus value of the workers. This key concept in Marxist thought, surplus value, is the excess amount the proletariat earns over their labor and how much profit the bourgeoisie gets from their labor. This inherently exploitative concept is represented through the workforce of the Oompa Loompas as they are considered responsible for the automation of Wonka's chocolate factory. These indigenous individuals were recruited by Willy Wonka as they left the impoverished island they came from and were to be paid in cocoa beans, not an exchangeable wage for their labor. This highlights how the wealth and profit of the upper class increases due to the exploitation of the working class. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Class hierarchy and materialism are seen distinctly throughout the film as the plot focuses on chocolate production and portrays the greed of the upper classes, especially through the characters of Mike Teavee, Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde and Veruca Salt. Drawing from Marx and Engels, Mike Wayne notes that their ideas about materialism have implications for understanding media studies. In the Marxist sense, the concept of materialism has a double meaning as it “means pure physicality plus social relations” (Wayne 2003, pp.121-122). This can be applied to the film as materialism is depicted through the children as they are attracted to the materialistic objects around them, while Charlie's only desire was to help his family, coming from a less affluent background. There is a clear subtext of Marxism in Tim Burton's adaptation of Roald Dahl's original novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). The film follows the story of a young lower-class boy, Charlie Bucket, who, along with four other children, wins a "golden ticket" found in Willy Wonka's chocolate bars that allows them to visit his factory. The polarizing social classes of all five children unite when they meet as they are united by the famous golden ticket. One of the fundamental tenets of Marxist theory involves the idea of ​​a social class structure. Marx believed that there were two main classes within the social class structure identified as the bourgeoisie or capitalist and the proletariat. The proletariat is an enormous mass of workers exploited by the ruling class and whose condition becomes increasingly desperate (Berger, 2005). These classes interacting through what Marx called “class conflict”. This conflict has resulted in limited social mobility due to classes acting in ways that benefit their own interests. Marxism is a theory based on the work of Karl Marx, a philosopher who wrote in the nineteenth century, and developed his ideas focusing on economic aspects and social power in societies and has since influenced the work of many theorists. Although Marx does not write explicitly about the media, in his work he discusses the general effect of changes in communications. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory associates with Marxist theory through injustice and class hierarchy which is clear throughout and shows the consequences of capitalism.