Marxist Literary Criticism

Marxist Literary Criticism Marxist literary criticism is a loose term describing literary criticism based on socialist and dialectic theories. Marxist criticism views literary works as reflections of the social institutions from which they originate. According to Marxists, even literature itself is a social institution and has a specific ideological function, based on the background and ideology of the author. The English literary critic and cultural theorist, Terry Eagleton, defines Marxist criticism this way: Marxist criticism is not merely a „sociology of literature?, concerned with how novels get published and whether they mention the working class. Its aim is to explain the literary work more fully; and this means a sensitive attention to its forms, styles and meanings. But it also means grasping those forms, styles and meanings as the product of a particular [1]history. The simplest goals of Marxist literary criticism can include an assessment of the political „tendency? of a literary work, determining whether its social content or its literary form are „progressive?. It also includes analysing the class constructs demonstrated in the literature. According to Marxists, and to other scholars in fact, literature reflects those social institutions out of which it emerges and is itself a social institution with a particular ideological function. Literature reflects class struggle and materialism: think how often the quest for wealth traditionally defines characters. So Marxists generally view literature “not as works created in accordance with timeless artistic criteria, but as 'products' of the economic and ideological [2]determinants specific to that era” . Literature reflects an author's own class or analysis of class relations, however piercing or shallow that analysis may be. The Marxist critic simply is a careful reader or viewer who keeps in mind issues of power and money, and any of the following kinds of questions: , What role does class play in the work; what is the author's analysis of class relations? , How do characters overcome oppression? , In what ways does the work serve as propaganda for the status quo; or does it try to undermine it? , What does the work say about oppression; or are social conflicts ignored or blamed elsewhere? , Does the work propose some form of utopian vision as a solution to the problems encountered in the work? History Karl Marx is often heralded as a founder of socialism and his studies have provided a basis for much in socialist theory and research. Marx and Friedrich Engels collaborated to produce a range of publications based on capitalism, class struggles and socialist movements. These theories and ideologies can be found within three published works: , The Communist Manifesto (1848) , Preface to the Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (1859) , Das Kapital or Capital (1867) The first publication Communist Manifesto (1848) argues that „the history of all hitherto existing [3]societies is the history of class struggle?. As class struggle is the engine room of history, to understand the course of history, one must analyse the class relations that typify different historical epochs, the antagonisms and forms of class struggle embodied in such class relations. This involves the development of class consciousness and follows the revolutionary movements that challenge the dominant classes. It extends to rating the success of these revolutions in [4]developing new modes of production and forms of social organization. In contrast to the Manifesto, Preface to the Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy (1859), and Das Capital (1867) focus on the unfolding logic of a system, rather than class struggle. These provide an alternative account of historical development and emphasize the self-destructive [5]contradictions and law of motion of specific modes of production. The Preface argues that society?s economic organization consists of a distinctive pattern of forces and relations of [6]productions. From this foundation arises a complex political and ideological superstructure, where economic development impacts upon societal progress. Das Capital was more concerned with the genesis and dynamic of capitalism. As Mclellan (1971) states, „it refers to class struggle mainly in the context of the struggle between capital and labour, [7]within capitalism, rather than over its suppression?. Capital was less concerned with forecasting how capitalism would be overthrown, than considering how it had developed and how it [8]functioned. The key to understanding this logic was the „commodity? form of social relations – a form that was most fully developed only in capitalism. Ideologies It is through the theories of class struggle, politics and economics that Marxist literary criticism emerged. The thought behind Marxist Criticism is that works of literature are mere products of history that can be analysed by looking at the social and material conditions in which they were [9]constructed. Marx?s Capital, states that, „the mode of production of material life determines altogether the social, political, and intellectual life process. It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but