...Marxist theory of class and ideology suggests that society is driven by money and economy. All the social, historical changes that take place in a society are guided by changes in modes of production and class struggle. Marx also stated that the ruling class not only dominates the material sources of society, but also controls the intellectual modes of production. The ruling class circulates its ideas as the only rational, ideal, universal ideas, to maintain their hegemony. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was written much earlier, however even then class expectations restricted the English society. The novel is a critique of society through social satire by the means of social caricatures embodied in Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine de Burgh. The plot of the text largely centers on the idea of class. Not only does the novel concern itself with the class of various characters, but also describes their mode of production and by what means each character gained their status. Lady Catherine De Burgh and Mr. Darcy are a member of the landed aristocracy, whereas Mr. Collins and Mr. Phillips belong to the bourgeoisie class. The Gardiners, Mr. Bingley and The Lucases earned their status through a respectable line of trade. In the novel, Mrs. Bennet is the embodiment of Marx’s ideology of class and economy. Her singular goal is to marry off her daughters to wealthy, high class men. That is the reason why Mr. Bingley’s visit to Netherfield puts her in frenzy and she constantly pesters...
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...out of the Trotskyist movement in 1978, I embarked on a systematic reading project of the world?s greatest novels. Since I had made the decision to begin writing fiction myself, I wanted to learn the craft from the masters. Additionally, I wanted a change of pace from the hard-core Marxist literature I had been reading for 11 years. (Within two years, however, I had returned to radical politics, largely under the impetus of the Central American revolution.) I soon discovered that some of these masterpieces left me cold, including those written by Henry James, Joseph Conrad and especially Jane Austen. Although I would never deny that they were great writers, their words did not resonate with me. After reading 50 or so pages of ?Pride and Prejudice,? I found myself wondering what all the hype was about. I was left cold by an endless round of country balls, dinner parties and arch dialogue that always sounded self-conscious and somewhat artificial. To illustrate: Elizabeth Bennett, the major character who is based on Jane Austen herself, is in one of her frequent 'cutting' exercises with Fitzwilliam D?Arcy--reminiscent of an old Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy movie. Like Hepburn and Tracy, these two spend most of their time hating each other until they finally discover that they really are in love. (I myself had a different take on the matter. In my experience, people generally start off in love and then discover that they really hate each other, especially after being...
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...Format of Feminist Analysis * General tension and thesis: * Tension will stem from some aspect of patriarchy in the text * Thesis: what is author saying about tension? * Resolve/lack of resolve? Character transgress/submit? * Body: Integrate feminist theory with literary devices * Organize paragraphs by literary device/chronology/order of thesis * Weave in feminist theory as you go along, defining terms as you delve into each device. * Use feminist jargon appropriately and in context * Conclusion <Marxism>: Gender studies: Marxist Literary Theory: * Focuses on the representation of class distinctions and class conflict in literature * Focuses more on social and political elements than artistic and visual (aesthetic) elements of a text Key Terms: Proletariat;Bourgeoisie;Capitalism;Materialism; Classism Commodification Format of Marxism Analysis * General tension and thesis: * Expose class conflict...
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...Pride and Prejudice. A Marxist Analysis. Marxism is basically the idea that society is driven by money and the economy. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice for example, Mrs. Bennett is the height of Marxism since her singular goal is to marry off all her daughters to wealthy men. Another example is that almost every character except Elizabeth and Darcy is preoccupied with the income of their potential partner. Since the Bennetts are brought up within an upper class society, the illusion of power is found within their characters. They have the freedom to do what they want and make their own decisions because they are not controlled by a higher power. Of course, the Bingleys and the Darcys have a much greater wealth and could influence other characters within the novel more, such as Mr. Darcy’s influence on Wickham concerning money in exchange for an agreement to marry Lydia. However, their acquaintances and communities intertwine in some way hence leading to Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage, even with the opposition of someone of a higher rank, Lady Catherine. The plot revolves around the need described in the very first sentence of the novel: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." This opening statement already emphasises a Marxist perspective about money’s influence on a man’s goal to find a suitable wife and vice versa. The driving force of the plot also centres on the very idea of class. Not...
