Marxism is an ideology that was theorised by Karl Marx that is based on the communal and economic functions of class creation in a capitalist population. Matching to Marx there are two classes namely the bourgeoisie and proletariat. The bourgeoisie or ruling class own and control the means of development. They monopolise the politics vitality and put regulations in place in order to protect and further their interests. In this manner the values and worth will reflect and legitimate their rule. Whereas, the proletariat or working school are dispossessed from making their own livelihood, but are pressured to market their labour for success. If the prominent class's vitality is accepted as legitimate by the working school, this is recognized as false consciousness (Longurst, Smith, Bagnall, Crawford & Ogborn, 2008). This ideology became the foundation of analysing books, known as Marxist criticism. Marxist critic's approach to literature is dependant on sociological influences, meaning the texts are the result of whichever historical, economic as well as social circumstances these were created in. Texts from whichever epoch show the dominate class's ideology, thus making them subjective. (Potter, 2010)
The Great Gatsby is a novel written by Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. The novel targets the lives of the dominant class of a western capitalistic contemporary society and how they may be shaped by this lifestyle. On the other hand, Death of the Salesman was written by Arthur Miller in 1949. The book focuses on the life of a family of proletariats and exactly how they are influenced by the bourgeoisies in population.
The Great Gatsby does not give attention to both economic classes. Instead it targets different groups of the dominant school, namely old money and the nouveau riche and because of this this novel demonstrates the dominating ideology. However the working class is mentioned, they can be ignored for the most part. Old money is symbolized by East Egg, West Egg represents the nouveau riche and the working category is displayed by the Valley of Ashes.
The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, is part of the nouveau riche who lives in West Egg. Jay Gatsby moves from being the child of "shiftless and unsuccessful plantation people" (1994 p. 105) to becoming the owner of a huge Western Egg mansion with "a marble pool and over forty acres of backyard and garden" (1994 p. 11), this shows the possibilities offered by the American aspiration. Gatsby earns his money through against the law means, which places him in the new money category, and as a result he flaunts by throwing extravagant parties and buying expensive vehicles. Another reason Gatsby flaunts is to get the interest and gain the affection of Daisy, thus dealing with her as a commodity (Tyson, 2006). Old money, on the other hands, has already established money for generations, so they do not show off. Old money, people like Tom and Daisy, look down on the nouveau riche, because they got wealthy quick and, because they're threatening the status quo.
Myrtle and George Wilson will work class characters however they have aspirations to move to top of the class. George desires to do this through his business. Whereas, Myrtle comes with an affair with Tom in the hopes that he'll eventually marrying her. Both Wilsons are commodified by the bourgeoisie and disillusioned by the North american goal. Myrtle's murder is a perfect example of how the bourgeoisie do not suffer the consequences of these actions, because they have money, "they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their great carelessness and let other people tidy up the clutter they made" (1994 p. 186). One individual attends Gatsby's funeral, demonstrating that his attainment of the American wish was only an illusion.
Death of a Salesman is also a word that reflects the dominating ideology, however in this circumstance the play is written from the idea of view of the working course. Although the prominent class has an effect on the main heroes they are typically overlooked in the play. Willy Loman, the protagonist, is a worn out exploring salesman on the idea of a malfunction. But Willy still feels in the capitalist worth and has passed on the expectations of success onto his son Biff. Disillusioned by the prominent ideology, Willy is blind to its destructiveness and is fixated along with his strategies for Biff. Biff, however, does not have any intentions in following a plans his dad has lay out for him and intends to pursue a different course, the one that Miller affiliates with socialist contemporary society. His lack of drive to check out conventional success is educating him, not that he is worthless, and but that the business enterprise world might not be for him which he is better off without it. He's trying to understand himself and find out his true personal information. In the beginning of the play, he was not certain of himself and because of this returned home so that they can fulfil his father's aspiration. Happy, Willy other child, has a good job and would like to go further. He also offers uncertainties about his job but has no way to displace it. (Swets & Zeitlinger, 1994)
The scene where Howard, Willy's young employer, fires Willy is a perfect exemplory case of the reasoning of the capitalist financial instrument. Willy, so that they can avoid failure, appeals to Howard's conscience, reminding him the he is a loyal and permanent worker for the business, but to no avail. Although Howard is Willy's friend and neighbour, he's a small business man and abides by regulations of profit making first, "business is business" (2000 p. 63), which is definite in the capitalist business world. Willy refuses employment offer by Charley because he feels its charity and would ruin his image of himself as a self-reliant person. Willy inability and Biff similar fate makes Willy reject his child. This shows how capitalist value can distort and demolish a meaningful romantic relationship between dad and son. (Swets & Zeitlinger, 1994)
Willy chooses to commit suicide in the hopes that his life insurance coverage payment will enable Biff to rise in the world. But, Biff becomes the only person in the play to comprehend the destructive mother nature of capitalist ideals and pities his daddy, exclaiming: "I can't bear to check out his face!" (2000 p. 115)
Both text messages show how in a capitalist population money gives power and those who have money control the power of society. As well as in traditional western capitalist society the upper will undoubtedly oppress the working course and that the North american aspiration is both an illusion and elusive.
This essay has discussed the way the two texts fluctuate socioeconomically, utilizing a Marxist criticism strategy. Specific reference point has been designed to Marxism and exactly how it pertains to Marxist criticism, the framework of both texts by focusing on the time durations as well as how the characters lived. This essay has also viewed the socioeconomic framework of THE FANTASTIC Gatsby and Fatality of a Salesman.
