Anonymous. “An Examination of Class Struggles in Ratatouille.” Bina Nusantara University Library (2009): 1-4. Binus University: Library and Knowledge Center. PDF file. < http://thesis.binus.ac.id/Asli/Bab1/2009-2-00298-IG%20Bab%201.pdf >


Regarding this study of Ratatouille through the Marxist critical lens I find that I am on the same side as, as well as at odds with, the author of the study; I certainly agree with the author’s beliefs about what Remy and his fellow rats represent in the scheme of socio-economic class struggles, but I also disagree with what message the author thinks that Ratatouille sends to its viewers. It is stated that “Remy the rat represents the lower-class people which have limited educational and career opportunities which keep them struggling to support their families, living in fear of being homeless, and also disgusting upper-class people” (Anonymous 2-3). And in the film, Remy and his extended family live in poor, dirty conditions in which they eat garbage that they have deemed safe for consumption, all the while remaining safe as long as they stay out of the paths of the humans. This is reflective of the lives led by many human members of the lower class. Those in the lower class are allowed access to whatever the upper class’ members no longer want or need (food, clothing, etc.), are confined to low-quality living conditions, and are expected to keep the standardized social order and be happy with what they are given. But when Remy (a member of the lower class) tries to better his own life by working to succeed in the culinary arts, the humans (the upper class) go up in arms and try their best to prevent the rat from succeeding, despite his clear talent with food – because for a member of the lower class to succeed alongside those of the upper class is to disrupt society’s previously established socio-economic order. The message that the author thinks Ratatouille is selling, however, is less easily agreed with.

The author says that “a successful person has to eliminate the distinction among human beings by appreciating every class in society, for example the rich build a good relationship with the poor and eliminate the gap between them, encourage teamwork, develop friendship, as has been presented in the movie Ratatouille” (Anonymous 1) – a message that is a positive one which should be heeded to, yes, but not one that can be correctly taken from the film. It can be seen instead as a cautionary tale for those members of one social class who look to interact with those of another class, Remy being used as an example to reinforce that idea. To begin, Remy is a rat that shares a skill possessed by only by humans – cooking. He looks to showcase his talents and to work alongside the humans, but is faced with the obstacle which is the humans’ disdain for rats (particularly rats in the vicinity of food). Nonetheless he persists, ignoring the risks and pursuing a culinary relationship with the humans (beginning with one) in a Paris kitchen, in the end succeeding as everyone gets along and forgets their differences. But in the process of achieving his goal, Remy blatantly ignores the well-being of his family – by getting so close to the humans, Remy places his clan in the position to be found and eliminated by the humans who are not content with allowing a rat to sit upon his or her head. It is true that everything turned out well at the conclusion of the film, but with Remy’s recklessness events could have soured just as quickly. He and his family could have been caught by the humans, killed, and disposed of alongside all of the other rats that were foolish enough to get close to people. None of those risks, however, would have been so imminent if Remy, per warning of his father, had stayed away from the dangerous humans altogether and stuck with his family. This effectively makes Ratatouille an admonitory story for those who look to solve class differences with interaction.