LITERARY CRITICSM

MARXIST CRITICISM
CAPUYAN, PALABRICA, & JALALON
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German philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist

born in 1818. He is best known for his theories about capitalism and
communism, which he outlined in his works, most notably The
Communist Manifesto (co-written with Friedrich Engels) and Das
Kapital. These writings, along with others by Marx and Engels, form
the basis of Marxism, a sociopolitical, economic, and philosophical
theory that examines class relations and societal conflict.

History is driven by class struggle between the working class

(proletariat) and the owning class (bourgeoisie).

Capitalism inherently exploits the working class by paying them only a

KARL MARX fraction of the value of their labor.

Inevitably, capitalism will reach a breaking point and be overthrown

by a socialist revolution, leading to a classless, stateless society
known as communism.
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German philosopher, social scientist, and revolutionary socialist

alongside Karl Marx. He played a crucial role in shaping and
promoting Marxist theory.

Independent works: Beyond his collaboration with Marx, Engels wrote

extensively on various topics, including the history of the working
class, the family, and the role of science in society. These writings
expanded on and enriched the understanding of Marxist theory.

Popularizing Marxism: Engels played a vital role in making Marxism

FRIEDRICH accessible to a wider audience through his clear and concise writing
style. He acted as a bridge between academia and the working class,
ENGLES contributing significantly to the spread of Marxist ideas.
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Where did Marxism come from?

Marxism originated in the thought of the radical philosopher and
economist Karl Marx, with important contributions from his friend
and collaborator Friedrich Engels. Marx and Engels authored The
Communist Manifesto (1848), a pamphlet outlining their theory of
historical materialism and predicting the ultimate overthrow of

HISTORY
capitalism by the industrial proletariat.
Why is Marxism important?
In the mid-19th century, Marxism helped to consolidate, inspire, and
radicalize elements of the labor and socialist movements in western
Europe, and it was later the basis of Marxism-Leninism and Maoism,
the revolutionary doctrines developed by Vladimir Lenin in Russia
and Mao Zedong in China, respectively. It also inspired a more
moderate form of socialism in Germany, the precursor of modern
social democracy.
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MARXIST CRITICISM
Critics using this framework analyze literature and other cultural forms through the lens of
Marxist theory, which includes an exploration of how economic and social structures
influence ideology and culture.
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01 Class Struggle

The alienation of the individual

MARXIST CRITICISM 02 under capitalism
PRIORITIZES FOUR
The relationship between a
FOUNDATIONAL 03 society's economic base and
MARXIST CONCEPTS:
04 Its cultural superstructure.
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FOUR PRIMARY PERSPECTIVES OF MARXISM

1 2 3 4
CLASS ALIENATION BASE SUPERSTRUCTURE
a classification or grouping a condition Karl Heinrich the means (e.g., tools, the social institutions such as
typically based on income Marx ascribed to individuals machines, factories, natural systems of law, morality,
and education. in a capitalist economy who resources) and relations education, and their related
lack a sense of identification (e.g., Proletariat, ideologies, that shape and
are shaped by the base.
with their labor and Bourgeoisie) or production Human institutions and
products. The estrangement that shape and are shaped ideologies—including those
individuals feel in capitalist by the superstructure (the relevant to a patriarchy—
societies, where they dominant aspect in society). that produce art and literary
become disconnected from Marxist criticism theorizes texts comprise the
their work, the products that the economic means of superstructure.
they produce, and even production within society
themselves. account for the base.
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1. What classes, or socioeconomic statuses, are

represented in the text?
2. Are all the segments of society accounted for, or
does the text exclude a particular class?
3. Does class restrict or empower the characters in FOUNDATIONAL
the text?
4. How does the text depict a struggle between QUESTIONS OF
classes, or how does class contribute to the conflict
of the text? MARXIST CRITICISM
5. How does the text depict the relationship between
the individual and the state? Does the state view
individuals as a means of production, or as ends in
themselves?
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TATA SELO
ROGELIO SIKAT
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MAIN CHARACTERS
Tata Selo epitomizes the exploited peasantry, subjected to the oppression of wealthy
TATA SELO landowners like Kabesa. His desperate plea for justice and his ultimate submission to authority
highlight the systemic inequalities inherent in the socio-economic structure, where the ruling
class maintains control over land and resources while the working class struggles to survive.

Kabesang Tano is portrayed as a member of the middle class, exerting his authority as a
landowner over Tata Selo and others in his employ. His ownership of land signifies a certain
KABESANG TANO level of economic stability and social standing within the community, distinguishing him from the
lower-class farmers like Tata Selo.

The Alkalde represents the upper class, wielding significant political power and authority over
ALKALDE the town. His position as the mayor indicates his privileged status within the community, with
access to resources and influence that shape the lives of the lower classes like Tata Selo.
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SUMMARY OF TATA SELO

There was a commotion outside the stockade where a crowd had gathered to find out the
outcome for Tata Selo, who accidentally caused the death of Kabesang Tano. Tata Selo wanted
to reclaim his land because he had sold it for the sake of his wife, who was sick at the time. But
he did not have any money therefore he had to work to reclaim the land that he once had. The
conflict of the story starts when Kabesang Tano forces Tata Selo to leave his land because he
already has other farmers on his land. While Tata Selo is begging to not be dismissed, Kabesang
Tano keeps hitting him on the forehead. He struck Kabesang Tano and accidentally killed him.
From that point, Tata selo was brought to Stockade where Tata selo explained himself to the
Mayor and to the richest proprietor , after that the Mayor left to have his lunch, leaving Tata Selo
and the Chief officer, Tata Selo was abused by the Chief officer and did not listen to the plea of
Tata Selo. When the Mayor came back he told Tata Selo that he would be brought in the city and
there he would be imprisoned for life. The next day, her daughter Saling, who returned home
because she got sick two days before the incident and used to live and work for Kasesa, visited
Tata Selo. Tata Selo felt sorry for her when she thought of sending Saling home because they
could do nothing. Saling was called by the Mayor to his office and she went there and did not
listen to her father, a child came to visit Tata Selo and ordered him to go to the mayor's office
but Tata Selo did not listen to the child's statement, and he just said that "everything was taken
from him"
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REFERENCES
MARXISM SUMMARY | BRITANNICA. (2024). IN ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA. HTTPS://WWW.BRITANNICA.COM/SUMMARY/MARXISM?
FBCLID=IWAR1VIT360B__KG38ETXRHL1E70ZQSA7OVDW5NTNFGT5EGZB_QDSNAHBHJ1G

EDWARD-MANGIONE, A. (2020, NOVEMBER 7). MARXIST CRITICISM | WRITING COMMONS. WRITING COMMONS.
HTTPS://WRITINGCOMMONS.ORG/SECTION/RESEARCH/RESEARCH-METHODS/TEXTUAL-METHODS/LITERARY-CRITICISM/MARXIST-CRITICISM/?
FBCLID=IWAR0Z2DDE_24BUJKOROAQSXXGEADWDHFV9H075HNYNJN9ZEIOUIG_9B7CPUW#:~:TEXT=MARXIST%20CRITICISM%20THUS%20EMPHA
SIZES%20CLASS,THE%20PLOT%20OF%20A%20TEXT