The Role Of Materialism In Literature

Did the ideology of Marxism have no impact on literature? No, for the birth of the ideology of Marxism in 1856, not only changed the way we think about the society and economy but has also changed the way we think about literature. It has given birth to a school of thought known as the "Marxist literary criticism", which is a sociological approach to literature for it views literature and art as extensions or representations of the historical or present nature of society. Although it is based on Karl Marx's teachings, he however did not play a hand in the development of this literature theory. The figures who were responsible for further developing this theory was Georg Lukács, Louis Althusser and Bertolt Brecht who were all western Marxists

Materialism in this play was the driving force of the actions of Victoria, Don Carlos, Don Caesar and Laura. Materialism for Laura, Victoria and Don Carlos here is represented by their competition over ownership of Carlos's wealth and property, while Don Caesar's materialism is represented by his need to have a male heir to inherit his family fortune. However, the ways to satisfy their materialism is vastly different from each other as Victoria uses seduction and deception to attain materialism as evidenced by her successful ruse. Laura however only uses seduction to achieve her wants as evidenced by successfully seducing Carlos into handing over the deed to his fortune and her attempted seduction of Gasper . On stark contrast, Both Don Carlos and Don Caesar uses forceful compliance to attempt to accomplish their failed goals as evidenced by Carlos's confrontation with Laura and Caesar's failed attempts at forcing his daughter to marry one of the many suitors of his choosing . However Don Carlos also uses bribing as a tool to attempt to achieve his aim as evidenced by him bribing Pedro to become his informant, which stands in contrast Caesar's attempt to Goad and deceive Olivia into marriage by pretending to marry Marcella and having her to Goad Olivia into Marriage. Materialism in this context can be symbolized as the degradation of Society's morals and social bonds in the attainment of materialism as evidenced by Victoria's deception and deteriorating relationship with Carlos, Laura's seduction attempts and breakup with Carlos, Carlos's murder attempt and Caesar's growing impatience with Olivia's scare tactics. The author has successfully portrayed the ills of a materialistic society in which members are engaged in actions that might be considered horrid and distasteful. This kind