Get out of jail free: what Monopoly tells us about modern America

Monopoly has a ubiquitous, often loathed, place in American culture. Everybody knows of the game, a dogmatic celebration of pure capitalism that encourages players to take on the cut-throat persona of a real estate tycoon and drive their friends into bankruptcy by charging more rent than they can afford. This has left the game with a reputation for ruthless behavior and perhaps a few broken friendships.

However, this capitalistic message is a far cry from the intentions of the game’s original designer, a woman named Elizabeth Magie, who created the game (Originally called The Landlord’s Game) in hopes that it would educate the public on the inherent economic inequalities that were created by property ownership rules in a capitalistic society.