Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat” (Marx and Engels 1848). Social class, therefore, is based upon economic criteria and conflict occurs between those who own the means of production (bourgeoisie) and the wage-labourers (proletariat). As well as having economic control over the proletariat, the bourgeoisie also have the power to determine the superstructure; the ruling class can distort perceptions of the world and hide the true nature of social relationships and the exploitation of the proletariat and, above all, promote bourgeoisie interests. Marx defines production as workers selling their labour for wages in order to exchange money for commodities that will meet their most basic needs. As Marx
However, Engels’ theory supports the question, as it shows that people would do anything to ensure their wealth and power went to their children after their death. Another Marxist theory is that of Althusser. His theory is based on the Ideological State Apparatus. This is the theory, that the family is a tool, a tool to transmit bourgeoisie-corrupted values, which helps to ensure the family creates an efficient workforce, one that willingly obeys to any form of authority. However, this is contradicted by the theory of Lasch and Donzelot, the idea of fragmentation.
Money and wealth are virtues, and the man who has them is virtuous. “Until and unless you discover that money is the root of all good, you ask for your own destruction. When money ceases to be the tool by which men deal with one another, then men become the tools of
To what extent do anarchists agree about the nature of the future stateless society? For Anarchists the state is oppressive and represents the few who seek to oppress the many. The state is also charged with taking away our freedom through subjecting us to its laws and controls that are artificial, offending the basic principle of individual sovereignty. Furthermore the state is seen as corrupting to those in power, those who come into government may do so with good motives, but inevitably lose their idealism and become exploiters themselves. It is for these reasons that all traditions within Anarchism wish to advance human kind through the removal of the state in society.
Thirdly the family acts as a comfort for the stresses and frustrations of working class men they are there to ‘Cushion the main provider’. Lastly the family as a unit of consumption buys the goods and services provided by capitalism. These functions benefit the minority in power, the bourgeoisie, and the economy. The functions disadvantage the working class society, the proletariat. One way the family serves capitalism is the socialisation of the young into the ruling class ideology.
To what extent do anarchists agree about the nature of the future stateless society? For Anarchists the state is oppressive and represents the few who seek to oppress the many. The state is also charged with taking away our freedom through subjecting us to its laws and controls that are artificial, offending the basic principle of individual sovereignty. Furthermore the state is seen as corrupting to those in power, those who come into government may do so with good motives, but inevitably lose their idealism and become exploiters themselves. It is for these reasons that all traditions within Anarchism wish to advance human kind through the removal of the state in society.
He believes that this will ease the process of transformation, and end the constant oppression that is present. Lenin quotes Marx that following the revolution; there is “political transition period in which the state can be nothing but the revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat.” Lenin agrees with Marx and believes that the state in its current form is highly oppressive that that no matter what has been said or has been put on paper, men are inevitably unequal and that “democracy is always hemmed in by the narrow limits set by capitalist exploitation.” Lenin is angered by the fact the higher class (the bourgeoisie) have the utmost control and the working class (the proletariat) must follow their reign. This is when Lenin’s main argument is revealed: The proletariat must suppress the bourgeoisie immediately in order to “free humanity from wage slavery.” Lenin wants the “complete withering away of the state.” He believes that this will happen with the proletariat through the “dictatorship of the proletariat.” The majority of the society will
Groups in society are constantly competing against each other and there is a constants struggle for power between groups. There are two main classes in conflict according to Marx. The owners (who own the means of production) and the workers (who do not own the means of production). The workers are the ones who are being alienated. They are being alienated because this system(capitalism) is not fair.
He uses Arthur Birling as a voice for capitalism, who is ridiculed by the inspector, a representative of socialism. The dialogue between them shows this, as the inspector twists what birling says. For example, when the inspector says “I’m sorry but you asked me a question”, and Birling says the inspector previously asked him an unnecessary question, the Inspector replies “It’s my duty to ask questions”. Priestly uses this symbolism as framework for the political ideology battle each character has with the inspector. As the political Ida of capitalism has corrupted the Birling family, Priestly shows the audience how the inspector, the voice of socialism, constantly out-wits the birling’s.
The Marxist theory states that society is a struggle between social classes. And to rise above capitalism the working class has to gain power through a social revolution. The story of the “Masque” follows right alongside this fitting theory. The Story begins describing the horrible disease that is the red death that is sweeping the country. This first line is already a foreshadowing towards what lies ahead in this story.