Marxismtheorygroup1-1.docx

ENGLISH DRAMA PAPER MARXISM THEORY

1. Samuel F. G. – 174214038 2. Dendi S. W. – 174214039 3. Irene S. D. – 174214043 4. Theofilus R. Y. – 174214049 5. Fanny A. S. – 174214056 6. Anggia A. S. - 174214062

ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA

1. Marxism Theory Marxism is an economic and social system based upon the political and economic theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Marxism is a theory in which class struggle is a central element in the analysis of social change in Western societies (What is Marxism, 2002). The Marxism theory main goal is to remove the social class in society. It means no more upper or lower class in society and creating equality to society. Basically, Marx meant that if one is in the upper class, life was one of leisure and abundance, while those in the lower class lived lives of hardship and poverty (Johnson, 2013). According to Marx, a class is defined by the relations of its members to the means of production. He proclaimed that history is the chronology of class struggles, wars, and uprisings (What is Marxism, 2002). Marx believes almost all of the conflict in the world that change history is started by the unfairness of the social status in the society. Marx concludes the upper class or the rich class can do whatever they want to the lower or the poor class (the proletariat class or working class). Because of that, there is a movement or rebellion by the lower class to fight back and claim their justice. Marx concept is “History is the product of material existence”. It is different from another concept by Hegel (idealist philosopher) that said: “History is the product of spiritual existence” (Shawal). The main focus of concept is about the reality of life. Marx focuses on the real concrete world. While Hegel is focusing on the will of God for the matter of existence.

2. Communism and Socialism Communism and socialism are economic and political structures that promote equality and seek to eliminate social classes. The two are interchangeable in some ways but different in others. In a communist society, the working class owns everything, and everyone works toward the same communal goal. Like communism, socialism’s main focus is on equality. But workers earn wages they can spend as they choose, while the government, not citizens, owns and operates the means for production (Insights, 2018). Communism and socialism have the same main objective. Those two concepts can be concluded as the practice of the Marxism theory. Marx thinks by developing this theory can be the best solution for the political problem. For a political system to be considered communist, the underclasses must own the means of production not the government nor the police force (Delahoyde, 2011). Or we can conclude that communism and socialism are pros to the proletariat (working class) for their rights to live.

3. Karl Marx Born in Prussia on May 5, 1818, Karl Marx began exploring sociopolitical theories at university among the Young Hegelians. He became a journalist, and his socialist writings would get him expelled from Germany and France. In 1848, he published The Communist Manifesto with Friedrich Engels and was exiled to London, where he wrote the first volume of Das Kapital and lived the remainder of his life. Karl Heinrich Marx was one of nine children born to Heinrich and Henrietta Marx in Trier, Prussia. His father was a successful lawyer who revered Kant and Voltaire and was a passionate activist for Prussian reform. Although both parents were Jewish with rabbinical ancestry, Karl's father converted to Christianity in 1816 at the age of 35. This was likely a professional concession in response to an 1815 law banning Jews from high society. He was baptized a Lutheran, rather than a Catholic, which was the predominant faith in Trier because he "equated Protestantism with intellectual freedom." When he was 6, Karl was baptized along with the other children, but his mother waited until 1825 after her father died. (Editors, 2019)

4. Friedrich Engels Friedrich Engels was born on Nov. 28, 1820, in Barmen, Rhenish Prussia, a small industrial town in the Wupper valley. He was the oldest of the six children of Friedrich and Elisabeth Franziska Mauritia Engels. The senior Engels, a textile manufacturer, was a Christian Pietist and religious fanatic. After attending elementary school at Barmen, young Friedrich entered the gymnasium in nearby Elberfeld at the age of 14, but he left it 3 years later. Although he became one of the most learned men of his time, he had no further formal schooling. Under pressure from his tyrannical father, Friedrich became a business apprentice in Barmen and Barmen, but he soon called it a "dog's life." He left the business at the age of 20, in rebellion against both his joyless home and the "penny-pinching" world of commerce. Henceforth, Engels was a lifelong enemy of organized religion and of capitalism, although he was again forced into business for a number of years (Your Dictionary) (Hammen, 2018)

5. Marxist Literary Critic on Drama According to Marxists, and to other scholars, in fact, literature reflects those social institutions out of which it emerges and is itself a social institution with a particular ideological function. Literature reflects class struggle and materialism: think how often the quest for wealth traditionally defines characters (Delahoyde, 2011). The focus is about how the work tells the story about how social class is the distinguishing aspect of the conflict. The different of the social class also can make the characterization different and symbolize each class. For example, the upper class is symbolized with the rich, arrogant and powerful character while the lower class is symbolized with a poor and weak character. The main issue also mostly focuses on money and power. When using Marxist literary critic on drama, there is some aspect that has to be paid attention to the play. 

What role does class play in the work; what is the author's analysis of class relations?

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How do characters overcome oppression?

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In what ways does the work serve as propaganda for the status quo; or does it try to undermine it?

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What does the work say about oppression; or are social conflicts ignored or blamed elsewhere?

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Does the work propose some form of utopian vision as a solution to the problems encountered in the work? (Delahoyde, 2011)

6. Bibliography Delahoyde, M. (2011). Marxism. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from Introduction to Literature: https://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/marxist.crit.html Dictionary, Y. (n.d.). Friedrich Engels. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from Your Dictionary: https://biography.yourdictionary.com/friedrich-engels Editors, B. (2019, January 15). Karl Marx Biography. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from The Biography.com website: https://www.biography.com/people/karl-marx-9401219 Hammen, O. J. (2018, November 24). Friedrich Engels. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from Encylopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Friedrich-Engels Insights. (2018, November 2018). The Difference Between Communism and Socialism. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/video/play/difference-betweencommunism-and-socialism/ Johnson, B. (2013, March 20). Karl Marx's Theories: Class Differentiation and Revolution, Socialism & Capitalism. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from Study.com: https://study.com/academy/lesson/karlmarxs-theories-class-differentiation-and-revolution-socialism-capitalism.html Shawal, M. (n.d.). Marxism (1818-1883): Concept, Aims of Education and Curriculum. Retrieved February 24, 2019, from YourArticleLibary: http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/philosophy/marxism/marxism-1818-1883-concept-aims-of-educationand-curriculum/69157 What is Marxism? (2002). Retrieved February 23, 2019, from All About Philosophy: https://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/what-is-marxism-faq.htm