It wasn’t until shortly after his death that Karl Marx’s ideology began to significantly influence socialist movements. Although relatively unknown during his lifetime he has become one of the fundamental economic and sociological figures of the modern era. Many of his theories and insights into the way society functions are still relevant in the expanding capitalist society that exists today. Marx was very critical of capitalism and the division in society between the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes, attempting to highlight the injustice and exploitation of the working class by the wealthy upper and middle class. Marx predicted that capitalism within a socioeconomic system would inevitably create internal tensions between social classes leading to its demise and replacement by a new system, communism.
The class struggle’s which Marx refers to above is that of the Bourgeoisie, who own the means of production and the proletariat, who sell their labour. Marx believed that the two classes are based on a contradiction, this ascends from the fact that the workers who make the commodities do not get the profit that is made. Instead the profit goes to the Bourgeoisie, over time
Using material from item A and elsewhere, assess different Marxist views of the relationship between crime and social class. (21) The traditional Marxists believe that the main cause of crime is the capitalist society. They believe that crime is inevitable because capitalism is criminogenic, by it’s very nature it causes crime. David Gordon argues that crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and hence it is found in all social classes, even thought the statistics make it seem to be a largely working class phenomenon,. Poverty may mean that crime is the only way that the working class can survive, as crime may e the only way that they can obtain the consumer goods encouraged by the capitalist advertising, resulting in utilitarian crimes such as theft.
Socialist believe that as capitalism has fostered competitive and selfish behaviour, human inequality very largely reflects the unequal structure of society. They believe that the most significant forms of human inequality are as a result of unequal treatment of society, rather than unequal endowment of nature. Thus, socialists do not wish to just provide individuals with an equal opportunity to develop themselves, but rather demand social equality. All socialists argue that a major factor of the social inequality in society is the lack of economic equality due to capitalism. Socialists have often traced this inequality in society to the institution of private property.
It is the universal whore, the pander between men and peoples.’ Karl Marx, ‘the economic and philosophical manuscripts’ (1844). This is saying that money makes society function, it not only binds us together, but separates those who have it and those who don’t. - The issue of storytelling, how stories are received, who they serve, is an important theme in Othello - Individuals create stories about themselves to establish an identity  sometimes our stories are imposed on us - Othello states he ‘Saw the handkerchief’ (Act 5, Sc2, Ln66), but what he really saw was a mute fact – facts are meaningless until placed into context – Othello used the wrong story to interpret what he saw. He takes Iago’s lies as facts, believes everything else - Marxism emphasizes the link between power  storytelling  economics. Eg.
A particular Marxist view of the relationship between crime and social class is known as criminogenic capitalism. For Marxists, crime is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism is criminogenic. Capitalism is based on the exploitation of the working class – that is, on using them as a means to and end (profit), whatever the human cost of doing so. It is therefore particularly damaging to the working class and this may give rise to crime. Firstly Marxists believe that poverty may mean that crime is the only way the working class can survive therefore this results in the form of a relationship between crime and social class.
Durkheim sees anomie as responsible for the world’s disorder of economics- the lack of morality and regulation resulted in overpowering the weak; thus, he feels that only norms can prevent the abuse of power and calls for regulation and equal opportunity from birth- the greater the equal opportunity the less need for restraint. Marx looked at how capitalism separated humanity by making work a simple means of individual existence. In addition he describes society in terms of class and economic conflicts. Marx saw proletariat or people of a working class as being underneath the bourgeoisie or the capitalist of a modern society. Marx looked at how alienation of production of commodities by workers also leads to alienation of social life.
Through this we have learned that as working class, we expect and accept that we will be exploited by the ruling class in terms of our surplus value. This is known as a crisis of Hegemony. They go on to say that we have internalised the DVS to such an extent that any other value system seems absurd, resulting in a state of false class consciousness. Marx believed that we will see a social revolution which will overthrow capitalism and replace it with true communism. Marxism sees religion as a feature which is only relevant in a society based on class division I.E the ruling classes and the working classes.
Marxist theories of religion relates mainly on how religion helps dominate the Bourgeoisie within the society by the Proletariat. The division of the two classes where the Middle class who owns the means of production, exploits the labour of Working class in the capitalist society. There are many ways whereby Marx replicates his theories against religion whether it has created a positive or negative societal effect. Other perspectives such as Functionalism and Feminism criticises Marx’s values according to the different roles of religions. Firstly, Marx argues that religion is portrayed as an ideology where there’s a set of ideas and values, in other words, a belief system that disadvantages the Working class as they become exploited.
Interestingly, the two works are set either side of the Great Depression, each an iconic epitome of the respective classes they portray. Both Fitzgerald and Williams critique certain traits of the Capitalist model, be it through the shady “drug-store business” of Gatsby, or Blanche’s inability to integrate into this ‘brave new world’. Whilst one cannot label either text as Marxist, there are several compelling arguments that explore the fundamental shortcomings of American society, and question the suitability of Capitalism as a viable socioeconomic model. In A Streetcar Named Desire and The Great Gatsby, the class division is illustrated through a lack of social mobility. Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby, embodies the futile struggle of those wishing to ascend the social hierarchy, with her belief that she will attain the ostentatious lifestyle of the rich ‘aristocrat’ Tom Buchanan.