Class struggle

Definition

Class struggle refers to the ongoing conflict between different classes in society, particularly between the ruling class and the working class. This concept explores how economic inequalities lead to social tensions and a fight for power and resources, often reflected in literature as a critique of societal norms and injustices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Class struggle is central to many realist works, highlighting the tensions between social classes during significant historical events like the Industrial Revolution.
2. The representation of class struggle often includes themes of alienation and exploitation, especially in works that depict the lives of the working class.
3. Literature from this period frequently uses character development and narrative to showcase personal and collective struggles against societal norms.
4. The picaresque novel often features characters from lower classes who navigate a corrupt society, illustrating the harsh realities of class distinctions.
5. As cities grew due to industrialization, literature began to reflect the changing landscape where class struggles were increasingly visible in urban settings.

Review Questions

• How does class struggle manifest in realist literature, particularly in the context of social commentary?
  • In realist literature, class struggle often manifests through detailed depictions of social conditions faced by the working class. Authors use their narratives to comment on injustices and highlight the disparities between the affluent bourgeoisie and the struggling proletariat. Through character experiences, conflicts, and societal critiques, these works reveal how economic inequality shapes lives and relationships.
• What role does the epistolary novel play in conveying themes of class struggle, and how do letters serve as a narrative device?
  • The epistolary novel uses letters as a narrative device to provide personal perspectives on class struggle, allowing characters from different backgrounds to express their thoughts and experiences. This format can reveal intimate details about societal pressures and expectations while showcasing the disconnect between social classes. By contrasting characters' lives through their correspondence, readers gain insight into how class impacts individual choices and relationships.
• Evaluate how industrialization altered class dynamics in society and influenced literary representations of these changes.
  • Industrialization significantly transformed class dynamics by creating a distinct divide between the burgeoning middle class and the working class. This shift led to new literary representations that captured the struggles faced by laborers in an industrialized society. Authors began to portray urban settings filled with stark contrasts between wealth and poverty, emphasizing themes of exploitation, alienation, and resilience. The impact of these changes is seen in various literary forms, illustrating how characters navigate their realities amidst societal upheaval.

Related terms

Proletariat: The working class or laborers who do not own the means of production and must sell their labor to survive.

Bourgeoisie: The capitalist class who own the means of production and are often seen as exploiting the working class for profit.

Marxism: A political and economic theory by Karl Marx that focuses on the struggle between classes, advocating for a classless society through the overthrow of capitalism.