Marxist Theory and Oedipus the King Essay - 1339 Words

Marxist Theory and Oedipus the King The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles (Marx and Engels 2). This excerpt, taken from Karl Marxs and Friedrich Engels The Communist Manifesto, explains the two primary classes found throughout most of Europe during the era of the Industrial Revolution. These classes were the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The former were known as the exploiters and the latter as the exploited. The wealth, power, and prestige of the bourgeoisie, acquired mostly from their control of institutions, industries, and means of production, enabled them to force upon the proletariat their economic, political, and religious ideologies. These are the same ideologies†¦show more content†¦(E.g. Oedipus the king, Jocasta the queen, and Creon, the kings proxy, all belong to this upper class division.) These high-ranked officials rule the citys people directly whereas the gods rule them indirectly. That being said, the lower class then consists of those being ruled over, the citizens. This two-class system perceived throughout the play holds distinct similarities to the bourgeoisie and the proletariat of the Industrial Revolution. Oedipus Tyrannus is a perpetual class struggle in that one of the two classes is constantly with some type of conflict. At the start of the play, for instance, the lower class is suffering plague and pollution. Although not revealed at first, this plague is caused by the actions of the upper class, much like how most of the proletariats troubles are a direct result of the actions of the bourgeoisie. The lower class suffers inevitably due to their exploitation by the upper class. The upper class, being the more powerful and controlling class, is able to influence the lower class with their political, economic, and religious ideologies. As stated earlier, these common ideologies are what cause the citizens to be loyal to their rulers. This is possibly the reason as to why the citizens of Thebes are able to confront Oedipus and ask for his help to rid them ofShow MoreRelated Oedipus the King - Exploited or Exploiter? Essay915 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus the King - Exploited or Exploiter?      Ã‚  Ã‚   Great thinkers throughout history have contrived intricate theories of social order. By applying these particular ideologies to literature, we as readers are able to see a great work through the eyes of one or many of historys most celebrated philosophers. Sophocles Oedipus the King has been open to many interpretations. With its intricate plot, archetypical tragic character, and lofty social issues, Oedipus the King provides for virtuallyRead MoreEssay on Colonial Oppression of Women1123 Words   |  5 Pagespower relationships are usually portrayed. Colonial and Postcolonial studies among other critical approaches provide a suitable critical discourse to analyze this issue in literary works. Feminist discourses share many similarities with postcolonial theory and for this reason the two fields have long been associative, even complimentary; both discourses are predominantly political and concern with the struggle against oppression and injustice. Moreover both reject the established hierarchical, patriarchalRead MoreCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 Pagescultural and critical theory library Open source archive of ebooks, texts, videos, documentary films and podcasts Pages * Home * List of major critical theorists * What is Critical theory ? * What is Frankfurt School ? * Support Critical Theory Library * Contact This Blog This Blog  Ã‚  Ã‚   |    | ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form Bottom of Form    Home  » texts  » History amp; Class Consciousness: Preface by Georg Lukà ¡cs (1923) Thursday, February 3, 2011Read More Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Theory and Practice Essay2862 Words   |  12 PagesMacbeth and Lady Macbeth in Theory and Practice    Shakespeares Macbeth has been the subject of scholarly research in terms of ambition, politics, and sexuality. The most predominant analysis is that of the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This relationship in theory is full of sexual innuendo, maternal power, gender transgression, and violence. In reading multiple essays on the psychological nature of the relationship one question came to mind: to what extent are the charactersRead MoreExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 Pagesthat things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are, amp; that the task of science and philosophy is their discovery amp; expression; the doctrine that essence is prior to existence While, Existentialism:A philosophical theory or approach, that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free amp; responsible agent, determining their own development through acts of the will. Existentialism * is a philosophical term which posits that individuals create