How Do You Use Marxist Literary Criticism?
Although the once powerful Soviet system is gone, and the western world has declared communism a failure, Marxist literary criticism is still a popular tool in American university classrooms. This is largely because the value of Marxist thought is in its general application, not in relation to a particular regime. Separating Marxism and Leninism is critical for a good round of literary theory. Approach the text with an eye for how the characters interact. Marxist thought relies on relationships between individuals, and even those aspects of relationships that are ‘social’ can be part of a Marxist critique. Evaluate the vocational roles of all characters. The Marxist critique includes a focus on a “class system” where the vocations of characters provide the most direct reference to their place within this system. Look at the level of luxury that each individual has and how much they have to work. Look at how characters use their free time. Part of the Marxist critique is based on the ar
