George R Stewarts Earth Abides and its sociological aspects - Essay Example

George R Stewart's Earth Abides and its sociological aspects. As in Georges R Stewart's Earth Abides, the entire humanity has died from a plague which exploded around the world, the only few survivors are organizing themselves in this "new" world. They soon try to build the institutions that made the humankind. The main character Ish found the perfect companion in a woman who is completely his opposite and starts a family, as a way of building an entity which will be stronger to the world and help the human race to survive.

With the other survivors, they gather to expand and to ensure the production of enough food and the preservation of the existing stocks. In their new state, each and everyone has his own role in order to make the system work and decide of all the different actions they have to take. In their society, the economy is slightly different as it is seen not in the value of goods defined by several factors but only quantified in regards of the amount of work, the way to exchange their skill and fulfill their needs.

The children of the new world are taught about history and values, to know where they come from and continue the work of their parents in order to rebuild earth as once known. Religion, is represented as to give an orientation to the tribe and to help them have an orientation, as well as for their children. All of these institutions re-emerged in the life of the survivors mainly because it is the only social organization they have known but also because they understand very rapidly that they strongly need to organize themselves to be able to survive - and in the same time allow human race to continue living - after the disaster.

The main aspects of capitalism is the use of labor by the "owners" of an organization as a tool that can be rented and therefore permits them not to participate in the production in other means then investing money to obtain goods. In the case of the tribe, it is not the case, the survivors work to obtain what they need to live, their primary needs. It should be considered as a self employed firm where the main worker is also the owner and has all the output of the production for himself. Naturally, here they are several to participate to the production, but they can be seen as an entity, as one single person.

On the other hand, another main aspect of capitalism is the constant reinvestment of the capital to the production. In the tribe we can find that aspect as they will always have to invest their work again and again to produce the output but contrarily to the capitalist model they will not grow until a point where nearly no more workers will be needed. The economy of the tribe wouldn't be considered as capitalist because it is not made for a mercantilist purpose but only to survive. Their work mainly consists in organizing their lives and crops in order to survive and not to reach for the sole purpose of having an easiest and better life.

This work wouldn't be considered alienating by Marx as they are producing what they need and they are not involved in maximizing a profit but optimizing the output. The tribe becomes the state because they understand that the problems that they are facing can only be solved by a social organization and whatever these problems may be, they will have to act as a group and not as a several individuals who will take separate decisions all by themselves. The tribe could be considered as a democracy as every member has his opinion and can be heard.

However difficult it could be to understand while reading the story, they are able to offer their thoughts and even if their ideas are not followed, they are considered. Even with all the characteristics of a democracy, the tribe can be seen as a patriarchal society or even a patriarchal monarchy, as Ish has to choose his heir when he is aware that he will die soon. The crown, symbol of power, is represented by the hammer who is given to the new chosen leader.