Marxist Literary Criticism

As a self proclaimed Marxist of sorts, I approached this unit with an interesting vantage point. For me, the learning process was not about discovering Marx's views or forming my own opinions about them, but rather the process of seeing Marxism not just as an ideology or political approach but as a way to approach literature, too.

To me, Marxist literary criticism is about evaluating the way class status and the economic system in place operates and shapes the text at hand. It also involves viewing literature as a forum or vehicle for culture, discussion, and exchange of ideas, whether the author intended it to be or not.

The most compelling aspect of Marxism to me is the notion that all people are equal and should be treated that way, which is only possible in a system in which human cooperatives, and not economic competition, is the main goal. Marxism compells me because I feel that we all have a duty to humanity to distribute wealth more equally. It appalls me that there is enough food in the world to feed every mouth in it and yet people still starve every day. Marxism appeals to me because I think capitalism is responsible for many evils, including inequality of opportunity and even the environmental crisis we find ourselves in. In terms of literature, I think Marxist readings are very helpful in approaching the obvious way in which social stratification shapes humanity- our goals, our motivations, and our actions. Economy and political structure are at the very basis of society, and Marxist and non-Marxist authors alike must explore them in order to contribute to the reality of their novels.

The least compelling aspect of Marxism to me is the focus on economics alone. I think Gramsci's Marxism is a lot more inclusive. Control is not just economic. It is social and ideological. If it were merely economic, the proletariat could overthrow the ruling class tomorrow based on mere numbers. However, the dominating classes have created an ideology and incorporated the proletariat into it, and in many cases the proletariat do not even see that they are being exploited because they've absorbed and assimiliated into the very system that keeps them down.

While writing the paper, I started to think about how many texts could be approached with a Marxist view. In fact, it was difficult for me to decide which one to choose, but finally I settled on The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck because I've read a few of his works lately, and I thought his relationship to Marxism would make for an interesting reading-specifically, his visits to the Soviet Union, his observations of American labor camps during the Great Depression, and his marriage to a communist despite the fact that he grappled with the practicality of Communism. I'd read The Grapes of Wrath years ago at the end of junior high back when I was not a Marxist and probably did not even know who he was, so it was interesting to compare my readings.