on the contrary their social being, that determines their consciousness.? Put simply, the social situation of the author determines the types of characters that will develop, the political ideas displayed and the economical statements developed in the text. Development of Marxist Criticism Although Marx and Friedrich Engels detailed theories of Socialism in the mid-nineteenth century, it was not until the 1920s that Marxist Literary Theory was systematized. The greatest impetus for this standardization came after the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia. The event instigated a [10]change in belief around socialist ideals in government and society. Whilst these ideals developed, Socialist Realism was accepted as the highest form of literature – a theory based on an art movement that depicted and glorified the proletariat?s struggle towards societal progress. [11]These ideas guided both literary creation and official literary criticism in Russia, where works focussed on the lives of the different classes. In the years since then, the Russian beliefs regarding literary theory have been modified to acknowledge that literary creation is a result of both [12]subjective inspiration and the objective influence of the writer?s surroundings. This system of belief relies on the social classes as well as the economic and political development of society. Thus, Marx?s theories intertwined expertly with the emerging ideologies of the new Russian movement and spread throughout the world. Influenced Writers In addition to being the guiding principle behind most literary works in communist and socialist Russia, Marxism also greatly influenced many Western writers. Richard Wright, Claude McKay, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and James Joyce were deeply influenced by Marxist and socialist theories of the day, and much of this type of reflection is evident in their writings of the [13] time. Theorists of the Criticism How to use Marxist Criticism In recent years, literary criticism has expanded in scope to address issues of social and political significance. Thus, when applying Marxist criticism to literary works, the main purpose is to identify the different social, political and economic statements made throughout the text. These highlight the social ideals of the author and make the connection between the author?s social experiences and that of their characters. To implement these ideals of Marxist Criticism, a five step process exists to effectively critique literature. 1. Analyse how the characters interact with one another. Marxist thought relied on the relationships between individuals, thus, their interaction will show hierarchy and particular mannerisms associated with different social classes. 2. Evaluate the jobs of the characters. The Marxist critique includes a focus on a „class system? where the vocations of characters provided the most direct reference to their place within the system. The level of luxury and how much they work is also an indicator. 3. Identify how the characters use their free time. Marxist theory states that individuals have the ability to use free time productively or by their own choice. These free choices are an indicator to the individual?s way of life and connection to the societal conforms around them. 4. Assess the role of the government in the piece – identify its form, tools for implementation, public receptiveness and its success. 5. Reference other Marxist writers and research the period in which the piece of literature was published. Connect all the ideals displayed in the work to the era it was written and the effectiveness in which they were conveyed. See also , Cultural Marxism , Marxist aesthetics , Literature and Revolution Notes 1. T. Eagleton, Marxism and Literary Criticism, Berkeley, U of California P, 1976. 2. Abrams, M.H. “Marxist Criticism.” A Glossary of Literary Terms. 7th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999. 147-153 (p.149). 3. Quoted Marx - W Duiker & J Spielvogel, The Essential World History, vol, II: since 1500, 3rd ed, Thomson Higher Education, Belmont, 2008, p. 428 4. D. Mclellan, The Thought of Karl Marx, Macmillan Press, London, 1971, p. 42 5. R. Stones, Key Sociological Thinkers, Macmillan Press, London, 1998, p. 24 6. D. Mclellan, p. 124 7. Quoted D. Mclellan, p. 67 8. I. McIntosh, Classical Sociological Theory: A Reader, Edinburgh University Press, Great Britain, 1997, p. 73 9. K. Siegel, „Introduction to Modern Literary Theory?, viewed 15 March 2011, 10. K. Siegel 11. K. Siegel 12. K. Siegel 13. K. Siegel References Duiker, W & Spielvogel, J, The Essential World History, vol, II: since 1500, 3rd ed, Thomson Higher Education, Belmont, 2008. Eagleton, T, Marxism and Literary Criticism, Berkeley, U of California P, 1976. Hobsbawm, E.J, The Age of Capital, Charles Scribner?s Sons, New York, 1975. McIntosh, I, Classical Sociological Theory: A Reader, Edinburgh University Press, Great Britain, 1997. Mclellan, D, The Thought of Karl Marx, Macmillan Press, London, 1971. Siegal, K, „Introduction to Modern Literary Theory?, viewed 15 March 2011, Stones, R, Key Sociological Thinkers, Macmillan Press, London, 1998.