The Communist Manifesto :: Literary Analysis, Marx

The Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx in 1848 is noted as one of the most influential political documents in the world. The publication of the book earned Marx the reputation of a prominent sociologist and political theorist. Despite his renown, there are many controversies concerning the ideas and concepts of communism formulated in the papers that are still heatedly debated even today. Marx (1998) opened the book with, â€Å"The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.† (p.4). He scrutinized the class differences and social inequality between the Proletariats and Bourgeoisies, two terms he coined to represent social classes that do not own the means of production and social classes that do own the means of production respectively. Since The Communist Manifesto was produced in an era of great social distress, it was the result of Marx’s desire to eliminate the gap between the two classes in order to ameliorate the social, polit ical, and economic conditions of the Proletarians. To achieve equality, Marx encouraged the Proletarians to conspire against the Bourgeoisies to end the exploitation of lower social classes and set up a communistic society where class distinction is a leap of imagination. However, his ideal required changes that a society cannot successfully adapt to and do not ultimately provide equality. Marx’s theories were established upon only class stratification and ignored the many other factors that contribute to the foundation of a society. The entire list of demands that outlines the rules and regulations of communism do not fundamentally offer fairness. Communism disrupts the whole social exchange system which will eventually corrupt the economy of a society. Thus, the theories introduced in The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx are not relevant in modern industrialized societies primarily because they focus only on the issue of class stratification and neglected the other complica tions involved in a society. Marx (1998) believed that â€Å"Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other – bourgeoisie and proletariat.† (p.4). It was a vital mistake to polarize the people exclusively on classes instead of taking into account the other factors that contribute to the build-up of a society such as traditions, religious ideologies, trust, laws, cultures, and such. Attempting to create equilibrium between solely the classes will cause new and severe problems that cannot be fixed with Marx’s theories.

