Political Ideologies Within Transporting


How far are the characters in Trainspotting a product of their political and social environment?

Thatcherism and New Labour ideologies have a massive impact on the characters within Transporting and how they react in their environment, mainly Leith in Scotland. It can be argued that Renton is the perfect 'Thatcherite' for many reasons, but part of his personality contradicts that label,and although his actions may mirror what Thatcherism stood for, he seems to be the product of the political, social and economic state of 1980s Scotland. National identity also plays a large part in why each of the characters behave the way they do, and why they seem to resist the idea that times are changing and things are evolving.

 Although it is hard to tell the length of time the film takes place over, it's safe to assume its in the mid-late 80s. Margaret Thatcher held a lot of very conservative viewpoints that only really benefited a small amount of people, usually the middle class. Her policies affected Scotland arguably the most, especially within the working class community, evident by her year long disupute with miners whom she refered to as 'the enemy within'.

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