Literary Criticism Final Exam 405

Name : Triana Marwati

Student Number : 2211416035

The Slavery and Economic Situation in Siam in 1860s

A Marxism Approach of Anna and the King Movie by Andy Tennant

INTRODUCTION
Set in Bangkok in 1862, the story of Anna and the King is taking place when social
hierarchy was clearly shown. The tradition where the King was considered like a god or
where nobility held important status in the country was significantly told. Therefore, the
different status between noble and commoner became the common thing there. Some people
even became a slave for the noble. However, even though there was law that gave the right
for slaves to buy their own selves, there were also some nobles that insisted to keep them.
The noble influence in social life made them became above the law. This kind of action
strongly effects not only in politic but also in economic and social-life of the country.

DISCUSSION
In this story, the slavery is a common thing. Many nobles or influential people have the
slaves as their attendants. As the dominant ones, they hold the life of their slaves. There is
also the scene where the slave is mistreated. She is being gagged and covered in blood. It’s
not only the slave who becomes the subordinates one but also the female. Especially if they
come from the lower class, they will be sold as the slaves and looked down.
In Siam at the time is believed that the King, royalties and nobles are above all the
subjects. The fact that all the slaves and attendants have to prostates in front of the King
shows that the higher your status the more people lower themselves. It becomes part of the
tradition, so no one has said anything about it. It seems in that era, the pride from being born
as a noble is high valued.
According to Marxist perspective, differences in socioeconomic class divide people in
ways that are much more significant than differences in religion, race, ethnicity, or gender
(Tyson, 2006). Which mean here, all the labor works that the slaves do are beneficial for their
masters’ needs. Having slaves is more convenience because they don’t have to give them
wages. The problem is not all of them are treated well. There are still some slaves in the story
where they are like a companion as be regarded like a family. They are educated or even
being play mates for their masters’ children. Later, they will gain more benefits for their
masters. Sometime they can be the most trusted person for their masters.
What the ironically situation is that it is a common thing. Kidnapping and making them
into a slave or even sold their own selves is normal back then. Many reasons for this, one is
because it is one of the easiest ways to get money or freeing them from the responsibilities.
They don’t have many choices either because they are not born as part of nobility.
Above all what makes it not really dissatisfaction system is that the punishment given
to the slave or lower class is harsh. There is the story when one of the King’s concubines
betrays him. She is given death penalty. However, if it is seen clearly, she is being forced to
be a concubine. Considering that all of the humans have the rights to choose what they want,
it is understandable why she rebels. Therefore, what she did is futile in the end because from
the beginning she can’t even voice her mind.
Most of the movie scenes show the oppression toward lower class. In order to change
that, it has to begin from the higher class. Their money and influence can result the power.
Like in the end of the movie where the slavery is banned from Siam because of the new
King’s law. It shows when the King was still a prince, he began to understand the wrong
system in slavery. Indeed they are doing the labor for their masters, but they live under their
masters orders. They should get what they deserve more.
If we see from religion perspective, people in Siam are Buddhist. Unlike Hindu where
there are social-class systems exists, in Buddhist it should not exist. On the contrary, it is the
system that will always exist even in the countries with democratic system the differences in
classes are still there. This is because the influence of economic power. Many believe that the
one who own the money are also having the power. Then, religion alone is not enough
because it is part of the culture and history and hard to be left.
In this story Anna and the King here, Marxist approach is used as a critique of classism.
However, it is not only classism in the country but also from other country like imperialism.
One of the scene shows when the King teaches his subjects in western style, so they won’t be
looked down like a barbarian. It is already told that in eastern culture, they think the western
is more modern and classy than them. Even the western itself thinks that they are more
civilized. Though actually regarding etiquette and politeness are different according to the
culture.
 The influence of the western began with the economic. The capitalist wants to get as
much as benefits such as raw materials, labors, and profits. It makes them try to curry favor
from the locals, but actually they want to take advantage from them. It means that from the
economic to the politic.
However, this story is written in Anna point of view. She is a widow, woman, and
moreover the commoner. Even in her own culture such traits will make her not being taken
seriously. Then again the difference in classes even between genders is shown. She receives
many conflicted due to her attitude of being bold who speaks her mind, but it is not common
in such patriarchal society.

CONCLUSSION
To sum up all the discussion, based on the movie the difference between classes is
significantly shown. Where the higher status gets much power and influence in politic and
makes them above the law. It is the common thing at the time to have slave for people. They
are doing the labor work and serve their masters. Some of them are treated well, but some of
them are not. It is hard to change the system because it is already part of the culture. Even the
law can’t go work just fine to give them rights for themselves.
Not only in social class happens in the country but also happens with another country.
That is because the western’s influence to the eastern exists. They starts with economy like
trading, but they also influence in other aspects like culture. The thought about the western be
more civilize and modern than the eastern culture is the result of it. It is all starting from the
economic, but it goes to the politic. That is because money can gain the influence and
influence can get the power.