Super Mario as Transformative Icon for the Working Class
and its premise , placing Pauline and her abductor on a construction site , for example . Additionally , Williams goes on to discuss Mario ’ s collecting of coins throughout the series as it relates to Mario ’ s connection to working class imagery and the personal struggle for Mario that the need for such collection implies . He writes , “ Working to acquire money for the sake of survival becomes a persistent theme in the adventures of Mario through this mechanic of money being used to purchase life [ ... ] 100 coins always translates into an extra life [ ... ] The working man is always working hand to mouth . With every nickel and dime , Mario ekes out a continued existence .”
Williams is correct here to tie the collecting of coins with “ survival ” and “ working hand to mouth .” However , seeking financial stability should be seen as more than “ Mario ek [ ing ] out a continued existence .” This idea frames gaining an extra life in a practical way , in other words , having more lives helps Mario survive the game , but this also implies that Mario gains a new life , that is , as an alternative to the one he already has . This works in the same way as any other working stiff who dreams of working hard enough and making enough money for a chance at another life , a fresh start . This prophecy is also fulfilled throughout Mario ’ s video game career : he gets more lives as a doctor , a golfer , a go-kart driver , and more still .
While Williams certainly does acknowledge Mario ’ s ambition , he does not address this idea of collecting lives . What he addresses in particular is Mario ’ s dogged persistence in rescuing Princess Peach , a figure of wealth and class beyond his station . Williams says , “ Mario is not merely relatable as a regular Joe , but his progress from the labor class to a man capable of mixing with the elite is a familiar claim of the American dream of upward mobility . With a lot of hard work and elbow grease , not only can one merely survive , but the individual
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