ipl-logo

Examples Of Marxism On The Lottery

1055 Words5 Pages

Marxism is a theory that was developed by Karl Marx, which essentially argues that capitalism is a system based on exploiting the working class (proletariats) while generating more wealth and power for the rich (bourgeoisie). Marx wanted to eliminate what he saw as an unfair divide between the two classes and switch to a structure - communism - that in his mind, allowed everyone to be equal and have the same opportunities. Marxism highlights a societal standard in which the working class are working towards the attainment of “meaningless” high-end, materialistic things that do not actually possess any value to the betterment of themselves as human beings but are rather prized possessions designed and marketed to keep the lower class working …show more content…

The story depicts that there are a very select few powerful townspeople who have such an incredible influence over the lower-class civilians that they are able to convince them to do absolutely anything, even if it means volunteering for death or murder. The story represents the glacial barrier of the working class having no say in their own lives, even though they produce the wealth for the village, where the upper class has the authority to do whatever they would like. In other words, the lottery can be seen as a symbol of the ruling class’s power to control and manipulate the working class. The system is designed in such a way that the civilians actually celebrate and look forward to this annual tradition, which further displays the theme that money and social status can cause people to lose their morality and follow orders blindly in the name of conformity and …show more content…

To go back in time, patriarchy, the belief that society is more male-centered and that males have more power over women, is where this societal criticism began. As a result, women are deemed inferior to men and must adhere to their rules. For example, throughout history, we see a desirable woman who is seen as a stay-at-home maid who is both beautiful and submissive and is dependent on their spouse for income and permission. Conversely, the female role in literature has often been seen as disruptive, hysterical, or provocative for being any sort of self-sufficient businesswoman, a woman who prefers not to be in a monogamous relationship, an unmarried mother, or a defiant wife. Feminism believes that females are equal to males and that women can and should do anything that men can. Moreover, feminism explores the concept of "The Male Gaze," a concept commonly used to illustrate how women are sexual objects utilized for male viewing pleasure. This is illustrated in the way a woman’s appearance, physique, clothing, and specific detailed bodily movements are often outlined in literature to make sure the story is appealing to its male readers, even if the woman’s appearance has nothing to do with her role in the

Open Document