Navigation
This lesson examines literature through the lens of social class, power dynamics, and economic structures.
What if the books you read aren't just 'art,' but secret blueprints showing exactly who holds the money and who holds the power in our society?
To understand Marxist criticism, we must look at the relationship between the Base and the Superstructure. The Base refers to the economic means of production—the factories, tools, and land, as well as the relations of production (who works and who owns). Marx argued that this economic foundation determines the Superstructure, which includes a society's culture, law, religion, and—most importantly for us—literature. In this view, a novel is not an isolated work of genius; it is a product of the economic conditions of its time. If the base is exploitative, the literature of that era will either justify that exploitation or provide a space to rebel against it. We can represent this relationship as a directional influence: .
Quick Check
According to Marxist theory, if a society's economy changes from farming to high-tech manufacturing, what should happen to its literature?
Answer
The literature (part of the Superstructure) will change to reflect the new economic realities and power dynamics of the high-tech Base.
Marxist critics view literature as a record of the struggle between two primary classes. The Bourgeoisie are those who own the means of production (the 'Haves'). They control the capital and the narrative. The Proletariat are the working class (the 'Have-nots') who have nothing to sell but their labor. A key concept here is Alienation: the process where workers feel like strangers to the products they create and to their own humanity because they are treated as mere tools for profit. When reading, we ask: Who performs the labor? Who reaps the rewards? Is the worker's struggle depicted as tragic, inevitable, or a call to action?
Consider a short story about a garment worker in a modern 'fast fashion' hub. 1. Identify the Bourgeoisie: The distant CEO who never appears but whose brand name is everywhere. 2. Identify the Proletariat: The protagonist, whose identity is reduced to their 'hourly output' (). 3. Analyze the Conflict: The story focuses on the protagonist's exhaustion versus the CEO's rising stock prices, highlighting the class divide.
Quick Check
What term describes a character who feels disconnected from their work and treated like a machine?
Answer
Alienation (or Alienated Labor).
How does the ruling class stay in power without using force every day? Through Ideology. This is a system of beliefs that makes the status quo seem 'natural' or 'inevitable.' Marxist critics look for Hegemony—the dominance of one social group over others, maintained not just by politics but by cultural consent. Literature often reinforces hegemony by portraying wealthy characters as 'naturally' superior or poor characters as 'deserving' their fate. However, subversive texts challenge this by exposing the 'False Consciousness' of characters who blindly accept their own oppression.
In a novel like The Hunger Games: 1. The Capitol represents the Bourgeoisie, consuming resources they do not produce. 2. The Districts represent the Proletariat, providing the Base (coal, grain, tech). 3. The Ideology: The 'Games' are presented as a necessary penance for past rebellion, a classic example of using culture to maintain control through fear and distraction.
In advanced Marxist thought, we look at Commodification. This is the act of treating people, relationships, or ideas as objects that can be bought and sold. In contemporary literature, we often see characters who 'sell' their personalities or private lives for social capital. A Marxist reading asks: Has the character become a commodity? Is their value defined by their 'exchange value' (what they can be traded for) rather than their 'use value' (their intrinsic human worth)?
Analyze a contemporary novel about a social media influencer: 1. The Labor: The character's 'private' life is actually uncompensated labor performed for a platform owner. 2. The Commodity: The character's friendships are curated to increase 'engagement metrics' (). 3. The Critique: The critic would argue the novel exposes how capitalism has invaded the human psyche, turning the self into a product for sale.
Which term refers to the economic foundation of a society, including its tools and labor relations?
If a character believes that they are poor simply because they 'didn't work hard enough,' despite systemic barriers, what is this an example of?
Marxist critics believe that literature can be a tool to either reinforce or challenge the power of the ruling class.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the difference between 'Base' and 'Superstructure' to a friend using a building as an analogy.
Practice Activity
Pick a movie you watched recently. Identify who owns the 'means of production' in that world and whether the 'working class' characters are portrayed as alienated.