ENGLISH 10
LEARNER’S
MARXIST APPROACH
MARXISM
Marxism is a social, economic and
political philosophy that analyses
the impact of the ruling class on
the laborers, leading to uneven
distribution of wealth and
privileges in the society. It
stimulates the workers to protest
In other words, Marxist Criticism
is a careful reader or viewer who
keeps in mind issues of power and
money.
It talks about the role in the
soociety.
Oppressed
 one who is under control by an
oppressor
 no power and no authority
Oppressor
is one who uses his/her power to control
oppressed
Powerful and authoritarian
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
Who is Karl Marx?
KARL MARX
Jewish-German
philosopher and politcal
scientist.
Born on 1818 and died on
London in 1883.
Marx was known as one
of the most influential
th
socialist thinkers in the 19
century.
Some of his major works include:
The Communist Manifesto (1848)
 Das Kapital (1867)
Karl Marx, the proponent of this theory,
lived in London at the time of
industrialization and travelled extensively
through Europe. He saw a highly developed
continent where the tensions ran high
because of social inequality. According to
Marx, social inequality was a
consequence of the arrival of the
divion of labor and, moreover, as what
led to the class society.
FRIEDRICH
ENGELS
German philosopher,
economist, historian, political
theorist and revolutionary
socialist.
Born on November 28, 1820
and died on August 5, 1895.
He shared Marx’s socialist
beliefs ad provided support
financially as well as
intellectually.
In doing a Marxist Literary Criticism, one
must look for the following details:
1. Social
classes that
constitute the
setting of the
2. Characteristic of such social
classes
3. Author’s idea about the prevailing
social issue like oppression
4. Technique of the author in
using the social conflict
5. Resolving the embedded issue
or problem
6. Author’s message o the issue
or problem whether stated directly
or implied
7. Author’s main purpose in
writing the story far from
entertaining the reader.
8. Background of the author and
his views on economy,politics and
society.
9. The place where the literary
piece was written