English Lit 101: Literary Criticism - Marxist Criticism Class Struggle Base and Superstructure Alienation Commodification Ideology Hegemony Gramsci

What It Is

Marxist Criticism is a literary theory that analyzes the social and economic conditions that shape literature and society. It focuses on the relationships between class struggle, power, and ideology. A canonical example is Friedrich Engels' analysis of Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist" in "The Condition of the Working Class in England" (1845), where Engels argues that Dickens' portrayal of poverty and social inequality reflects the class struggle of the time. This matters for literary analysis because it highlights the ways in which literature can be used to critique and challenge social and economic systems.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Class Struggle: The conflict between different social classes, particularly between the bourgeoisie (those who own the means of production) and the proletariat (those who do not own the means of production).
  • Example: In Dickens' "Oliver Twist", the struggle between the wealthy Mr. Brownlow and the poor Oliver Twist represents the class struggle of the time.
• Base and Superstructure: The base refers to the economic and social structures of society, while the superstructure refers to the cultural and ideological institutions that arise from the base.
  • Example: In Marx's "Das Kapital" (1867), the base is the capitalist mode of production, while the superstructure includes the ideologies and institutions that support it.
• Alienation: The feeling of disconnection and isolation that arises from the exploitation of workers by capitalists.
  • Example: In Marx's "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844", alienation is described as the result of the capitalist system, where workers are treated as commodities rather than human beings.
• Commodification: The process of treating people, ideas, and things as commodities that can be bought and sold.
  • Example: In Marx's "Das Kapital", the commodification of labor is described as the process by which workers are treated as commodities rather than human beings.
• Ideology: A set of beliefs and values that serve to justify and maintain the existing social and economic order.
  • Example: In Marx's "The German Ideology" (1845-1846), ideology is described as a way of thinking that serves to justify the interests of the ruling class.
• Hegemony: The dominant ideology or cultural system that shapes the way people think and behave.
  • Example: In Antonio Gramsci's "Prison Notebooks" (1929-1935), hegemony is described as the way in which the ruling class maintains its power through cultural and ideological means.
• False Consciousness: The way in which people are unaware of their true interests and are instead led to believe in the ideology of the ruling class.
  • Example: In Marx's "The German Ideology", false consciousness is described as the result of the way in which ideology shapes people's perceptions of reality.
• Reification: The process of treating people and things as commodities or objects.
  • Example: In Marx's "Das Kapital", reification is described as the way in which the capitalist system treats workers as commodities rather than human beings.
• Surplus Value: The value created by workers beyond what is necessary to maintain their own labor power.
  • Example: In Marx's "Das Kapital", surplus value is described as the source of profit for capitalists.
• Proletariat: The class of people who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor power to survive.
  • Example: In Marx's "Das Kapital", the proletariat is described as the class that is exploited by capitalists.
• Bourgeoisie: The class of people who own the means of production and exploit the labor power of the proletariat.
  • Example: In Marx's "Das Kapital", the bourgeoisie is described as the class that benefits from the exploitation of the proletariat.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Marxist Criticism is a way of analyzing literature that focuses on the author's personal experiences and emotions.
• Correction: Marxist Criticism is a way of analyzing literature that focuses on the social and economic conditions that shape literature and society.
• Misunderstanding: The concept of alienation only applies to workers in the industrial revolution.
• Correction: The concept of alienation can apply to anyone who feels disconnected and isolated from society, not just workers in the industrial revolution.
• Misunderstanding: Marxist Criticism is a way of analyzing literature that ignores the role of individual creativity and imagination.
• Correction: Marxist Criticism recognizes the role of individual creativity and imagination, but also analyzes how these are shaped by social and economic conditions.

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the concept of class struggle in the following excerpt from Dickens' "Oliver Twist": "The poor man's child was born in a workhouse, and the rich man's child was born in a palace." Why is this an example of class struggle? Answer: This is an example of class struggle because it highlights the contrast between the poverty and hardship of the poor and the luxury and privilege of the rich.
2. Identify the concept of base and superstructure in the following excerpt from Marx's "Das Kapital": "The capitalist mode of production is the base, while the ideologies and institutions that support it are the superstructure." Why is this an example of base and superstructure? Answer: This is an example of base and superstructure because it highlights the way in which the economic and social structures of society (the base) shape the cultural and ideological institutions that arise from it (the superstructure).
3. Identify the concept of alienation in the following excerpt from Marx's "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844": "The worker is treated as a commodity, rather than a human being." Why is this an example of alienation? Answer: This is an example of alienation because it highlights the way in which the capitalist system treats workers as commodities rather than human beings, leading to feelings of disconnection and isolation.

Last?Minute Revision

• Marx's "Das Kapital" was published in 1867.
• The concept of false consciousness was first introduced by Marx in "The German Ideology".
• The term hegemony was first used by Antonio Gramsci in his "Prison Notebooks".
• The concept of reification was first introduced by Marx in "Das Kapital".
• The term bourgeoisie refers to the class of people who own the means of production.
• The term proletariat refers to the class of people who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor power to survive.
• The concept of surplus value refers to the value created by workers beyond what is necessary to maintain their own labor power.
• Marx's "The German Ideology" was published in 1845-1846.
• Gramsci's "Prison Notebooks" were published in 1929-1935.
• The concept of alienation was first introduced by Marx in "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844".