A Brief Summary of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
Transcript:
In "The Communist Manifesto," Karl Marx's chapter "Bourgeois and Proletarians" explores the dynamics of class struggle within capitalist society, focusing on the antagonistic relationship between the ruling class and the working class. Marx's central question is: How has modern industrialization shaped and affected the relationship between these classes, and what are the inevitable consequences? The thesis of this chapter is that capitalism, driven by the expansion of industrial production, has led to the dominance of the bourgeoisie over the proletariat, resulting in exploitation, alienation, and deepening class conflict. The bourgeoisie, by controlling the means of production, have established a system where labor is commodified—treated as a mere object for exchange and profit—reducing workers to not only cogs in the wheel of capital but also rendering them disposable and easily replaceable. (For example, in industries like mass manufacturing, workers are valued only for the output they produce, with little regard for their well-being or individuality, making them interchangeable in the pursuit of profit.)
Marx posits that capitalism is fundamentally unstable because it hinges on the exploitation of the working class (proletariat), who, though oppressed, represent the majority and possess the potential for revolutionary change. He depicts the history of society as a narrative of class conflicts, asserting that the bourgeoisie’s rise to power has been marked by continuous revolutions in industry and society, displacing feudalism. This transformation has resulted in unprecedented productivity but at the cost of severe inequality. While capitalism is rooted in economics, its true foundation is inherently political. As capitalism develops, Marx claims, it leads to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of fewer bourgeois elites, while the proletariat is subjected to worsening conditions of labor and poverty.
Marx provides concrete examples of this oppression, noting how industrialization strips workers of their individuality and creativity, reducing them to appendages of the ‘machine’. The proletariat's work becomes monotonous, and thus, dehumanizing, as the capitalist production model focuses on efficiency and profit over human needs. Moreover, the constant need for capital to expand leads to frequent economic crises—overproduction, market crashes, and unemployment—disproportionately affecting the proletariat. Despite these crises, the bourgeoisie remains in power because they control the political and legal systems that uphold capitalism.
However, Marx suggests that these very crises will lead to the proletariat's awakening and eventual revolution. As the conditions of the working class deteriorate, they will become more conscious of their shared interests, organizing themselves into unions and political movements to challenge the bourgeoisie. Marx believes this revolution is inevitable, as the contradictions within capitalism—between the bourgeoisie’s desire for profit and the proletariat's need for a decent life, which includes fulfillment and leisure—cannot be resolved within the capitalist framework. The working class revolution will abolish private property and class distinctions, leading to a classless society in which the means of production are under collective ownership.
Marx concludes that the emancipation of the proletariat is not just their own liberation but the liberation of all humanity, as it would mark the end of exploitative social relations and the beginning of a more equitable, cooperative society. The chapter sets the stage for Marx’s broader argument that capitalism, though historically necessary, is a transient stage that will ultimately give way to communism through revolutionary struggle. By focusing on the growing conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, Marx frames the industrial capitalist society as one marked by inevitable collapse, where the oppressed class will eventually overthrow the ruling elite, bringing about a new social order.
Notes:
1. I believe it’s important to emphasize that the end goal of Marxist theory is communism—albeit not in the way it has played out in practice, but as Marx envisioned it: a classless, stateless society where the means of production are collectively owned.
2. Marxist theory is highly adaptable and applicable across various fields, such as sociology, cultural studies, and economics. It intersects with other areas of thought as well. For example, I see an interesting overlap with existentialism, particularly in how Marx speaks about human fulfillment and leisure. Like existentialist thought, Marxist theory critiques how modern society limits individual potential, but it grounds this critique in material conditions and class structures, offering a more collective, rather than purely individual, solution.
Application of Marxist Theory:
Applying Marxist theory to The Fall of the House of Usher involves examining the class dynamics and power structures at play in the narrative, particularly focusing on the conflict between the bourgeoisie (ruling class) and the proletariat (working class). The story, based on Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic tale and expanded into a contemporary horror series, centers on the wealthy Usher family, whose vast pharmaceutical empire symbolizes the control of capital and resources by the elite. Through this lens, the show can be seen as a critique of capitalism, wealth inequality, and the moral decay of the upper class.
The Ushers represent the bourgeoisie, with their immense wealth, power, and influence rooted in their pharmaceutical company. They control the flow of wealth and resources, wielding power over others and perpetuating the capitalist system that exploits the lower classes. Their fortune is built on questionable moral grounds, much like the real-world critique of large corporations exploiting workers, consumers, and resources for profit. The family's wealth and success come at the expense of others, reflecting Marx's notion of the bourgeoisie extracting value from the labor and suffering of the working class.
Throughout the series, the Ushers’ decadence, corruption, and moral degradation serve as metaphors for the inherent flaws in capitalist systems. Their relentless pursuit of power and profit, without regard for the consequences on society or individuals, aligns with Marxist critiques of the capitalist class, who prioritize wealth accumulation over human welfare. Their exploitation of both people and the environment for personal gain reflects the systemic exploitation of workers under capitalism.
In contrast, the proletariat in The Fall of the House of Usher are the characters who are subjected to the consequences of the Ushers’ actions. Though less prominent than the bourgeois family, the series touches on how the actions of the rich ripple down to affect everyday people. Workers in the Ushers' pharmaceutical empire, the public affected by their drugs, and even those in personal relationships with the Ushers experience the repercussions of the family's greed. These individuals are often powerless in the face of the Ushers’ immense influence, representing the exploited working class that Marx believed was oppressed by the bourgeoisie.
The story can be seen as an allegory of class struggle, with the Usher family’s downfall symbolizing the inevitable collapse of a corrupt capitalist system. Marxist theory argues that the bourgeoisie, in their endless pursuit of profit, ultimately create the conditions for their own destruction. In the series, the Ushers' pursuit of wealth and power becomes their undoing, much like how Marx predicted that capitalism would collapse under its own contradictions.
A central Marxist theme is the idea of alienation, where workers under capitalism become disconnected from their labor, their products, and even themselves. While the Usher family members are not proletariat laborers, they experience a different kind of alienation—moral and existential. Their wealth and status isolate them from meaningful human connection and moral accountability, leading to their psychological and moral deterioration. This mirrors Marx's idea that the capitalist system dehumanizes individuals, whether through physical labor or, in the case of the Ushers, through the corrupting influence of power and wealth.
Through a Marxist lens, The Fall of the House of Usher critiques the moral decay and inevitable downfall of the bourgeoisie. The show portrays the Ushers as symbolic of a capitalist elite that thrives on exploitation and greed, ultimately sowing the seeds of their own destruction. Their collapse reflects the Marxist belief that the inherent contradictions of capitalism—where a wealthy few benefit at the expense of the many—will lead to the system’s eventual demise. In this way, the series serves as both a gothic horror and a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of unchecked capitalism.
