To lay out the political assumptions that underpin her novels, Sally Rooney has described herself as a Marxist. Drawn from the works of the 19th century German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Marxism uses a materialist view of history—that is, one that focuses on physical existence rather than spiritual concerns—to evaluate power dynamics. In Rooney’s novels, Marxist theory underpins the ways in which the economic conditions of Ireland and the larger world affect interpersonal relationships.

In Rooney’s most popular work, Normal People (2018), Connell and Marianne navigate their romance in the context of their respective social classes. Marianne’s wealthy family employs Connell’s single mother as a house cleaner, which colors their view of Connell. On the other hand, Connell is immensely popular among his peers in County Sligo, leading him to weigh his relationship with the less-popular Marianne against his standing in a milieu destined to remain in the town. Rooney’s next novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You (2021), similarly confronts the question of class: Its characters are directly affected by the rapid collapse of Ireland’s literary sphere.

Intermezzo also examines interpersonal relationships through this lens.