by Marcus Flakes

Created on: December 21, 2009

Monopoly became America’s best-selling game in 1935, during the Great Depression. The characteristics of the game reflected the reality of the era, during the Great Depression. Monopoly is a game of chance and sacrifice; much like the nation was during the Great Depression. Since the invention of the game was of an earlier culture, there are some relative aspects of the game in comparison to real life hardships in that era. Monopoly is the domination of a market by a single entity. Monopoly is the most commercially-successful board game in

United States history, with 485 million players worldwide.

The Great Depression had become so volatile, that the popularity of the free markets, banks, and economy lunged an opportunity for expression. The society’s economic depression exhibited abnormal increases in unemployment, unavailability of credit, bankruptcies, bank failures, financial crisis, and reduced amounts of trade. Monopoly is when a specific individual or business has control over a particular product or service to dictate terms on when individuals can have access to these commodities. Therefore, the game itself symbolizes domination and economic distress.

In this era 2009, the game is played with no emphasis on what it really means. Monopoly places a person in a difficult decision-making process that warrants your consignment to economic devaluations and bank failures. It even resembles the real time life of both eras in-kind; having insufficient money to pay mortgage, or city fines.

When you think about it, you never really did anything to go to jail in the game, with the exception of breaking a rule that you had no choice in breaking over a counted move. The dice symbolized the life’s gamble. You never know what the outcome will be from one simple move that you must make every day of your life.  If a person will envision the concept of the game; they will clearly see that it depicts the hardship and lack of knowledge in banking and investments. Although, it’s only a game and we play for fun, however, step outside of the paradox, you will notice that it requires negotiation and resource management.

Originally, the game was designed for adults, because it required analytical thinking and accounting skills. Overall, the game helps a person understand how challenging life can really be if you were confronted making decisions. In addition it accesses a person’s coping skills. Monopoly is a game of struggle and interruption of life. Moreover, it expresses the greed of money and estates.

Learn more about this author, Marcus Flakes.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.