If evil has been eradicated, it must be Christmas, goes the logic in Batman Returns. If Batman is the myth of good conquering evil in general, Annie is the application of that myth to American values in particular. Daddy Warbucks is a self made man, a shining example of what hard work and business enterprise will get you. He lives the life of the American dream. There is not a carol in sight.
Church is the farthest thing from anyone's mind.
Christmas, pure and simple is nothing but the myth of endless American wealth born of capitalist entrepreneurship. Annie gets to own and live in the department store. The third cultural text Hoffman examines is Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. In the beginning of the story, Scrooge is rich but hoards his wealth. He despises the poor.