Short Story Essay Greed comes from money and greed can make you forget your status in society. After viewing "A Pair of Silk Stockings" through the Marxist lens, the author seeks to explore the ideas of those who wish to live in the wealthy upper class of society. Marxist theory is a system of economic, social and political philosophy based on ideas that show social change in terms of economic factors. (1) In other words, Marxist theory is a class struggle between groups. In this story, Marxist theory applies to Mrs. Sommers' reaction to receiving $15. He wants to join the upper class. The story shows that Mrs. Sommers is a lower class woman, with little money. However, she becomes greedy and spends everything on herself. According to Marxist theory, Mrs. Sommers aspires to be part of the upper class and wants to stay there, when she buys silk stockings, she ignores her family and does not want to return to her previous lifestyle. Sommers buys the silk stocking for himself. This clearly proves the point: “One dollar and ninety-eight cents, …… Well, I'll take this pair. She……. of his old shopping bag” (Chopin 88). This quote shows that Mrs. Sommers buys herself an expensive silk stocking. It shows that he is trying to convert to a higher class. This is the time when she thought like a lower class person, caring more about her family than herself. The silk stocking has a symbolic representation because it serves to convert one into a higher class and when she buys a silk stocking she feels good and decides to spend more money on herself. The symbol is used in this quote because the old worn out shopping bag represents her present life and she feels embarrassed towards her print... middle of paper... she always wants to go back to her true lifestyle. Thus leaving her with the great lesson that a person must not forget his true value. The poor want to be part of the upper class and people do not want to live in times of suffering. After reading the story "A Pair of Silk Stockings", through the Marxist lens, the author tries to explore the ideas of those who wish to live in the wealthy upper class from the lower class. In the story "A Pair of Silk Stockings", I realized how Mrs. Sommers went from taking care of her family, to becoming selfish and wanting this time to never end. This story also shows how Mrs. Sommers, a lower class woman, found 15 dollars and became very happy. Now he felt like he lived in the upper class. He ultimately wished that this time would never end, thus demonstrating how lower class people wish to live in the rich and upper class forever..