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?

Justice , A Social

Tragedy / Conspiracy

Steffi Santhana Mary.S

Founders of “Marxism”

Karl Marx (German Philosopher & Political Economist)

Friedrich Engels (German Political Philosopher)

Societies two major divisions are – the wealthy ‘capitalist’ & the poor ‘working-class’

Capitalist – Ruling class

Pre-planned and Formulated “Institutions” to ‘exploit and oppress’ working-class

“Base and Superstructure”

Introduction

FRIEDRICH ENGLES KARL MARX1818 - 18831820 - 1895

The Basestructure in Justice(Economic\Class Divisions)

Lower-class

Middle-class

Upper-class

Contd. The Base structure in Justice

Upper-Classo Rich people – rigid, emotionless & rulers . James How , Walter Howo ”nothing for it prosecute”(James, Act I, pg

16)rigido “ I don’t see how it is possible to spare

him”(James, act I ,pg 17) rigid & emotionless

o “ I’ve been to see the pictures at the guilt-hall” (Walter ,Act I, pg 7)wealthy

Upper-class

Cont. The Base structure in Justice

Lower-class

Lower-class- constant struggle, being

ruled

Falder, Ruth

Eg “… my friend cried because he hadn’t

the money to get me away”(Ruth, Act II ,

pg 29)

Working-class

Between upper & lower class comes the

‘middle-class’- neither rich nor poor, struggle

hard to maintain current position.

Cokeson. Governor, Judge, Frome ,Cleaver

“ I like people to be open and jolly”( Cokeson ,

Act I, Pg 11) typical mind set

Cntd. The Base structure in Justice

Middle-class

Middle-cl

ass

Superstructures in Justice

Court of Justice

Marriage

PolicePrison

Industry

Cntd… Superstructures in Justice

To serve the interests of the rich

To exploit the poor

To oppress them

To keep the majority under constant fear

To favour the rich and the dominant group

CNTD… SUPERSTRUCTURES IN JUSTICE

To keep the majority under constant control

• Employ middle-class to govern, puppets of rich.

• “James: …..honesty is the sine qua non Cokeson(hypnotized):of course it is” (act I , pg 17)speaking for the rich

• “Cokeson:… honesty is the sine qua non”(pg22 , Act 2) repeats what he heard from his rich boss

• “ I don’t want to go against your father. If he thinks it is right” speaking for the rich in fear.

• The law is what it is— …. rest on another”(judge ,Act 2, pg 44) Believes that the law is flawless.

•To serve the interest of the rich

•Eg. James calling Scotland yard

•Cowley coming to James's office.

Cntd… Superstructures in Justice

“To exploit the poor

Rich take advantage of the poor

Eg. “…. My employer happened then.he’s

happened ever since”

When poor rebel crushed by rich

Eg “ Ruth : only that I never bowed …. Like

that”(pg 30, Act 2)

Ruth-oppressed & exploited . No equality b/w

men and women.

Cntd… Superstructures in Justice

Cntd… Superstructures in Justice

To oppress them

Falder rebels- crushed by law-trapped

Eg “ I seem to be……..it grows there”

(Falder, pg 68 ,Act 4)

• To favour the rich• Rich do wrong but escapes law .eg. ‘right-of-way’ case

Eg. 1)“ this right-of-way case we’ve got’em on deeds” “we needn’t worry about that . We’re the right side of the law”(Cokeson pg7 act I)

2)“Walter: about the right-of-way case?

James : Oh! Well, we must go forward there”(pg 8 ,act I)

• Right-of-way means legal right to make path through others property. The path is considered as a public property

AC

BLand B is Locked D

MAIN ROAD

DC

BA

Main RoadR

igh

t-of-

way

James made money dishonestly whereas Falder is punished

for 81 pounds “ the idea ……. hard Cokeson”(James, act 1

pg 11)

“Walter: Falder it can be managed”(pg 74 act 4)

“judge: The law is what it is ---- ……. favor” (act 2 ,pg

44,45) law is partial

lower-class are safe as long as they allow exploitation

eg. “ sweedle : they come to …… complain of it” (pg63 act4)

Institutions are illusionary . Created to oppress and exploit

poor people

Cntd.. To favour the rich

Fidel Castro says “ Marxism taught me what society was. I was like a blindfolded man in a forest , who doesn’t know where north or south is . If you don’t eventually come to truly understand the history of class struggle or at least have a clear idea that the society is divided between the rich and the poor and that some people subjugate and exploit other people you’re lost in a forest not knowing anything”

conclusion

JUSTICE – A SOCIAL

CONSPIRACY IN MARXIST

PERSPECTIVE

To help and save poor Marx and Engles pointed out “ social change” eg. French Revolution

Changes cannot happen from the rich it must happen from the lower-class people

Thank You

Bibliography

•Fidel Castro on discovering

Marxism 2009

• Mary Klages : Literary

Theory

• Peter Barry : Beginning

Theory