Capitalism Is An Unnatural Perversion Of Society In Marx

Capitalism is an unnatural perversion of society in Marx and Engel’s The Communist Manifesto. It is constantly consumptive, unable to exist without further expansion. It warps society through its exploitation of labor and the class that provides it. The Communist Manifesto goes beyond just a sociopolitical critique of capitalism, and adds otherworldly, almost Gothic elements. Repeated supernatural, fantastical language reinforces the idea that capitalism is an illegitimate twist of the natural state of human affairs. The Manifesto’s opening establishes communism as â€Å"a spectre [which] is haunting Europe† (218). At first glance, this would make communism the supernatural entity that threatens the natural world of capitalism. The†¦show more content†¦Communism is not some unverifiable, otherworldly entity, but â€Å"itself a Power† (218) already in Europe. The power of communism does not come from arbitrary political systems set up by the bourgeois, but from the natural power of labor and workers. When discussing the formation of the modern bourgeois and proletariat, Marx claims industrial capitalism has purposefully destroyed previous social paradigms. The current bourgeois is not a continuation of millennia of advancement, but a concentrated shift to â€Å"naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation† (222). The language used is remarkably violent: â€Å"the bourgeoisie†¦has pitilessly torn asunder†¦drowned in the icy water of egotistical calculation† (222). Capitalism is inherently predatory, as it must â€Å"constantly revolution[ize]†¦the whole relations of society† (222). The bourgeoisie can and consistently have destroyed civilizations. Therefore, communism should not be criticized as abnormal for attempting to bring about an end to this cycle of destruction. Marx uses religious language when describing professions, â€Å"stripped of [their] halo† (222) by â⠂¬Å"paid wage labour† (222): they were â€Å"hitherto honoured and looked up to with reverent awe† (222). The idolization of these groups suggests capitalism has gone against the sanctity of labor by only making it worth market price. That communism hopes to return value to â€Å"every occupation† (222) means that it is helping restore their quasi-religious status. The followingShow MoreRelatedThe Vampire: What Boundaries Does the Vampire Threaten? Discuss with R9200 Words   |  37 Pagesbetween what is foreign and what is national; and dually East and West. Dracula is open to many interpretations, each accompanying their own boundaries the Vampire threatens. Marxist s view Dracula as a metaphor for capitalism, whilst the queer perspective views it as a struggle between homosexuality and heterosexuality. Others such as Auerbach argue that Dracula is in love less with death or sexuality than with hierarchies, erecting Read MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesModern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform Michael Adas, ed., Agricultural and Pastoral Societies in Ancient and Classical History Jack Metzgar, Striking Steel: Solidarity Remembered Janis Appier, Policing Women: The Sexual Politics of Law Enforcement