Marxist Criticism

1. Marxist Criticism To be used with the Great Gatsby

2. Marxist Criticism Marxist critics believe that it is society which truly defines the human experience. For Marxism, getting and keeping economic power is the motive behind all social and political activities, including education, philosophy, religion, government, etc. are based on. Thus economics is the base of our social and political ideologies.

3. Ideology Ideology is defined as the belief system which governs a societies behaviors. These beliefs are products of cultural conditioning Capitalism Communism Marxism Religion Environmentalism Etc.

4. Ideologies pretend to be natural By posing as natural ways of seeing the world, repressive ideologies prevent us from understanding the material/historical conditions in which we live because they refuse to acknowledge that those conditions have any bearing on the way we see the world.

5. The middle class tends to resent the poor� Because so much middle-class tax money goes to government programs to help the poor However, it is the wealthy in positions of power to decide who pays the most taxes and how the money will be spent (it is the wealthy who make the middle class support the poor). That the poor receive but a small portion of the funds earmarked for them because so much of it goes into the pockets of the wealthy (through creative bookkeeping and kickback programs). who control our social services and who administer them

6. What is the ideology that blinds the middle class to the socioeconomic inequities of contemporary America? In large part, the middle class is blinded by their belief in the American dream, which tells them that financial success is simply the product of initiative and hard work. Therefore, if some people are poor, it is becase they are shiftless and lazy.

7. Becoming �Better� In this country, we believe that it is natural to want to �get ahead,� to want to own a better house and wear better clothes. Better refers to �better than I had before� but also to �better than other people have.� That is, embedded within the belief in �getting ahead is the belief in competition as a natural or necessary mode of being. IE Survival of the Fittest?

8. The American Dream is an Ideology The American dream is a belief system not a natural way of seeing the world. Like all ideologies that support the socioeconomic inequities of capitalist controies the American dream blinds us to the enormities of its own failure The genocide of Native Americants, Enslavement of Africans Virtual enslavement of indentured servants American�s rich and poor Growing ranks of the homelss and hungry Enduring barriers agains women and people of color.

9. In other words� The success of the American dream- the acquisition of a wealthy lifestyle for a few- rests on the misery of the many. It is the power of ideology, of our belief in the naturalness and fairness of this dream, that has blinded us to the harsh realities it masks.

10. It is kinda� like the lottery The American dream opens the possibility that anyone can win, and, like gambling addicts, we cling o that possibility. In fact, the less financial security we have, the more we need something to hope for.

11. Hmmm�. For Marxism, when an ideal functions to mask its own failure, it is a false ideal whose real purpose is to promote the interests of those in power. Ok, so how does the American dream enlist the support of all Americans, even of those who fail to achieve it, in promoting the interests of those in power?

12. What is the role of ideology? To keep those who are in power, in power.

13. I don�t believe you Patriotism is an ideology that keeps poor people fighting wars against poor people from other countries. Religion is an ideology that helps to keep the faithful poor satisfied with their lot in life, or at least tolerant of it. Convinces the poor that if they remain nonviolent they will find their reward in heaven

14. Not Me! I�m an individual! Rugged individualism is an ideology that is the cornerstone for the American dream. It romanticizes the individual who strikes out alone in pursuit of a goal not easily achieved. However, individualism puts the self-interest above the needs or survival of others. Therefore it works against the well being of society. Makes us believe that we make our decisions without being influenced by ideology when in fact- we are all influenced by ideologies all the time.

15. Hot Topic is not Punk Rock! Consumerism is another cornerstone of the American dream. Consumerism is an ideology that says �I�m only as good as what I buy.� Gives the allusion that you can be �as good as� the wealthy if you purchase what they purchase (or a reasonable facsimile- on credit) while it fills the pockets of the wealthy who manufacture the products and who reap the 15-20% interest on your credit-card bills.

16. What is Value? Use value- what it can do Exchange Value- what you can trade it for Sign-exchange value- social status

17. This drives Capitalism What could be better for a capitalist economy than for its members to be unable to �feel good about themselves� unless they acquire a fashionable �look� that can be maintained only by the continual purchase of new clothing.

18. What does this have to do with Gatsby? The American dream is what drives the characters to act and dress the way that they do. They want to be as good as the wealthy.

19. Review What is an Ideology? Give an example? How does the capitalist government support the wealthy? Is this fair? What keeps the wealthy wealthy while the poor stay poor? How could you use Marxist criticism with the Great Gatsby?

20. Marxist Analysis Answer in 2 paragraphs. What do you think that the author of The Great Gatsby is trying to tell us about capitalism or classism? Does he think that it is a good thing? Or a bad thing? How does he show us this?