The Blind Assassin is a tragic novel that underscores the oppression that working-class people and, in particular, working-class women face in a capitalist, misogynist society. Laura and Iris are both victims of rich, elite men who treat them as nothing more than property to be used for pleasure. Laura and Iris's father, while also experiencing class oppression, betrays his daughters by pawning off Iris to the wealthy factory owner, Richard, like she is a mere object to be traded in a business deal. If there is a moral lesson in this story, it is to fight against the oppressions that plague our societies. We must fight back against class oppression, against misogyny, against racism, and against all hegemonies that prevent autonomous lives. The characters in this story are hurt by not being able to exercise their own autonomy. It is imperative to create a world in which people can live as they choose as long as they are not harming anyone. Iris and Alex were in love, but because of capitalism, statism, and misogyny, they were not able to live out their desires, and that is truly a tragedy.
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