Marxism

Marxism refers to the social, political, and economic theories of Karl Marx, including the belief that struggles
between social classes are a major force in history and that in the future, there should be a society with no social
classes.

Marx believed that the division between capitalists and laborers should not exist, that everyone should be equal,
giving everyone the same rights, the same education, equal share of food, properties, and money,
totally eliminating capitalism or free market.

Marxist literary theories show class conflict and class distinctions through the use of literature. Marxist
theorists employ traditional techniques of literary analysis but put the focus on the social and political content
and meaning of literature.

Marxist theory favors authors that are supportive of the working classes and question the so-called
economic inequalities of capitalist societies. Marxism literary theories keep up with new ways of understanding
the relationship between economic production, literature, and cultural production. The analysis of the society
and history has made a great impact on how Marxists developed their literary theory and criticism.

Marxist Literature
Authors influenced by the Marxist theory write about power struggles between characters, creating stories that
revolve around themes such as revolution, sexism, and racism.

Marxist literature depicts the fight between the oppressors and the oppressed, and the main characters in these
works are often women, the poor, or slaves.

These works of literature shed light on social injustice, and they will surely continue to exist and influence people.

Feminism
Feminism is a term used for the variety of beliefs, movements, and ideas regarding a common goal, which is
to define and achieve equal rights for women in terms of personal, political, cultural, economic, and social
concerns.

Feminist Literature
Feminist literature is fiction or nonfiction work that supports the goals of feminism. Often, these works identify the
roles of women as being unequal to those of men, especially when it comes to power, status, and privilege.

Characteristics of Feminist Literature

 Authors of feminist literature portray gender roles as something that may be altered over time.
 The aim of feminist literature is to alter the perception of society and prompt change that would lead to
gender equality.
 Some works of feminist literature, particularly nonfiction ones, emphasize women's demand for equality
when it comes to their social, economic, and political rights.
 Feminist literature are not written only by women authors. There are also men who write feminist literature
and understand the needs of women.

Characters in Feminist Literature

 The protagonists in feminist literature are always women characters. Usually, these characters do not readily
mold themselves into the traditional role of women that society dictates they must adhere to.
 These women characters make their own decisions, are not afraid to express their own opinions, and they
are ready to deal with the consequences of doing so.

Example:
One example of feminist literature is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

Explanation:
In the novel, the main character, Esther Greenwood, struggles to define her own identity and to go against what
society expects her to be: a self-sufficient housewife. She envies the freedom of men and feels that she does not fit
into the role that society deems acceptable for women.