Name Ezaz Alam

Registration number 2450 /FLL/BSENG/F20

Marxist literary theory

This theory is an approach that applies the main principles of Marxist theory
to the analysis and interpretation of literature. This theory examines the social
and economic aspects of literary works and also examines how this literature
contemplates and eternalizes class struggle and social imbalances. Materialistic
approach is taken to examine a literary piece in this theory. This theory
underlines the material condition and its impact on the production and conception
of the literature. Marxist literary theory gives much stress on the historical context
as this theory wants to explore how literature reflects the dominant theme of its
particular time or era. This theory also examines the relationship between the
base and the superstructure. This theory also studies the impact of social class
on the ideologies and writing of the writers. This theory also highlights the
depiction of the working class and their perpetual struggle against oppression.
This theory considers literature as the main tool to spark the blazes of revolution
and illuminate the revolutionary consciousness. This theory also criticizes
Bourgeois literature for its detachment from the social realities and underpinning
Capitalist ideologies. The main theme of this literary theory is to unveil the social
and political extents of literature and understand their role in contemplating and
contesting the prevalent powerful monarchs of society.
The only need which is very important for a man is "money". Societies
sustain (either formed or collapsed) on the base of the economy. Your status in
society doesn't decide by your intelligence but by your money whether you
belong to the bourgeoisie or the proletariat. Karl Marx was a materialist. He gave
all Importance to matter, he is of the view that matter decides human existence.
The Class system in society is based upon wealth, those who have and those
who have not, and those who have been exploiting and making use of those who
have not. He raised his voice for the proletariat class which is constantly
exploited by the bourgeoisie. Due to the exploitation of workers, He was against
the t state, according to him, the state is an agent of the capitalist which is
equally responsible for the ill-treatment. In his view, ideas are something that we
cannot scientifically prove therefore idealist philosophers like Plato and Hegel
who gave ideas about the state should not be trusted. He says that abstract
ideas cannot run a state, Economy is the integral thing to run a state. For a gay
and jolly state, there should be no classes in the society and the state and the old
classical division must be abrogated and a new society should be assembled
without any discrimination, only then we can progress.
There are two types of division in the society; those who have and those who
and have not. Those who have, are tycoons and landlords, they are upper
middle class. The capitalists have capital through which they are operating their
businesses making companies and factories and making new capital through it,
they are not toiling in it. The landlords have lands that are the source of their
economy. Those who have not are poor workers and proletarians, they do not
own any money which they can invest nor do they have their land. They are just
laborers who are selling their labor to the bourgeoisie. As they are working for the
upper class and the upper-class people are greedy they want to collect more and
more money therefore, they are making excessive use of the lower-class workers
and exploiting them. Therefore while studying a literary text one should consider
the class structure and class difference, which is the representation of that time
in which a literary text has been written. For example in Daniyal Mueenuddin's
collection of short stories other rooms other wonders K.K Harooni is a landlord,
He does nothing but has several workers who are running his lands, the workers
barely run their own families while K.K Harooni lives a sumptuous life. For
instance, Nawab Din, an electrician who has twelve daughters, not only works
during the day but also at night still he is unable to run his family.
Base means the mode of production, and how a product is synthesized.
Mode of production includes; tools, machines, factories, lands, labor, etc. The
base has been owned by the bourgeoisie(the capitalists). The Base shapes and
forms the superstructure which includes; education, family, media, religion, state,
philosophy, ideology, politics, etc. Now if the Base which is owned by the
bourgeoisie forms the superstructure then how would the system work? If the
Base is Based on the assemblage of wealth then is it possible for the poor to
utilize these superstructures? On the other hand, the upper class will get the full
benefit of these superstructures. For example, take an example from our society,
how many people get quality education? How many get higher education or how
many go to universities? Almost seventy percent (70%) of students who deserve
higher education are unable to get higher education due to the economic
problem, while on the other hand students belonging to a higher class are
studying in top universities. The capitalists make education extremely difficult for
the lower working class as their primary considerations are collecting money not
delivering education. They make schools and universities not for education but
as the epicenters of the business. When everything is based on money which is
in the hands of capitalists then everything is in their control, and no one is going
against them. Media, Forces, and everyone in the state are in their control. The
media is not speaking for public purposes but it will show what the capitalists
want from it. The media is not speaking the truth but it corrupts society at the
wish of the upper class..
According to Marx, religion is also operating at the wish of the capitalists. It
tells us that there is no class. We all belong to the same religion. The money of
capitalists is yours however in reality it doesn't belong to us but to one particular
class; the bourgeoisie. Marx says "Religion is the opium of the people '' which
makes them forget who they are. Religion tells us that we are suffering because
of our wrongdoings in the past but Marx says we are suffering because the
system has been made like this. To understand and interpret a literary text we
need to understand the whole system, how education, media, state, religion,
philosophy, etc work. whether education is accessible to all? whether it is equally
attainable to all or the upper class has been endowed with more quality. How
does the media work? Whether it is propagating the narrative of the bourgeoisie
or working for the lower class. Does the state stand for the proletariat or is it the
pawn of the bourgeoisie?
Carl Marx was a materialist. He acknowledged material, he has the view
that history was shaped by matter. To understand the future he studied the past.
He said that in the very beginning, there were hunters and gatherers, they had no