American Religion: The Puritans and the Quakers

In the mid-1500's, England saw a new trend in the way people worshipped and practiced religion. The new movement called â€Å"Puritanism,† called for a life lived simply and spent in prayer, listening to sermons and worship in Church. The Puritans lived seriously and believed that celebrations such as holidays like Christmas and Easter as well as the arts like music and dance were unnecessary trappings to have in life. They believed that people should only be concerned about â€Å"godly† ways and plain living in order to reach heaven. This presented problems at that time for Queen Elizabeth.In those years, the queen was tasked with stabilizing the country and decided that to do this, England had to have a comprehensive Church that could accommodate the views of both the Protestants and the conservative Catholics (Emerson 18). Therefore, it was decided that the Church of England teach doctrines that would be acceptable to the Protestants and at the same time keep alive t he Catholic traditions used in worship. The compromise did not quite sit well as hoped. The Puritans believed that in religious worship, only the spiritual doctrines were the only things that were important.All other external articles such as ministry vestments were not only unnecessary but could be taken as evil. The Conservatives however, defended the use of such vestments as traditional symbols of status and identification. Due to differences of opinion with regard to the way worship and the Episcopal structure is conducted in the Anglican Church, separatist and underground groups were formed with the object of seeking reform in the religious practices. Due to conflicts that usually arise where there is a difference of opinion, some Puritans decidedto leave England and settle in North America. It was in 1620 that the ship the Mayflower docked and the first Puritans came to settle in Massachusetts (Barbour, and Frost 5) One of the other Reformist groups was called the Quakers. Unl ike the Puritans, the Quakers believed that religious worship was a personal and individual thing that did not require any intermediary in the form of leaders, priests or ministers. Like the Puritans, the Quakers also suffered the consequences of conflict and therefore some decided to migrate and settle in America as well.It was in 1677 that a group of Quakers led by William Penn set foot on North American soil and settled in the state of Pennsylvania. This settlement of opposing religious groups would have significant effect on the way religion is practiced and how other differing faiths would be treated. The Quakers held meetings were people gathered to sit quietly to reflect and pray in silence. They only spoke up when they feel God wanted to, and this privilege was open to both men and women. They practiced their faith by action always looking out to help the poor and establish peace.They also campaigned for women's rights as well as that of the Native Americans. Despite their s imilarities in terms of experience of persecution in England, subsequent emigration to America and ideals of a Utopia brought about by spiritual living, the fundamental beliefs of both groups differed thoroughly. Whereas the Puritans insisted on strict hierarchies, conformity to religion and the singular importance of doctrine, the Quakers propagated tolerance for all religions and races. They supported pacifism in the search for peace and equality with women in spiritualism.The Quakers also believed that doctrine takes second place to an individual's â€Å"inner light. † This kind of thinking angered the Puritans so much that any Quaker who was caught trying to preach in Massachusetts was either tortured or executed (Hall 130) Such was the treatment experienced by female Quaker preachers Ann Austin and Mary Fisher (Jones, Sharpless, and Gummere 27) who tried to preach to the Puritan community in Boston in 1656. Upon arrival at Boston harbor, their luggage were seized and sea rched for â€Å"heretical and blasphemous doctrines.† The women themselves were taken to prison and stripped before being confined in total darkness. It was only later that the captain of the ship that brought them was compelled to take them back to Barbados. These all happened despite the lack of any law declaring being a Quaker as illegal. Governor Endicott who was away from Boston at that time even said that had he been there, the women would never have been freed without some whipping. Later investigations as to why Boston was so hostile to the women reveal:It must be said in the first place that the judgment of the officials, and particularly of the ministers, in the Massachusetts Colony had been seriously prejudiced by rumours and accounts that had preceded the arrival of the two women. Anti-Quaker pamphlets had already come from the press in great numbers, and they were unsparing in their accounts of the new â€Å"heresy. † Some of these pamphlets were written b y ministers who, either before or after the publication of their attack, were settled in New England and were in high repute there. (Jones, Sharpless, and Gummere 29)Modern studies also reveal that the Puritans believed that the Quakers brought with them discord, rebellion and witchcraft that threatened to undermine the sanctity of the Puritan community. Because the Quaker tenets were so opposed to that of the Puritans, Quakers were viewed to represent a new spiritual empire that threatened to overthrow the spiritual empire which the Puritan in strict religious fervor was building. Another main difference between the Puritan and Quaker settlers was their treatment and dealings with the Native Americans.Due to their belief that every human being was born with the â€Å"inner light,† the Quakers treated the Native Americans as friends and equals. In his â€Å"Letter to the Lenni Lenape Indians,† William Penn states: â€Å"†This great God has written his law in our hearts, by which we are taught and commanded to love and help and do good to one another, and not to do harm and mischief one unto another. â€Å"† â€Å"†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ I have great love and regard toward you, and I desire to win and gain your love and friendship by a kind, just, and peaceable life; and the people I send are of the same mind, and shall in all things behave themselves accordingly.And if in anything any shall offend you or your people, you shall have a full and speedy satisfaction for the same by an equal number of honest men on both sides, that by no means you may have just occasion of being offended against them. â€Å"† (Soderlund 88) The Puritans on the other hand, viewed the polytheistic and unorganized nature of religion in addition to the â€Å"inadequate† clothing of the Native Americans as â€Å"sinful. † With their literal translation of the Bible, the Puritans viewed the Native Americans' regard for everything living in additio n to the one â€Å"Great Spirit† as idolatry.The Puritans also believed that only a select group of people was chosen by God to join Him in heaven. The Native Americans believed that in all men, were equally good in the â€Å"Great Spirit's sight. † The difference between the Puritan and Native American view of sin didn't help either. While the Puritans looked at man as â€Å"evil,† and life was only a temporary transit before the more important and worthy life with God, the Native Americans believed that man was made up of both good and evil and that life in the present was no different from the afterlife.(Culture Clash: The Puritans and the Native Americans) Both the beliefs fostered by the Puritans and the Quakers contributed greatly to ideals of America as it is today. The value of hard work, discipline and steadfastness promoted by the Puritans in conjunction with the equality and emancipation brought by the Quaker attitude of tolerance for race, gender and religion, are just a few contributing factors that has made America society the way it is today. Works Cited Barbour, Hugh, and J.William Frost. The Quakers. New York: Greenwood Press, 1988. Questia. 18 Sept. 2007 . â€Å"Culture Clash: The Puritans and the Native Americans. † 123HelpMe. com. 18 Sep 2007 . Emerson, Everett. Puritanism in America, 1620-1750. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1977. Questia. 18 Sept. 2007 . Hall, Thomas Cuming. The Religious Background of American Culture.Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1930. Questia. 18 Sept. 2007 . Jones, Rufus M. , Isaac Sharpless, and Amelia M. Gummere. The Quakers in the American Colonies. London: Macmillan, 1911. Questia. 18 Sept. 2007 . Soderlund, Jean.. ,†Handwritten Letter to the Indians (Lenni Lenape)† William Penn and the Founding of Pennsylvania, a Documentary History. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1983

`` The Ultimate Measure Of A Man `` By Martin Luther King Jr.