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...Marxist Class Issues in Pride and Prejudice According to Karl Marx, a class is determined by its relationship to the means of production. In other words, class is determined by its ownership, or non-ownership of the raw materials, factories, and land that make up the means of production. Though Marxism came later than the first published copy of Pride and Prejudice, it is interesting to note that much of the driving force of the plot centers on the very idea of class. Not only does the novel concern itself with what class the characters belong to, but also by what means, or means of production, each character gained their status. By looking at key passages within the text of Pride and Prejudice from the Marxist perspective, it can be noted that in fact, many of the driving forces in Jane Austen's Victorian society, revolve around the exact models of behaviors and mindsets that Marx abhors. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Master of Pemberley is both intelligent and forthright, although he does have a knack for judging both too quickly, and too harshly. He is extremely wealthy and this causes Darcy to be overly conscious of his wealth and status in society. He is Elizabeth Bennet's male counterpart. Although Elizabeth's attributes far exceed her vices, she is much like Darcy in the respect that her sharp tongue and oft times judgmental haste get her into trouble. Elizabeth strives to reach beyond the confines of her class-bound society with its snobby socialites. Although she tries...
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...Literary works can always be analyzed through various lenses. Does each author intend for his/her work to be dissected in such a manner ? When looking at various modernist writers it is evident that their short stories can be dissected or critiqued through a Marxist lens. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels arise an economic and social system based on economic and political theories called Marxism. The ideology of Marxism can be summed up in Encarta Reference Library as “a theory in which class struggle is a central element in the analysis of social change in Western societies.” Marxists view literature as social institutions that have specific functions influenced by the author’s background and philosophy. Authors Willa Cather in A Study in Temperament,...
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...Daimyo… Bushido The Closing of Japan Nobunaga vs. Hideyoshi Matthew Perry Chapter 11: London on September 2, 1666-the great fire destroyed it. Francis Bacon-leading advocate of the empirical method Inductive reasoning Empirical method Rene Descartes Deductive reasoning Deism Johannes Kepler-had made detailed records of the movements of the planets, substantiating Copernicus’s theory that the cosmos was heliocentric (sun-centered), not geocentric (earth-centered) Galileo Galilei-improved the design and magnification of the telescope Geocentric Heliocentric The law of falling bodies (gravity) Pope Urban VIII Giordano Bruno Isaac Newton-computed the law of universal gravitation in a precise mathematical equation, demonstrating that each and every object exerts an attraction to a greater or lesser degree on all other objects The Industrial Revolution Lunar Society-a group of prominent manufactures,inventors,and naturalists met in and around Birmingham each month on the night of the full moon to discuss,chemistry,,medicine,gases,electricity,and every subject that may contribute to the fruitful society. Thomas Hobbes-argued in Leviathan that the people needed to submit to the authority of a ruler to prevent anarchy. The social contract gives up individual sovereignty in exchange for protection from depravity. Absolutism Social contract John Locke-argued that a ruler has limited authority; if the ruler fails to protect the people’s rights, then the people...
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...Högskolan i Halmstad Sektionen för Humaniora Engelska 61-90 The Importance of Class and Money A Marxist Analysis of Jane Austen’s Persuasion Therese Andersson C-essay Tutor Kristina Hildebrand Abstract This essay analyzes how issues related to money and social class are presented in Jane Austen’s Persuasion. The method used will be a close reading as well as aspects of Marxist literary criticism, a theory that will be presented in the second chapter. Background information about the author and her time will then be given in the third chapter. In chapter four, the character of Sir Walter Elliot will be analyzed, in chapter five Elizabeth Elliot, and in chapter six William Elliot. Some of the other characters will be analyzed, more briefly, in the seventh chapter. Conclusions will then be drawn in the eighth and final chapter. 2 Table of contents Abstract.....................................................................................................2 Table of contents.......................................................................................3 1. Introduction.........................................................................................4 2. Theory and method..............................................................................5 2.1 Close reading............................................................................................5 2.2 Marxist literary criticism................................................
