Marxism is a school of thought founded by Karl Marx, an influential German philosopher in the 19th century. It examines the development of economic systems through history and provides a critique of capitalism, as well as proposing alternative social arrangements that could be more equitable for all. Marxist theory also looks at literature from a particular angle; it seeks to uncover how writers use their works to comment on or reflect class struggles, historical events, or political ideologies. By understanding these underlying messages in literature, readers can gain insight into society's power structures and how they shape our lives.

At its core, Marxism views human life as being determined by economic relationships between classes—those who own capital (the bourgeoisie) versus those who do not (the proletariat). As such, literature that reflects this struggle between classes is seen as particularly important within Marxist criticism. This includes works like George Orwell's Animal Farm, where animals revolt against their oppressors to create an idealistic socialist state but eventually corrupt themselves when certain members take advantage of their newfound power. Through satire and allegory, Orwell critiques oppressive regimes while encouraging us to consider alternate forms of government based on equality rather than exploitation.

Other examples include Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, which depicts the French Revolution with vivid descriptions detailing both sides' plight during this tumultuous period in history, thus providing readers with insights about socio-economic conditions prior to industrialization that still resonate today even if we may not recognize them right away. Additionally, there are many contemporary authors whose work has been influenced by Marxist ideas, such as Toni Morrison, whose novel Beloved centers around slavery's legacy long after emancipation had been declared yet continues to haunt African Americans throughout generations regardless of what formal laws were passed down during any given era. This demonstrates how unjust practices often remain unchanged no matter what kind of words may appear on paper alone without actual action taken upon them. 

Finally, other classic texts have also drawn attention from critics for their supposed "hidden" message regarding class structure, including William Shakespeare's The Tempest, wherein Prospero uses his magical powers over nature itself, symbolizing ruling elites' ability to manipulate reality according to whatever suits them best while leaving everyone else powerless underfoot, unable to escape oppression however hard they might try, showing just how deeply embedded inequality truly runs across all facets of society, even if it is only a small one. only a small one. not always obvious at the surface level either. 

Overall, studying literary works through a Marxist lens can help us understand societal issues better due to its focus on examining economic factors shaping people's everyday lives, whether they are consciously aware of it or not, since ultimately most decisions come down to the basic question of resources: Who has access? How much control do they exert? What happens when power gets concentrated in one group instead of spread out among multiple different groups equally, so everybody benefits equally? These questions apply to everything, ranging from government policy to private enterprise wage labor, etc., making critical examination essential to coming up with viable solutions to move forward into the future together, constructively and positively.