History and Purpose of Marxist Analysis
The origin of Marxist theory, of course, is theorist and historian Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. There are many other philosophers and writers who influenced the theory, but Marx and Engels are certainly the ones to focus on, as the name implies. Marx and Engels stated that the struggles between classes (often economic or social) within societies create the history and that materialism of the society and people works as the drive the divides the wealth and society into groups. Their assumption that the wealthy grows wealthier and the poor grows poorer due to the wealthy’s constant occupation of power and utilities eventually came to the conclusion that the lower class proletariats will revolt and take control of the society, with their ideal of communism. They also though the literature is the product of the class struggle between the wealthy and poor proletariats and is highly influenced by the wealthy class.
Based on this theory, marxist analysis, or marxist criticism of literature focuses on class struggles, government / ideology, and materialism and the analysis of characters, plots, and every parts of the literature, even the perspectives and biases, based on those marxist factors. However, it is vital to be aware of the fact that marxist analysis of literature does not support communist dictators, but carefully looks at the literature in marxist ways. Since these factors even reflect the authors’ philosophy and perspectives as well, marxist analysis undoubtedly is an effective way to view the literature, especially the ones that focus on government or social conflicts.
Based on this theory, marxist analysis, or marxist criticism of literature focuses on class struggles, government / ideology, and materialism and the analysis of characters, plots, and every parts of the literature, even the perspectives and biases, based on those marxist factors. However, it is vital to be aware of the fact that marxist analysis of literature does not support communist dictators, but carefully looks at the literature in marxist ways. Since these factors even reflect the authors’ philosophy and perspectives as well, marxist analysis undoubtedly is an effective way to view the literature, especially the ones that focus on government or social conflicts.