Marxist or Socioeconomic Criticism in Literature

Reece Hoyer, Kelly Brulenski, Mathew Coakly, Allie Razzi

Karl Marx Karl Marx was a German philosopher

who contributed to the socialist revolution, and purposed a theory that everything exists as a figment between interaction of socioeconomic levels› Socioeconomic levels is a fancy word for

classes He come up the idea that interaction

between the classes created everything› Inspired religion, government, art, etc.

Application to literature This became known as a Marxist way of

thinking. People then began to apply this

philosophy to art such as films, books, music, and other forms of literature

By looking at the interaction between classes in a novel, the theme can be deduced by seeing the action and reaction of characters from different or the same classes

For Example In the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom,

there are three main classes.› People of the Big House› Kitchen House› Peasant Slaves

The interaction Lavinia (who should be in the Big House) and the people of the Kitchen House revealed that she could belong as a prominent family member, and reveal the common theme of self-identity; that who you are is defined by what you do and not how you were born.

In addition, in The Kitchen House, the people of the Big House believed everything was fine within the family even if it was not, as opposed to the people of the Kitchen House who believed in strong family bonds› As these two classes of people interacted, it

revealed that although the people of the Big House were better off, they lacked values and structure that the people of the Kitchen House had. And as seen in the novel, the people of the Kitchen

House were much happier, which revels another common theme of family; that family that cares is a source of belonging and happiness.

In Conclusion

Karl Marx theorized an idea that everything is a figment of interaction between socioeconomic classes

This same way of thinking can be used in literature to fide common themes and motifs

As shown, in The Kitchen House, the interaction between classes show the common theme for family and self-identity