I chose to read the novel Beloved through the Marxist lens because of the focus on social and economic classes and their conflict. Social conflict and social structure is the most relevant and important to humanity as it is the basis of their existence and how they are raised. Compared to the other lenses, the Marxist lens focuses the most on humans and how they exist as society and class that is focused on in the Marxist lens is the basis for all of the other lenses. Psychoanalytical comes from the class and standing they are born into. Postcolonialism only occurred because of the changes in class structure and relation. The Marxist Lens forms the basis for all other critical lenses and focuses on the most basic driving force in people’s lives.
Some of the other works that I have looked at through the Marxist lens include: Crime and Punishment, Malcolm X, and Jane Eyre. I enjoy looking at the relationships between classes and the concept of being born into class. The idea interests me greatly as one can argue that no one should be born into a ruling class and they should earn it on their own merit. However, by that standard, no one should be born into wealth either. Therefore, communism is the clear option left by analysing society and literature through the Marxist lens. It encourages a meritocracy and a society where success is determined through natural talent and hard work.
Tommy I really enjoyed reading your analysis on which class structures should be focused on. I think it will be really interesting how you'll incorporate communism into Beloved and why that structure of class is ideal in a post-salavery United States.
ReplyDeleteTommy, knowing you as well as I do, this is the perfect topic for you since I know you have a lot of expertise in it. It will be very intriguing to know that you will find some extraordinary way to justify Communism with knowledge of the social political structure of Beloved. #communism #beatingadeadhorse
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of social structure will you be writing about and will you be focusing on a specific social class? So far reading in this book the only social class I can imagine analyzing would be old social structures where there were slaves and free slaves (ex. ancient Rome or Egypt).
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of social structure will you be writing about and will you be focusing on a specific social class? So far reading in this book the only social class I can imagine analyzing would be old social structures where there were slaves and free slaves (ex. ancient Rome or Egypt).
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting take on this lens. I too am analyzing my book through the marxist lens and I am interested in seeing what you have to write about in your coming posts.
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