Emma through the Marxist Lens Essay Example
Emma through the Marxist Lens Essay Example

Emma through the Marxist Lens Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Emma is a novel about a young woman who develops a passion for matchmaking which does not always end up as planned. During the time the novel was written, social status was determined by a combination of family background, reputation, and wealth and of course marriage was one of the mall ways In which one could raise or malting one's social status. This was especially true for women because It was basically the only way considering the fact that they were unable to work a honest living or accomplish anything on their own.

The Marxist lens help explain how socioeconomic factors influence the characters, plot, setting, or any other aspect of the novel.

Marxist believe that a work of literature is not a result of divine inspiration or pure artistic endeavor, but that it arises out of the economic and ideological circumstances surrounding it

...

s creation. Marxist Critics view the literature as a reflection of the author's own class or as an analysis of class relations.

Whether the author intended it or not, they are bound to represent socioeconomic inequities and ideological contradictions if they accurately represent the real world. Problems f a character are produced by material/holocaust realities within which the family operates. In the novel case, relationship status Is the significant influence In social classes.

Marxist Cartels sometimes overlap with or borrow other concepts to service Marxist goals.

There are plenty of examples throughout the novel that suggest the importance of relationships to one's social status. Mr.. Weston first marriage to Miss Churchill had ostensibly been a good move for him, because she came from a wealthy and well- connected family and Mr..

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

Weston is a tradesman. The inequality of the relationship caused hardship to both and their marriage soon ended. He then marries Mrs.. Weston Just prior to the novel's opening, and this second marriage is happier because their social statuses are more equal.

Another explain is how Emma tryst to help Harriet establish a higher social class by ending her engagement with a farmer to start a relationship with Mr.. Elton. This relationship shows clear signs of never being able to progress and, to a Marxist, It would be clear that the reason any of Enema's matches for Harriet falls Is because they are not of equal class with her since he is later known to be a daughter of a tradesman and her perfect match was the farmer all along. Mr.

.

Elton could not be with Harriet because they did not match economically but after leaving for some time, he returns with a wife. The novel well describes how much more of a higher class she is especially compared to Harriet. Because of this, it is easier to understand why Mr.

. Elton is able to marry to her. Due to the effectiveness of marrying within one's own social class, Frank Churchill must keep his engagement to the orphan Jane Fairfax secret because his wealthy aunt old disapprove.

This would not surprise a Marxist because the relationship does not correspond with their beliefs. Lastly, what should have been an unexpected match between Emma and Mr..

Knightly was not with the help of Marxist Theory. Emma and Mr.. Knightly Is considered a good match not only because they are well matched In temperament but also because they

are well matched In social class.

Emma the novel clearly exposes the state of economics in the time period. It zoomed based on social classes and if one tried to stray from it, it was sure to fail.

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New