Analyzing Marxist Theory - Essay Example

My Analysis of Marxist theory stemmed from the philosophy of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The theory was based on the economic and political philosophy, in which the class struggle plays a fundamental role in historical change, and capitalism will eventually be superseded by communism (a classless society). In literature, a Marxist perspective combines the power of literary works to convey the extent and illustrate how capitalism shapes society and divides it between the prevailing bourgeoisie and the poor class known as the proletariat (Dobie, p.87). The story “The Destructors “by Graham Greene tells of the exploits of a group of adolescent boys who call themselves the Wormsley common gang and the scene to bring an old and elegant house down.

They meet daily in a parking lot near the area where they lived that was bombed during World War II. More or less, everything got destroyed in this area except for one house which stood proudly among the rubbles of the other edifices surrounding it. This belonged to Mr. Thomas whom the boys call ‘Old Misery,’ an old man who lives alone. A new recruit of the gang opened up to his plan of destroying this house from the inside upon learning that Mr. Thomas would be away long enough to enforce the plan.

In the story, Trevor’s plot to destroy Old Misery’s house explains its very title “The Destructors.” We can relate to this in the sense that it gives the post-war tone where the house reflects the prevailing capitalist system that survived the effects of war but became shoddy and hollowed from the inside. It reflects the growing uncertainty of the nation and economic depression and the so-called casualties of war. Trevor represented a new idea, radical from the rest and simultaneously exciting which aroused everyone’s curiosity into helping him carry out his plan.

In the short story, the young gang of youth expresses their idealism in contrast to the established norms of the grown-up world which were destroyed in the onslaught of the War and its devastation. They felt that new order must be in store because the old one is no longer working and that despite all the luxuries and the aesthetic beauty it represents, it served no true value. This was what the house was all about and this became the central idea that triggered a single idea to spark a group of young boys into action.

Since the story takes place after the German bombing of World War II in London, the new generation reciprocated the adults’ actions by taking reprisal on the many things for which the world has made them suffer. They demolished the house for the sake of destroying something. Graham’s work reflects that suffering sometimes passes on from extremely influential matters like war to the destruction and loss of someone’s home. Works Cited: Dobie, Ann B. Theory into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism. 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012.

 Google Books. Web. 28 July 2012.Response to a classmate’s analysis My classmate has reasonably pointed out how the main goal of the group is to destroy the house from the inside. But I do not necessarily agree that Trevor necessarily rose from the ranks and rivaled Blackie. There was really no struggle for the position, he simply had an idea and he had it planned out. All the others then gravitated to what he was thinking and wanted to be part of it. Although there was initially a feeling of envy by Blackie who had been the group’s leader it was only natural since T.

was only a new recruit and in fact someone with a questionable background with regard to his parent’s reputation. In fact, Blackie backed him up when they found out Old Misery was about to go home and everybody else wanted to abandon what they started. I specifically like that he was able to include the different social classes and how this also works out in the story of the gang. I also have a different take on the chocolate. I think that his offer was in the way of a dole out which is not enough for everybody and it was something precious that they are to enjoy but it is not really what they need.

This is how the government was acting towards the people during those times, giving them things to keep them thinking everything is okay when it is not. It was Trevor who had some thoughts about the house and a desire to destroy it and it was not about the chocolate. He already had his eyes on that house even before the chocolate incident. The analysis does have a point in recognizing the driver and the rise of Trevor in the gang.