Marxist literary criticism

The Marxist literary theory is one of the context- centered literary theories. The collective term summarizes those literary theories, which rely on the theory of Marxism and consider the literature from the perspective of Marxist ideology from. The various Marxist literary criticism are therefore trying to work out the role played by the literature, and the arts in general, in society.

Karl Marx's idea of literature

Karl Marx himself never developed a theory of literature, but he was convinced of the relative autonomy of art and thus the literature. He here had a special taste for Greek art, which is from his point of view about lasting beauty.

Significant Marxist literary theories

Among the most important Marxist literary theories include those of Georg Lukács and Terry Eagleton, but beyond that still finds a variety of other Marxist approaches to literature, for example in the ideas and theories of the Frankfurt School, the writings of Alexander Voronsky or Leon Trotsky.

Critical theory of reflection

The critical theory of reflection is due to the Hungarian philosopher and literary critic Georg Lukács. He devotes his theory with how literature is embedded in the social, economic and historical context of their time. One of the central questions is thus whether or how much to take the ideals and values ​​of a society influence on literature. Equally important is the question of how strong the literature has an influence on society. Literature is thus regarded as a kind of mirror that reflects society. In its reflexive function literature illustrates the class struggle of different social groups; thus, it represents the superstructure of a given base ( ie the Company) and reflects and changes them constantly. This change in society will be reflected again in the literature, this leads to a dialectical process of self-renewal and self-improvement. The dialectical process then comes to an end when the perfect society has emerged. In the case of Marxism, the perfect society would be a classless society form.

Ideology Critical Literary Theory

The ideology-critical literary theory ( Critique of Ideology ) goes back to Terry Eagleton, regarded as the most important Marxist literary critics in Britain. Approaches of French theorists such as Louis Althusser and Roland Barthes Picking up, he tries to find his approach as literature reveals social conflicts between economic groups. After his For The inner society is not reflected by the literature, but literature tries to create the effect of reality by ideological influence. At this point, his theory is contrary to that of Lukács: literature is not mirror, but helmsman of the society. Literature can thus steer you in certain directions societies.