StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary means for political ends - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
It is a concise and clear summary of the main ideas that communists believe in and serves as a basis for learning about that doctrine. It is by no means a dry,…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96% of users find it useful
1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary means for political ends
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary means for political ends"

Discuss the ways in which the Communist Manifesto uses literary means for political ends. The Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx, with some assistance from Friedrich Engels and published in 1848. It is a concise and clear summary of the main ideas that communists believe in and serves as a basis for learning about that doctrine. It is by no means a dry, theoretical text, however, and it makes use of literary means to ensure that it is attractive to new readers and suitable for use as a tool of persuasion to convert these readers into communists.

An early indication of the work’s reliance on literary means is found in the imagery of the first line: “A spectre is haunting Europe” (p.2). This spectre is revealed to be communism, and it captures the imagination at the very start. The second indication of quite sophisticated literary mechanisms at work is the way that the argument is built around a fundamental conflict. The “holy alliance” between what are described “reactionary powers” and “Communism.” The authors grab the attention of the reader by taking familiar politicians, such as Metternich, and other leading figures such as the Pope and the Tsar, and linking them with obviously evil individuals such as “police spies” in the same sentence (p. 2). This device recasts all these players as harmful opponents, and defines Communism in opposition to these elements as something positive and wholesome, as well as a worthy foe to these forces.

A second literary device that is used repeatedly in the Communist Manifesto is the use of emotive description, often piled up in an exaggerated way, in order to add drama and tension to the political views that are presented. Examples of this are the description of Free Trade as “naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation” (p. 5) and that of the doctrines of German Socialism as “The robe of speculative cobwebs, embroidered with flowers of rhetoric, steeped in the dew of sickly sentiment, this transcendental robe…” (p.26). These above-mentioned devices make the text more elaborate, but at the same time more engaging for the reader, because they contain quite strong emotional content.

The text switches from this elaborate language to a simpler style when key points are made. The authors make complex ideas simpler by using personification : “As the parson has ever gone hand in hand with the landlord so has clerical socialism with feudal socialism” (p. 23). They also split the text into sections with explanatory headings so that the reader does not mistake the key message contained in each section. There are recap phrases such as “Section II has made clear the relations of the Communists to the existing working class parties” (p. 31) which help to structure the argument in an overt way.

The text reaches its climax with another arresting image, this time of workers in chains, which creates sympathy, and then a final exhortation “WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES UNITE” (p. 32) which becomes a slogan for action. Everything leads up to this final command, showing how skilfully argumentation moves into a call for action. All of these literary means bring life and passion to the underlying philosophy, making the abstract concepts real and highlighting issues of social justice in an emotive way.

ReferencesMarx, K. and Engels, F. (1848) The Manifesto of the Communist Party. Translated by Samuel Moore. Available at: http://www.marxistsfr.org/archive/marx/works/download/manifest.pdf

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary Essay”, n.d.)
1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary Essay. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1586855-1-discuss-the-ways-in-which-the-communist-manifesto-uses-literary-means-for-political-ends
(1. Discuss the Ways in Which The Communist Manifesto Uses Literary Essay)
1. Discuss the Ways in Which The Communist Manifesto Uses Literary Essay. https://studentshare.org/history/1586855-1-discuss-the-ways-in-which-the-communist-manifesto-uses-literary-means-for-political-ends.
“1. Discuss the Ways in Which The Communist Manifesto Uses Literary Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1586855-1-discuss-the-ways-in-which-the-communist-manifesto-uses-literary-means-for-political-ends.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF 1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary means for political ends

Critical Review of The Communist Manifesto

The paper "Critical Review of the communist manifesto" states that Marx's methodology for theorizing or building theories can be described as an attempt to review man's history, interpret that history, and derive supposedly useful generalizations from history for theory.... hellip; the communist manifesto is an important document of communist-socialist and Marxist worldwide.... In this review of the communist manifesto, we use the material translated by Samuel Moore in 1888 from the German original....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Worst Natural Disaster in Queensland History

A situation in which a problem is recognized, rather than options weighed.... INTRODUCTION The article begins with an introductory statement by the Premier describing the nature of the ‘worse natural disaster in Queensland history.... She praises the dedication and fortitude of resident Queenslanders, whose state suffered 37 casualties....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Argumentation Based on Marx's Communist Manifesto

This essay reveals a reflective analysis of the ideas depicted in Karl Marx's work "the communist manifesto".... nbsp; the communist manifesto has been prominent for over two centuries.... hellip; the communist manifesto was structured to explain the goals of communism and various theories underlying this movement.... the communist manifesto was a plan by Marx and Friedrich Engels.... As a result, the communist engages in promoting revolution, and this will ensure that those involved are able to move history towards its natural conclusion....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

World history. A Critical Analysis of The Communist Manifesto

In 1848, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels together wrote the book, “the communist manifesto” which is often thought to one of the most powerful political manuscripts in modern world.... hellip; A Critical Analysis of “the communist manifesto”.... In 1848, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels together wrote the book, “the communist manifesto” which is often thought to one of the most powerful political manuscripts in modern world.... It is said that the “communist manifesto” is the Bible of the communists....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

The Communist Manifesto

the communist manifesto Name: Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: the communist manifesto Introduction Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels's Communist Manifesto (1848) conveys one of the most influential political theories of all times.... the communist manifesto is undoubtedly stood the test of time and still remains one of the most crucial literatures that influence and provoke thoughts about capitalism and class.... The book communist manifesto has four fundamental parts....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

The Communist Manifesto

the communist manifesto Introduction: From our history lessons we know that after the break-up of the Roman Empire, feudalism came into existencepractically in the whole of Europe.... the communist manifesto was meant to provide the proletariat with required impetus for a social change.... Today, in this era of globalization and labor reforms, with communist countries such as China opting for market economy, one wonders if the communist manifesto will continue to attract the workers of the world under one banner, and more importantly, if Communism ever has a future....
4 Pages (1000 words) Assignment

How Did the Communist State Arise and What Kind of Challenge Did It Provide to Liberal Capitalism in the West

While many historians talk about the “communist manifesto” being the first definitive text published on Communism, the translation of the ideas proposed therein into reality involved a lot of struggle.... The "How Did the communist State Arise and What Kind of Challenge Did It Provide to Liberal Capitalism in the West" paper discusses the rise of the communist state and the challenges it posed to the laizez faire capitalist societies of the last two centuries....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Money Laundering

hellip; The author states that China has been a fertile ground for money laundering and the primary cause of the high levels of activity lie in the corruption and degeneration of political and financial officials.... Through these three channels, there is ample scope for money launderers to capitalize on the corruption of government and financial officials to ensure that some monies remain unaccounted and are diverted away into unauthorized pockets through the three different means outlined above....
12 Pages (3000 words) Dissertation
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us