Optional journal prompt:

Does a person’s values or beliefs affect the way they react to television, movies, or the things that they read? Why or why not? Give some examples.

Critical Theory

Marxist Criticism

Key Terms

Capitalist: a wealthy person who uses money to invest in trade and industry in accordance with an economic and political system run by private interests for the purpose of profit.

Working Class: those employed by lower tier jobs (as measured by skill, education, pay, and status). Also referred to as the proletariat.

Economic Determinist/Marxist Criticism Karl Marx (1818-1883)

emphasized that the primary influence on life was economic, and he saw society as an opposition between the capitalists and the working class.

Marxist Conflicts

Those in power seek to maintain that power over those who do not have it.

This power struggle manifests in a wide range of arenas of human life.

Religious and moral frameworks

Economic superstructure

Social interaction and norms

Political and legal systems.

Cycles of Revolution Marx believed that strife between social classes would

ultimately lead to social revolution.

The new social order would be based upon socialism, a cooperative agreement between classes to contribute and work for the common good. Distribution of goods would be tied directly to one’s own production.

Finally, socialism would give way to Communism, a classless, stateless, moneyless society based upon common ownership of all national resources.

Economic Determinism

Defined as: the theory which attributes economic structures as the primary motivation and force for human behavior and the development of human history.

Outlook on Humanity: Money trumps all! The development of human society, morality, and social norms has arisen only from a desire to increase economic status or stifle those in lower classes.

Economic Determinist/Marxist Criticism

The literature that emerged from this kind of analysis focuses on individuals in the grips of a class struggle.

It emphasizes persons of the lower class and their constant oppression by the upper class.

The poor may try to escape their situation but ultimately fall back under the ruthless dominion of the capitalist oppressor.

Economic Determinist/Marxist Criticism Marx’s political ideas

were never widely accepted in the United States and have faded further since the downfall of the Soviet Union, but the idea of economic determinism is still considered credible.

1. What is the economic situation of the characters, and what happens to them as a result of this status?

2. To what extent are the lives of characters influenced or determined by social (i.e. how an individual is expected to behave in a given circumstance), political (i.e. the directives of the state), and economic (i.e. the interplay between production, supply, and demand) forces?

3. What social forces and institutions are represented in the work?

4. To what extent does the work overlook the economic, social, and political implications of its material?

Economic Determinist/Marxist Critical Questions

Once there was a tree…...

And

she loved

a

little boy.

And every day

the boy

would come

And

he

would

gather

her

leaves

And make them

into crowns

and play king of the forest.

He would climb up her trunk

And swing from her branches

And eat apples

And they

would play

hide and go seek

And when

he was tired,

he would sleep

in her shade.

And the boy loved the tree…..

Very much

And the tree was happy

But time went by.

And the boy grew older.

And the tree was often alone.

Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, “Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy.”

“I am too big to climb and play,” said the boy. “I want to buy thing and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?”

“I’m sorry,” said the tree, “but I have no money. I have only leaves and apples.Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you’ll be happy.”

And so the boy climb up the

tree and gathered

her apples

and carried them away.

And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time…… and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, “Come, Boy and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy.”

“I am too busy to climb trees,” said the boy. “I want a house to keep me warm,” he said. “I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?”

“I have no house,” said the tree. “The forest is my house,” said the tree “but you may cut off my branches and build a house.

Then you will be happy.”

And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build a house.

And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time…… And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. “Come, Boy” she whispered, “Come and play.” “I am too old and sad to play,” said the boy. “I want a boat that will take me away from here.

Can you give me a boat ?”

“Cut down my trunk and make a boat,” said the tree.

“Then you can sail away…… and be happy.”

And so the boy cut down her trunk

and made a boat and sailed away.

And the tree was happy…..

But not really.

And after a long time the boy came back again. “I am sorry, Boy,” said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you---”

“My apples are gone.” “My teeth are too weak for apples,” said the boy.

“My branches are gone,” said the tree. “You cannot swing on them.” “I am too old to swing on branches,” said the boy.

“My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb----”

“I am too tired to climb,” said the boy.

“I am sorry,” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something… but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am sorry…”

“I don’t need very much now,” said the boy. “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.” “Well,” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.”

And the boy did.

And the tree was happy.

The End

Let’s apply what we learned! Which character(s) in the narrative have power

through commodities (tradable goods / experiences)? At what points in the narrative do the boy and tree

experience lasting or prolonged happiness? At what points in the narrative is only one party happy?

Connect your last response to Marx’s ideas of socialism vs. capitalism (using the definitions given in class).

 In one clear, concise statement, write a Marxist interpretation of the events in The Giving Tree.