MELCHOR S.

RUFON July 8,2020

MAED-EGLISH Literary Criticism

MARXISM: A SUMMARY
Marxism is a political and sociological philosophy based on the ideas of a theorist and historian, Karl
Marx (1818-1883). It is also called a conflict theory because the state of society is in conflict with each
other- the rich and the poor (the oppressed and oppressing). Although, in practice of his political and
economic ideas are used to conceive disastrously planned economies and obnoxious dictatorship,
nevertheless we should not hasten to discard his ideas, we should see him as a guide whose diagnosis of
capitalism ills help us to navigate towards more promising future and Marx's analysis are going to be
part of any answer.

Karl Marx ideas presents that that the ultimate driving force of human effort to attempt fulfillment and
obligation is linked to "historical materialism", based on his examination of social organization and
viewed that human history to have consisted struggles between class. Capitalism, an economic system
based on few people owning factories, businesses, shops and other corporations, the private ownership
of the production, the Burgeoise- Middle class. On the other side, the Proletariat- the workers, who
despite, of doing the hard work are getting poorer and poorer, who are owned by the Middle class who
are getting richer and richer. However, the idea also suggest that the working class have the power to
change the unfair system through education, and personal development. They would initiate revolution
and devise ways in reconstructing the social and economic system of the society, giving equal
opportunity to everyone regardless of the class. In contrast, Marxists suppose that if evolution will
successfully happen, a new system, the communism will be established wherein all businesses and
factories are owned by everyone.

Literature is considering to show the conflict between classes and greed over wealth; materials.
Likewise, Marxists and scholars also believe that literature reflects social, political and economic state
and realities of the of a particular period. The basics Marxist postulate is that economic base of a society
determines the characteristics and nature of the ideology, institution, practices (such as literature)
which are essential in forming the superstructure of the ideology. Moreover, despite literature being
describe as a work of art, it is reflection of an era’s social event, economic state, and ideology.