The principles of Marxism applied to Literature and Literary interpretation. A basic part of Literary theory.
A Marxist literary interpretation is largely concerned with the roles that social class and economics play in a work of literature.
Questions that a Marxist literary interpretation might attempt to answer:
- How does the author's social and economic class show through in the work?
- Does the work support the economic and social status quo, or does it advocate change? (Particularly appropriate for dystopian/utopian novels.)
- What role does the class system play in the work? (Examine Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, for example)
See also: utopian literature
