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Literary Criticism: Marxism in details

Analyzing Literature through a Marxist Lens: Unveiling Socioeconomic Dynamics

Karl Marx (1818-1883), German political philosopher and revolutionary, is the most important of all socialist thinkers and the creator of a system of thought called Marxism.

Karl Marx
In literature, however, Marxism is a sociological approach to literature that views works of literature or art as the products of historical forces that can be analyzed by looking at the material conditions in which they were formed. In Marxism, the base of a society, that is, the way in which its economy is organized determines its superstructure, which is everything related to culture, law, religion philosophy, art, literature etc.
Marxism, as a literary criticism approach, stems from the broader Marxist ideology developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century. Marxist literary criticism examines literature within the context of social and economic relations, focusing on how literature reflects and perpetuates the dominant class structure and power dynamics of a society.

In Marxist ideology, what we often classify as a world view (such as the Victorian age) is actually the articulations of the dominant class. Marxism generally focuses on the clash between the dominant and repressed classes in any given age. Major figures include Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Terry Eagleton, Fredric Jameson, Raymond Williams, Louis Althusser, Walter Benjamin, Antonio Gramsci, Georg Lukacs and Theordor Adorno, etc.

At its core, Marxism views literature as a product of the material conditions and class struggles of a given society. According to Marxists, the ruling class controls the means of production and exploits the working class, leading to social inequality and alienation. This perspective is applied to the analysis of literature, seeking to uncover the underlying social, economic, and political ideologies that shape literary texts.

Key Concepts in Marxist Literary Criticism:

Base and Superstructure: Marxists believe that society consists of two interconnected elements—the base (or economic structure) and the superstructure. The base refers to the material conditions of production, such as the mode of production and the relations of production. The superstructure encompasses institutions, ideologies, cultural practices, and literature. According to Marxism, the base influences and determines the superstructure, including literary works.

Class Struggle:

 Marxists emphasize the significance of class struggle in society. Literature is seen as reflecting and perpetuating this struggle, with the dominant class using literature to reinforce its position and justify its power. Marxists analyze how class relations and conflicts are portrayed in literature, and how characters and their interactions represent different social classes.

Ideology:

 Marxism views ideology as a set of beliefs, values, and ideas that serve the interests of the ruling class. Marxist literary criticism aims to uncover the dominant ideology conveyed in literary texts, exposing the hidden messages that support the status quo. It examines how literature can shape readers' understanding of social relations and influence their perception of reality.

Alienation:

 Marxists argue that capitalism leads to the alienation of the working class from their labor and from the products they create. Literary analysis from a Marxist perspective explores how alienation is represented in characters, settings, and themes, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of capitalism on individuals and society.

Historical Materialism:

 Marxist literary criticism employs historical materialism, which asserts that social, economic, and political structures evolve over time in response to material conditions. It examines how literature reflects the historical context in which it was produced, considering factors such as class struggles, industrialization, and social change.

Literature as Praxis:

 Marxist literary criticism advocates for literature to inspire social change and challenge the existing power structures. It encourages writers to expose class exploitation and inequality through their works and urges readers to critically engage with literature to gain insights into the oppressive nature of capitalism.

It's important to note that Marxist literary criticism has been subject to various interpretations and developments over time. Critics and scholars have applied Marxist principles to analyze a wide range of literary texts, from classical literature to contemporary works, seeking to uncover the underlying social and economic dynamics within them.


References

Marxism and literary history : Frow, John, 1948- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/marxismliteraryh0000frow

1. Literary Criticism: Marxism in details
2. Literary Criticism: Marxist Literary Studies
3. Literary Criticism: Marxism in details- Althusser’s Ideology
4. Literary Criticism: Marxism- Gramsci’s Hegemony

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