Using the Marxist Lens AKA “Marxist Criticism”

Marx in a nutshell “The history of all previous societies has been the history of class struggles.”

What is Marxism? Marxism is an economic philosophy revolving around who controls wealth and how to earn wealth Marxism is an economic philosophy revolving around who controls wealth and how to earn wealth It is based on Karl Marx, a German philosopher who lived in England It is based on Karl Marx, a German philosopher who lived in England

Karl Marx Lived from ; born in Germany but lived in England for most of his adult life. Wrote The Communist Manifesto, as well as many other seminal texts Is widely considered one of the father’s of social science and most influential thinkers of all time Never directly involved in communist uprising

Some Terminology Proletariat: worker (usually poor) Proletariat: worker (usually poor) Bourgeoisie: factory owners, capitalists (the super rich) Bourgeoisie: factory owners, capitalists (the super rich) Class struggle: the inevitable struggle between rich and poor Class struggle: the inevitable struggle between rich and poor Revolution: the violent overthrow of one government for another Revolution: the violent overthrow of one government for another Communism: a system of government based around economy (see next slide) Communism: a system of government based around economy (see next slide) Socialism: the economic system that Communism uses. Socialism: the economic system that Communism uses.

What is communism? System of government based on economy System of government based on economy –Command economy –Shared possessions and property –No religion –No class structure –No government is necessary –Goal: pure social equality

Marxist theory 1. The harder workers work and the more money they make for their bosses, the poorer they become 2. Workers will tire of this and overthrow their masters 3. Workers will then take control of the means of production AND government 4. All of history can be seen through the lens of class struggle and reform

Marxist theory, cont. 3. A communist system will be put into place with a temporary government 4. The temporary government will eventually dissolve, leaving behind a perfect communist state with in which everything functions perfectly and everyone makes the same amount of money doing the job they want

Why use this lens? To show how money or lack of it affects a story To show how money or lack of it affects a story To show how social class affects a story To show how social class affects a story To give the poor, invisible or disenfranchised a voice in literature To give the poor, invisible or disenfranchised a voice in literature To evaluate whether class and inequality is a driving force in our society To evaluate whether class and inequality is a driving force in our society

What does this have to do with English? When someone critiques through a Marxist lens, they focus on how the following affect a story: When someone critiques through a Marxist lens, they focus on how the following affect a story: –Money and Power  Who has it  Who doesn’t (including authors)  How it solves or causes problems  To what degree class conflict affects society

What does this have to do with English, Cont.? –Class struggle  Rich vs. poor –Working and living conditions –Ability to move up the economic food chain –Social class  Workers (proletariat)  Capitalists (bourgeoisie)

How can I use this? Ask the following questions: Ask the following questions: –How does the author deal with the poor in relation to the rich? –Do poor characters dream of a better life? If so, do they act on those dreams? –How long have the poor been poor? –Does the author create sympathy for the poor? –…hatred for the upper class?

How can I use this? –Are the poor being exploited? –Can the poor become rich with or without violence? –Use your answers from all these questions to tell how they affect the plot and develop a theme.