As stated by Martin Luther King Jr, ‘the ultimate measure of a man is where he stands at times of challenge and controversy’ accurately portrays the bildungsroman - To Kill A Mockingbird - a novel set in the Old South during 1930s where racial segregation shunned African Americans from society. Attorney at law, Atticus Finch, confronts the judicial system exploring themes of ethics and justice regarding white superiority. Scout explores themes of gender inequality and courage while Boo Radley relates to Impaired judgement resulting in prejudice and good vs. evil. Each character has a challenge they face which portrays their ultimate measure as a man. During the 1930s, white supremacy was at its peak even though slavery was brought to an end and families were torn apart as a result of the Great Depression. Despite the hardships, Atticus raises both children on his own to be respectful and intelligent beings, taking on their father’s moral. Even though Atticus is a part of the supreme white community, he is one of the minor characters who does not conform with his community due to his pessimistic views on the white supremacy highly evident within the novel. An action as simple as being in defence of a ‘black’ man against a white in white-dominated court, juxtaposes Atticus to society resulting in a man vs. society conflict.This Portrays that he is willing to sacrifice his reputation and highly respected family name in times corruption to stand for what is nondiscriminatory inShow MoreRelatedLetter From Birmingham Jail Analysis1617 Words   |  7 Pagesthe melanin in their skin (King 2). Among these African Ame ricans was the reverend, doctor, humanist, husband, and Civil Rights activist, Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was a middle class, black man with a life-long devotion of implementing ethnic equality to African Americans nationwide. Following one of Rev. King’s peaceful protests in Birmingham, Alabama, he was jailed on accounts of â€Å"parading without a permit† (King 3). While in jail, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote a response to â€Å"A CallRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.† (Famous civil-rights†¦) As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, the â€Å"measure† of a man comes not when things are going well, but when things are times are challenging. In the time of the Civil Rights movement, lots of African American people were measure d by how they managed difficult situations. The Civil rights movement had many influential leaders andRead MoreThe Civil Disobedience of Antigone and the Teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.1402 Words   |  6 Pagesthe laws of the state in which they reside, one is compelled to preserve justice and condemn the unjust decisions of man when the social contract contradicts the laws sanctioned by God. Approaching this conflict between natural and manmade laws in a non-violent manner is called â€Å"civil disobedience†. One of the most well known activists of civil disobedience was Martin Luther King Jr. during the American civil rights movement of the 1960s. King’s theory of a non-violent approach to injustices consistedRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King Jr.786 Words   |  4 PagesDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated, â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.† The same dictum can be applied when analyzing the challenges associated with religious bias and LGBT inequality, especially within the black church. These issues should have a pronounced platform in the black church, which has had the lived experience of challenging oppressive societal systems that were anchoredRead MoreThe Worth of Men1656 Words   |  7 Pages Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he sta nds at times of challenge and controversy†. In other words, a man is only worth what he fights for during hardship. It is not what man does during times of calm, but what he does during the times that actually matter, or the hardships, that determines his worth. This statement is true as it accurately depicts not only many works of literature, but alsoRead MoreDr. Martin Luther King1246 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom their place in history. Martin Luther brought important philosophical and moral concerns into the public arena. King belongs to a special of classes of activist philosophical whose philosophical and lives are inseparable because his chief concerns were social progress and improvement, Dr. King s powerful speaking skills combined with his courageous actions on behalf of racial justice, makes him a compelling exemplar of philosophical advocacy in action. Dr. King is widely regarded as AmericaRead MoreA True Hero : Martin Luther King Jr.1001 Words   |  5 Pagesdefini tion of a hero to me is not a man in a cape but real people right here next to me; individuals who never give up and keep fighting for what is right, no matter what demons may come their way. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.† A true hero never gives up. This has been a common trait in true heroes throughout history. Martin Luther King Jr. never gave up fighting forRead MoreOthello : Vulnerability Destroys Virtues Of A Great Leader1601 Words   |  7 Pagesdemeanor changes with every passing minute because he is entrenched in a battle between truth and jealousy. B. He loves Desdemona but he is unwise. â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at time of challenge and controversy.† Martin Luther King, Jr. In Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, Shakespeare shows us that a great general must conquer uncertainty and doubt by determination andRead MoreThe White Race And Its Heroes1623 Words   |  7 Pagesforth by these great intellects served to form Cleaver’s views on race and the civil rights movement, his ideals were inline with the growing left-wing radicalisation of the civil rights movement. One which prefered the peaceful protests of Martin Luther King, to the violent actions set by his brothers in the Black Panther movement. One of the important influences in the writing of Souls, is the changing prison system at the time Souls was written. Souls was written as a set of memoirs in prisonRead MoreSocial Justice and Civil Equality: Martin Luther King and Malcolm X3546 Words   |  15 PagesSocial Justice and Civil Equality In the pursuit of social justice and civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael, sought to amend a flawed system. To accomplish this task, these men entered the armory and chose to wield nonviolence as their weapon. Their goal: to combat violence with nonviolence, to fight hate with love, and to spread equality through peace. In the end they succeeded. Violence breeds violence, hate breeds hate, it is an ineffective approach and an