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.
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
Outline and assess Marxist theories of crime. Marxist theories of crime are based on conflict. They claim that society is divided by capitalism and there is a conflict between the upper-classes and the working-classes. They suggest that social inequality is a cause of crime saying that the law is made by the upper class (bourgeoisie) to benefit the ruling class and is harsh towards the working class. Marxist writers such as Chambliss suggest that the majority of the working-classes are exploited by the owners of big businesses and the government.
I believe this can be strongly tied into the Marxist ideas of commodity fetishism and false consciousness as the culture industry creates repressive and alienating effects through products and commodities. The theory of commodity fetishism basically states that people experience social relationships as value relations between things. False consciousness is a theory that states that material and institutional processes in capitalistic societies basically mislead the lower and working classes through the power of capitalism. It seems as if people within capitalistic societies allow their lives to be organized or controlled through the medium of commodities. We trade our own commodities (such as labour) for a special commodity: money.
One of the pioneers of conflict theories is Karl Marx. He sought to explain the struggles between social classes. Marx saw society as a polarization between two dominant classes: the Capitalists and the Workers (Robbins et al., 2012). Marx defined these classes as: property is concentrated in the hands of the Capitalists and the Workers are forced to sell their labor to the privileged owners (Capitalists), thus creating a divide between the classes and creating oppression (Robbins et al, 2012). The effects of the class differences include exploitation, poverty, and the control of ideas by the wealthy.
Priestley was concerned with the inequality of life – those who had much abusing those who were in their power. How far does the action of this play demonstrate his ideas? In ‘An Inspector Calls’ Sybil Birling is often seen abusing the power she has, especially when she refuses to help Eva Smith by giving her support from her organisation. “(Stung) I didn’t like her manner” shows the audience that Sybil is shocked by the manner of someone who is in a lower class than her. It gives us the impression that Sybil believes people in lower classes than her should talk to her with a better manner than someone of a higher class as Sybil sees herself as more respected than someone of a lower class.
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.
How dislike is for Mr Birling created in An Inspector Calls by Priestly? Priestly was born in 1894 and believed that the upper class should be accepting responsibility and that the lower class should be treated equally. Priestly was aware that something had to change in 1946 in Britain and, In An Inspector Calls, Priestly uses Mr Birling as a typical upper class business owner who likes to follow the typical capitalist class system that needed to be changed. In the play, Priestly wants to portray the opposite of Birling’s views and by doing so through the use of different characters over the course of the play he creates dislike for Mr Birling and dislike for the upper class. In the play Birling fails to understand how the lower class
How important do you think social class is in An Inspector Calls and how does Priestley present ideas about social class? Set in 1912 An Inspector Calls mirrors the views and opinions of those who superficially believed in social class. Measured by material wealth social class blinded those who participated into thinking they had no responsibility. This play has a moral message that we should think of others and work together to ensure a fairer, more equal society, this idea is known as socialism. By using characters such as the Birlings and Eva Smith Priestley implies that social class had a vast impact in the play.
For whereas American democracy is based on the idea of equality among people, the truth is that social discrimination still exists and the divisions among the classes cannot be overcome. Myrtle's attempt to break into the group to which the Buchanans belong is doomed to fail. Taking advantage of her vivacity, her lively nature, she seeks to escape from her own class. She enters into an affair with Tom and takes on his way of living. But she only becomes vulgar and corrupt like the rich.