Mary Poppins and Capitalism

 This week we discussed Mary Poppins and Oscar Wilde's "The Soul of a Man Under Socialism" and how Mary Poppins as a film has some pretty anti-capitalist themes. One song in particular, "Feed the Birds" discusses a homeless woman with very little who despite that, returns every day to feed the birds. This act is looked down upon by Mr. Banks and his family, despite the fact that most people would think that charity is a good thing. This is an idea that is common throughout the world and especially in American culture; if you work hard enough you shouldn't need to be out on the streets asking for money. Not only this, but this capitalistic individualism also turns working class people against each other, discouraging those from donating to those in need as if needing assistance is a moral failure or something. This "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality keeps the wealthy wealthy, and the poor poor. It is through Mary Poppins and this song, that the Banks' family learns the importance of charity; Mr. Banks is a character a lot of people can relate to to some extent, and while his wealth may not be relatable, him working himself to the bone is. Despite being a children's movie, Mary Poppins reminds its adult watchers that work and monetary success is not everything, especially if you do not have time to even see your family and appreciate the wealth you earn.