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...Nietzsche: His philosophy and “Beyond Good and Evil” And Marxists vs. Mill’s view of socialism 1- Describe Nietzsche’s basic philosophy and his “New Morality” as revealed in his “Gay Science”, “Twilight of the Idol’s” books. Then choose one of his writings in his book “Beyond Good and Evil” and describe the philosophy he attempts to reveal. Conclude with your opinion on his philosophy of religion and his view of the Cosmos. Born on October 15, 1844 in the small town of Röcken, near Leipzig, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a German poet and philosopher, a classical philologist and a professor of Greek at the University of Basle. He was the author of many works that talked about religion, morality, culture, philosophy, science using a unique style and radical questioning of the value and objectivity of truth. In his writings, Nietzsche called for revision of all values; he rejected organized religion attacking Christianity and other religious institutions as contributors to what he called “slave morality”. He was, also, equally critical of democratic institutions whose singular vision and courage, according to him, produce a “master morality” and he called the rule by mass mediocrity. Nietzsche also believed that European materialism have led to decadence and decline. He died on August 25, 1900. In his works, he voiced the sentiments of radical moralists. He was deeply critical of his own times and he called for a revision of all values. The major...
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...A MARXIST READING OF JANE AUSTEN’S PERSUASION Abstract This essay analyzes how issues related to money and social class are presented in Jane Austen’s Persuasion . The method used will be a close reading as well as aspects of Marxist literary criticism, a theory that will be presented in the second chapter. Background information about the author and her time will then be given in the third chapter. In chapter four, the character of Sir Walter Elliot will be analyzed, in chapter five Elizabeth Elliot, and in chapter six William Elliot. Some of the other characters will be analyzed, more briefly, in the seventh chapter. Conclusions will then be drawn in the eighth and final chapter. 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 2. Theory and method .............................................................................. 2.1 Close reading ............................................................................................ 2.2 Marxist literary criticism ................................................................................ 3. Background .......................................................................................... 3.1 Jane Austen and her time ......................................................................... 3.1.1 Titles and ranks .......................................................................................... 3.2 Class in Jane Austen’s novels .....................
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...caribbean studies notes MODULE ONE LOCATION AND DEFINITION OF THE CARIBBEAN REGION Definition of the Caribbean Region Geographical This describes the area washed by the Caribbean Sea and is often described as the Caribbean Basin. It would therefore include most of the islands of the Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles as well as the mainland territories in Central America (Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, Honduras) and Northern South America such as Columbia and Venezuela. The common link here is the Caribbean Sea. Geological There are deep seated structural features of Caribbean geology which also identifies commonalities. It is the area that is defined by the Caribbean Plate and which experiences similar tectonic, seismic and volcanic features and processes. Historical It describes the area that saw the impact of European colonization, slavery, indentureship and the plantation system. this refers to all the territories so that one way of defining the Caribbean is to identify those countries that experienced the rule of specific European countries. Thus the Caribbean may be defined as being broken up into the English, French, Dutch and Spanish speaking countries and territories. Political In the Caribbean at least three types of governmental systems are found. They include Independent States, Associated States and Colonial Dependencies. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIETY Society Society is a collection of people occupying a defined geographical...