rule, no law, no state, and no class system, they were collecting food and fruits
for their survival. Then some of them became refined and started using some
instruments for collecting meals while others were not using any tools. As a result
those who had used tools collected more food than those who had not used any
tools. This led to feudalism where those who had used tools became masters
while those who had not used tools became slaves. Initially, the surfers were
delighted with what they got but unhurriedly they realized that the masters were
exploiting them therefore they raised their voices against them which ended the
feudal system and led to capitalism, where they believed that working in industry
they would get enough money to run their families. But this system is exploiting
them, they are working for the capitalist, who are enjoying real benefits. The
capitalists invest wealth and build industries and factories, they are keeping
almost all the money and giving workers very little portion. The capitalist system
has split up society into two; those who have and those who have not. When the
void between haves and nots reaches its limit the proletariat stands against
capitalism and puts an end to it. When capitalism ends, socialism establishes
and an interim totalitarianism of the proletariat is established. Socialism lasts for
a short time and establishes a justice system that will eventually lead to
communism. Finally, a classless, moneyless, and stateless society would be
formed. The struggle for survival would end and this would be the end of history.
The rift between the significance of product and salaries is surplus value
For example if the value of a product is seventy and the wages of labor is ten
means seventy minus ten (70-10) remaining sixty(60) is surplus value. The
working class is yielding surplus value and the capitalists collecting it, the
working class only gets the salaries. As a result, the capitalists are becoming
richer and richer and the working class are becoming poor and poor. The
bourgeoisie is exploiting the proletariat. The capitalists have money, they finance
it and build companies and factories, the working class who are lacking money
have no other way except to work in those factories to earn a living. They are
working hard and constantly to forge products but are earning very fewer
salaries, the capitalists are relishing all the blessings and amenities. This surplus
value increases the gap between Haves and Have nots. The proletariat would
never be able to enjoy an unrestricted and satisfactory life and under such a
system they would never be competent to alter their lives.
The proletariats put all their exertions into producing a product but earn less
income than required, as a result, they alienate from the product. The whole
surplus value is collected by the bourgeoisie. The proletariat is given below-
average money as a result they are unable to buy even their product thus they
alienate from the products they are making. This darts the exploitation and ill-
treatment from the bourgeoisie to the poor working class, who are incapable of
buying even their products. This class difference will eventually lead to rebellion
where the proletariat would put an end to the bourgeoisie. And a society will form
where all will be equal and everyone will have equal ability to choose anything for
himself. The concept of those who have and those who have not would be
abrogated forever and an earthly utopia would be formed.
 It is the magnificence of this macrocosm that there is a greater diversity and
we all are very different from one another. We exist because we are different and
want to be more successful than other human beings. Society is based on
competition, socialism ceases competition among people. Take an example of a
school that is giving equal marks to all its students irrespective of their aptitude
and hard work, would it be possible that all students will study equally for their
exams and get equal marks? On the contrary, It is very much possible that none
of them will work due to which the education system will tumble. Secondly, Marx
has always raised his voice against the inequity of society, for those whose rights
are not secure. Then isn't it unjust to those students who are competent and are
working more than other students? For a society to exist it must have competition
and socialism flunks to conserve such competition. In historical Materialism Carl
Marx said that history has driven by matter . He is of the view that economic base
forms the foundation upon which social structures are constructed and ultimately
a classless society will be formed. This theory encourages individuals to question
the capitalist ideologies of society and to stand firm for their rights. It serves as a
reminder for individuals to ponder on the link between what they deserve and
what they get as a reward for their hard labor. Basically through this theory, Karl
Marx wants to eradicate the evils of capitalism and tries to reduce the gap
between the bourgeoisie and proletariat.
“ Marxist-Leninism” is the extension of Karl Marx's Marxist theory and Vladimir
Lenin's ideology. This theory encourages the dictatorship of the proletariat. The
basic idea of this theory is the dominance of the proletariat class over the
bourgeoisie or one can say that the key principle of this theory is to promote
socialism and establish a classless society. This theory considers imperialism
also a kind of capitalism and is strongly against it. This theory supports anti-
imperialist struggles and promotes the concept of socialism in a single country or
society. Overall the main motive of this theory is to establish a socialist system
through a revolution where there is no distinction among people based on class.
“Neo-Marxism” is another extension of typical Marxist theory in which other forms
of oppression or exploitation like race, gender, and sexuality are included.
In conclusion, The main motive of this Marxist framework is to analyze
literature through the lens of social and economic aspects. This theory entwines
the relationship between literature and the material condition of society. It also
points up the class struggle and historical context which plays a major role in the
literature. Examining the class struggle, power and material condition of the
society discloses the underlying social unevenness and aspires to inspire the
revolutionary consciousness to bring a social transformation and inaugurate a
social classless humanity. This literary theory highlights the potential of literature
to meditate and inquire about dominant doctrines and also challenges Bourgeois
literature for its rift from social realities. This theory strives to uncover the social
and political extents of the literature, contributing to a broader understanding of
society and its power dynamics.

References:
1. Wikipedia
2. Britannica.com
3. Articles From Research Gate
4. Chat gpt
5. Article from an Indian newspaper ("The Economic Times")
6. Notes provided by Jamil Asghar Jami sir
7. In other room other wonders by Danyal Moin din