Similarities Between Watchmen And Atonement

Introduction

The debate between Alan Moore’s Watchmen and Ian McEwan’s Atonement has been ongoing for decades, with both novels having their respective advocates. Through a Marxist lens, which of these two works of literature is the stronger? This essay will seek to answer this question by comparing and contrasting the two texts, and by demonstrating the relevance of Marxist theory to each. I will be focusing on the themes of alienation, class structure, and the status of the ‘proletariat’ in both Watchmen and Atonement, in order to ultimately prove that Atonement is the stronger text. By utilizing Marxist theory to analyze the two novels, I will be able to demonstrate the unique power of each work in addressing these issues.

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Robbie is a working-class man who is ostracized from the upper classes due to his social status. This is further reinforced by the way in which Robbie is treated by the upper classes in the book. He is treated as an outsider, and is constantly being denied access to the higher levels of society due to his economic and social position.

E: This is further evidenced by the fact that Robbie is constantly struggling to make a living and to find his place in society. He is constantly being denied the opportunities that those in the upper classes take for granted, and is constantly being reminded of his place in society.

I: Through Robbie’s character, McEwan is able to illustrate the effects of alienation and class structure as it relates to Marx’s theories. The struggle that Robbie goes through in order to survive and make a place for himself in society serves to highlight the unequal power dynamics that exist in a capitalist society. This is a direct reflection of Marx’s theory of alienation, which states that human beings are alienated from their labor and from their own sense of self due to their status in

E: This is evident in the fact that the main characters of the novel are all members of the upper classes. They are largely unaffected by the power dynamics of the world in which they live, and as a result, are largely unaware of the struggles faced by those in the lower classes.

E: This is further evidenced by the fact that the main characters of the novel are largely preoccupied with their own individual struggles, rather than focusing on the larger issues of class and inequality in the world.

I: This serves to illustrate the limitations of Moore’s perspective on alienation and class structure. While the novel does offer an interesting perspective on these issues, it does not provide a complete picture of the effects of these issues. By focusing primarily on the struggles of the upper classes, Moore is unable to provide a full understanding of the effects of alienation and class structure on those in the lower classes.

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P: In contrast, Atonement offers a more complete picture of alienation and class