MARXISM

AND LITERATURE
 LET'S TALK ABOUT
MARXISM
Marxism is a social, economic and political philosophy that
analyzes the impact of the ruling class on the laborers, leading to
uneven distribution of wealth and privileges in the society.
 LET'S TALK ABOUT
MARXISM
In the Marxist theory of economics, social organisation and development are ultimately
determined by what people do with their vocational tools, known as the 'forces of
production', or simply 'the means of production'.
It also divides society into two parts: base and superstructure. Base refers to the modes of
production, and superstructure refers to everything else in society that develops in relation
to the economic base. The economic base in society generates and shapes social systems
called the superstructure. The superstructure is made of different aspects of life, such as
religion, politics, philosophy, art, science, and literature.
 WHAT IS MARXISM?
ACCORDING TO RAYMOND WILLIAMS
According to Williams, Marxism is not solely a rigid economic determinism but
a broader social and cultural theory. He emphasized the importance of cultural
and ideological aspects within the Marxist framework.
He argued for an expanded view of Marxism that includes cultural forms, language,
and everyday practices. He introduced the concept of "cultural materialism,"
which examines the relationships between material conditions, cultural production,
and social structures. In this approach, cultural forms are seen as integral to the
functioning of society and are shaped by economic and social forces.
For Williams, Marxism should be dynamic and responsive to historical and cultural
changes. There’s a need to analyze how culture reflects and influences social
relations. This perspective challenges a reductionist view of Marxism and
encourages a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between
economic, political, and cultural factors in shaping society.
 MARXIST LITERARY THEORY
Marxist literary theory and criticism analyze
literature from a Marxist perspective.

To Marxism, literature belongs to the

superstructure which is a product of the
base realities.
Marxist approach relates literary text to the
society, to the history and cultural
political systems in which it is created. It
does not consider a literary text, devoid of
its writer and the influences on the writer. A
writer is a product of his own age which is
itself a product of many ages.
 MARXIST LITERARY THEORY

Marxist literary criticism maintains that a writer’s social class, and its
prevailing ideology have a major bearing on what is written by a
member of that class.  Marxist sees the authors as constantly formed
by their social contexts in ways which they themselves would usually
not admit.

According to Marxists, every story tells us something about the

world—and about which side the author is on. The goal of the
Marxist critic is to figure out what that is.
MARXIST LITERARY THEORY EXAMINES:
how literature is part of the superstructure and can never fully escape the
influence of its social and economic contexts.
how literature may sometimes, consciously or unconsciously, become a
channel to articulate certain ideologies.
how the economic mode of production, say capitalism in most societies
today, determine, control, or influence the creation of a text, either in
content or form.
how literary works interact with the ideologies around them.
the extent to which the social and economic background of the author
informs the literary text.
how literature reflects the world around in its portrayal of characters and
their lives, with an emphasis on class.
 SIMPLIEST GOAL OF
MARXISM IN LITERATURE
In its simplest form, Marxist criticism attempts to show the relationship
between literature and the social—mainly economic—conditions
under which it was produced. Originally, Marxist critics focused on
literary representations of workers and working classes.
SIGNIFICANCE OF MARXISM
A number of classics in literature today were inspired by Marxist ideology.
For example, the works of Marx were a huge influence on the German
playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956).
Works of Russian writers such as Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) and Fyodor
Dostoevsky (1821–1881) were written during the Soviet era and reflect life
under communism. These are, therefore, inevitably linked to Marxism.
Marxism flourished as a theory of culture and society. Theorists such as
Walter Benjamin (1892–1940), Theodor W. Adorno (1903–1969), Aijaz Ahmed
(1941–2022), and more have developed theories of art, culture and
literature with Marxism as their foundation.
The intersection of Marxism and other branches of cultural theory allows
for a closer look at the characters and circumstances in a text. For
example, Marxist feminism is a merger of Marxist and feminist ideas that
helps to examine the experiences of women in capitalist patriarchy.
MARXISM AND LITERATURE ARE CONNECTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
For example, we can do a Marxist analysis of a text that predates marxism.

ROMEO AND JULIET

The social background behind the love story in Romeo and Juliet is more broadly
developed than in any other Shakespeare play. Romeo and Juliet are caught in the
crossfire of a hereditary family feud between the Montagues and Capulets that
dates back to feudal times. It is noteworthy that both families belong to a
bourgeois social class with long-standing wealth. Shakespeare also introduces
elements in the plot that highlight the class associations and conflicts of the main
characters.
The lovers' struggle symbolises the conflict between the rising bourgeois values
against feudalism during the transition from the middle ages towards Renaissance.
This struggle is also palpable in the language Shakespeare uses in the play.
 MARXISM AND LITERATURE ARE CONNECTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
For example, we can do a Marxist analysis of a text that predates marxism.

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain demonstrates the
division of social classes in nineteenth century. He shows the two dominant
classes such as bourgeois and proletariat. In this novel, the writer distinguishes
that bourgeois are the white people and the proletariat are black ones. This
novel expresses that white people who are from upper class are more superior
than black ones who are from lower class. Black people are considered as slaves
who work for white people and also they can be sold like horses. It means that
black people do not have their rights. Faced by those problems, Jim (black
people) and Huck (white people) are the main characters in this novel. Both are
against of racialized slavery and inequality. Therefore Jim struggles for getting his
freedom, his rights and peaceful life.
MARXISM AND LITERATURE ARE CONNECTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
For example, we can do a Marxist analysis of a text that predates marxism.

THE HUNGER GAMES

The Hunger Games is significant because it allows viewers to
understand and make connections between how Marxist theory is
prevalent in today’s society. For example, the movie demonstrates that
a civilization based on a capitalist mode of production is essentially
suppressive because it creates two working classes; the rich also known
as the ruling class which is portrayed by the leaders living in the
Capitol, and the working class is displayed by the individuals living in
the twelve districts. It also allows viewers to understand how “high
socioeconomic classes exploit the labor of working-class for profits”
A FOUR-MINUTE BRIEF INTRO TO MARXISM