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...B.A. (HONOURS) ENGLISH (Three Year Full Time Programme) COURSE CONTENTS (Effective from the Academic Year 2011-2012 onwards) DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF DELHI DELHI - 110007 0 Course: B.A. (Hons.) English Semester I Paper 1: English Literature 4(i) Paper 2: Twentieth Century Indian Writing(i) Paper 3: Concurrent – Qualifying Language Paper 4: English Literature 4(ii) Semester II Paper 5: Twentieth Century Indian Writing(ii) Paper 6: English Literature 1(i) Paper 7: Concurrent – Credit Language Paper 8: English Literature 1(ii) Semester III Paper 9: English Literature 2(i) Paper 10: Option A: Nineteenth Century European Realism(i) Option B: Classical Literature (i) Option C: Forms of Popular Fiction (i) Paper 11: Concurrent – Interdisciplinary Semester IV Semester V Paper 12: English Literature 2(ii) Paper 13: English Literature 3(i) Paper 14: Option A: Nineteenth Century European Realism(ii) Option B: Classical Literature (ii) Option C: Forms of Popular Fiction (ii) Paper 15: Concurrent – Discipline Centered I Paper 16: English Literature 3(ii) Paper 17: English Literature 5(i) Paper 18: Contemporary Literature(i) Paper 19: Option A: Anglo-American Writing from 1930(i) Option B: Literary Theory (i) Option C: Women’s Writing of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries (i) Option D: Modern European Drama (i) Paper 20: English Literature 5(ii) Semester VI Paper 21: Contemporary Literature(ii) Paper 22: Option A: Anglo-American Writing from 1930(ii) Option B:...
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...Theories of International Relations Third edition Scott Burchill, Andrew Linklater, Richard Devetak, Jack Donnelly, Matthew Paterson, Christian Reus-Smit and Jacqui True Theories of International Relations This page intentionally left blank Theories of International Relations Third edition Scott Burchill, Andrew Linklater, Richard Devetak, Jack Donnelly, Matthew Paterson, Christian Reus-Smit and Jacqui True Material from 1st edition © Deakin University 1995, 1996 Chapter 1 © Scott Burchill 2001, Scott Burchill and Andrew Linklater 2005 Chapter 2 © Jack Donnelly 2005 Chapter 3 © Scott Burchill, Chapters 4 and 5 © Andrew Linklater, Chapters 6 and 7 © Richard Devetak, Chapter 8 © Christian Reus-Smit, Chapter 9 © Jacqui True, Chapter 10 © Matthew Paterson 2001, 2005 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright...
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...THE PROBLEM WITH WORK A JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER BOOK THE PROBLEM WITH WORK Feminism, Marxism, Antiwork Politics, and Postwork Imaginaries KATHI WEEKS Duke University Press Durham and London 2011 © 2011 Duke University Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper co Designed by Heather Hensley Typeset in Minion Pro by Keystone Typesetting, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data appear on the last printed page of this book. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED WITH LOVE TO JulieWalwick (1959-2010) Contents ix Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION i The Problem with Work i CHAPTF1 37 Mapping the Work Ethic CHAPTER 2 79 Marxism, Productivism, and the Refusal of Work CHAPTER 3 113 Working Demands: From Wages for Housework to Basic Income CHAPTER 4 151 "Hours for What We Will": Work, Family, and the Demand for Shorter Hours 5 CHAPTER 175 The Future Is Now: Utopian Demands and the Temporalities of Hope EPILOGUE 227 A Life beyond Work 235 255 Notes References 275 Index Acknowledgments thank the following friends and colleagues for their helpful feedback on versions of these arguments and portions of the manuscript: Anne Allison, Courtney Berger, Tina Campt, ChristineDiStefano, Greg Grandin, Judith Grant, Michael Hardt, Stefano Harney, Rebecca I would like to Karl, Ranji Khanna, Corey Robin...
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...AS/A2 English Literature B Student Guide A-LEVEL STUDENT HANDBOOK CONTENTS PAGE | | | |What we Expect of A-Level Students |3 | |Overview of the AS and A2 Course |4 | |Assessment Objectives |5 | |AS Marking Criteria |6 | |A2 Marking Criteria |7 | |Selecting and Studying Texts |8 | |Approaching Essays – coursework |9 | |Punctuation Guide |11 | |Glossary of Literary Terms |12 | |Reading List ...
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