From The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels, I chose the passage in Chapter 1- Bourgeoisie and Proletariat that reads: “Our epoch, the epoch of the bourgeoisie, possesses, however, this distinct feature: it has simplified class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other — Bourgeoisie and Proletariat.”
I chose this passage because it speaks about the class divide and struggle that we have encountered in various readings. From the period of Enlightenment, through the French Revolution, Nationalism and Nation Building, and into the Industrial Revolution, there have always been distinct differences between classes and the way they were treated. The manifesto was written with the intention that it could be read by the public, and appeal to a general audience that did not need to be highly educated. This theme relates to what we discussed in the previous class about the writings of Smith, Owen, and Marx. All three of these works address the differences and struggles between classes. This particular passage from the manifesto addresses the same issue. As society progresses and changes, the classes have also changed and have become more divided. Marx says that the Bourgeoisie must become educated about the conditions and poor treatment of the Proletariat, whose only valuable asset is their power to perform labor.
I certainly agree that Marx’s manifesto highlights class struggle and the plight of the proletariat. What I find different with the manifesto compared to previous class struggles we have studied is that Marx advocates elimination and breakdown of all class barriers. This is different from that of the French Revolution where the three estates swapped positions. While Marx threatens revolution, his ultimate goal is to create one giant working class.
The concept of class distinctions certainly is prevalent in other readings, especially as it relates to capitalism and how the ownership of factories with division of labor causes increased efficiency. In Smith’s writings, it is obvious that his perspective shows that the divide has provided more opportunities within the economy. However, the difference between Marx’s ideas and Smith’s ideas is that Smith values the production over the producer- Marx sees the ultimate champion of society being effective care and equality of the producers.