Karl Marx The communist Manifesto Notes

Communism is a theory that states that society should own all property. There should be no private ownership and labor is organized so that all members of society will benefit. Communism is based on the theories of Karl Marx and writing.

Karl Marx was an idealist. He observed the cruelties and injustices that the poor working class endured during the period of industrial revolution, and was then inspired to write of a society in which no oppression existed for any social class of people. Marx believed in a revolution that would end socialism and capitalism, and focus on communist principles. The Manifesto describes the goals of the communist party for ending exploitation of the working class and creating a society in which there is equality in society without social classes.

Marx uses reason to explain what will happen to society due to the materialism of the Industrial Revolution. Marx reasons how society will become classless under the rule of communism. The proletariat, defined as the lower working class, will take over the bourgeoisie, defined as the upper class, because of the difference in capital between the two classes. The two classes clash because both are consumed with wants of material items and power but only the bourgeoisie has an abundance of these two items. The proletariat then revolts to gain equality and thus society becomes classless. Marx's manifesto was inspired by the emergence of the modern working class- he seems to developed a socialist outlook through the principle of socialism. Marx’s "scrutiny" illustrates his belief in the unless change that's occurring between the Bourgeois and the Proletariat. The class relationships are defined by an era's means of production.

One of Marx's arguments is that the society created by the bourgeois is so powerful and out of control that it can no longer be controlled. Thus the illusion to the Sorcerer. The modern bourgeois society, he explains "a society that has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange, [it] is like the sorcerer, who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world when he has called up by his spells." His remedy for this situation was an overthrow of the ruling bourgeois society and the beginning of the proletariat society.

Another argument that Marx brings out that is relevant in today's society is the distinct class differences. He mentions how 10% of the people have virtually all the property.

Notes/ thoughts about William Blake's Proverbs of Hell

In Blake's Proverbs of Hell, it seems as though he is expressing that; with the good, there always is the bad or the opposite. It seems paradoxyl and almost expresses dualism. How people actually act as opposed to how they ought to act. The proverbs express ideals verses reality.

The author is discussing vitality of life force, philosophical power or thoughts. Morality. Blake is using the expression of power or energy as being better. Excess leads to wisdom. He is expressing how it is overall better for things not to be contained, more or less to be set free. For instance the line about the bird flying with it's own wings.

The author also eludes to God and is associating God with physical power. It seems as though Blake's conception of Hell is not as a place of punishment, but a source of unrepressed, philosophical energy. Blake eluded to the readers a repressive nature of conventional morality and institutional religion. A life force that is hard to contain in words, something that is or reflects a violent force about it. Blake praises carnivorous animals that survive based on predatory habits.

Overall, within Blake's suggestive, simple, and rich with illusions proverbs, which reflect wisdom. There is a hopeful, faithful, and positive mood expressed by the numerous proverbs. It is a strategy for simplifying ideas. There is a kind of beauty to these statements even though they are not clear- which in turn draws in the reader with a sense of depth.

Last thoughts on Tintern and it comparative to London

Due to the beginning of class and "google-ing" Tintern Abbey (which is beautiful) I realized that perhaps Wordsworth really was touching base on religion. It would make sense, due to every other poem he writes expressing God or some biblical reference. The poem seems to have a subtle strain of religious sentiment; though the actual form and structure of "Abbey" does not appear in the poem, the idea of Tintern Abbey-- which, thanks to google, is a place consecrated to the spirit and had the Cistercian monks (or White Monks) who lived at Tintern followed the Rule of St. Benedict--fills the scene, almost as though the fields and forest themselves the speaker's abbey. Pretty much what i am saying is that even though he did not refer directly go God or biblical references, he did allude to it with the title and main point of the poem. As we also discussed in class, there are several different ways to relate to nature, poetry in the way wordsworth presents it is just one form of that. Nature represents a counterweight to society. Nature ought to be with us all the time as a state of mind, as opposed to an actual forest.

Okay, well for the last 30 seconds we had of class, we touches base on London by William Blake. London is a dismal and sad poem, it is sensually filled and emotionally as well. The poem London expresses the tension, sounds, and meanings of a collapsing city. The poem expresses a dark and sad city to the reader, through the tension within the poem’s "voice." As opposed to Tintern Abbey which is a reminisence of childhood and beautiful nature. Wordsworth says that in those days, nature made up his whole world: forrests, waterfalls, mountains, and woods gave shape to his passions and his love. Due to both time and innocense has now past, he does not mourn it. I think Wordsworth realizes he cannot resume his old relationship with nature, but he has been somewhat compensated with new set of "mature gifts." (For instance, he can now "look on nature, not as in the hour / Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes / The still, sad music of humanity.") Due to this he can now sense something more powerful, and fundamental in things such as the light of the setting suns, the ocean, and the state of mind.

Feb. 18th thoughs/ notes

Alright, so this class we only touched base on one poem (Tintern Abbey). The question was raised- What is nature according to Wordsworth? I believe he thinks nature is a state of being. An escape one can go to when needing to get away from the non natural aspects of the world. It is as though his state of nature is a meditation or spiritual bond with such. However, Tabbie raised an interesting point, that it is possible that Wordsworth's religion is nature itself. I can see where she is coming from, i think that he is so connected mind, body, and soul with nature that it in turn has become his prayers and religion and spiritual connection. The brilliant thing about it is that nature is so general and available that anyone willing and aiming can attain it. There is yet a label on it. He is ascribing a quasi religious reference to nature, and we can recognize the spiritual power to nature with a capital “N”. Another question that was raised was what is nature and what is it's opposite. Nature is, foundationally, anything spacious and green. It is untouched my humanity. Nature brings out, especially in Wordsworth and his writtings, the appreciation for the aesthetics (which is the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty) that consoled him by incorporating all together, the wonders of nature, his past experiences, and his present mature perception of life. As opposed to "not nature" which is anything that has been tainted by human hands, anything that has not naturally evolved. Anything that is materialistic or concrete. It is industrialization, migration, expansion, politics, rules, laws... Again, another question was raised- What kind of person do you think Wordsworth was? I think that wordsworth was a young man coming to realization. He was realizing his loss of time is his loss of innocence. For example, when you are young you are constantly outside in nature. Nothing it ailing you and you are somewhat set free to explore. I have come to realize that as you grow older and being to have a mature outlook on life and nature is no longer an escape. Life begins to hit you, and you cant escape it anymore. Lastly, the underlying message of the poem, to me, is that even though life comes at you fast and your childhood is soon just a memory in the past, you are still able to escape everything (humanity, life, the hustle and bustle) and come into touch with your inner self. Whenever you want to come into contact with who you truley are, go to nature. Go to a place in which you cant be touched by anything but emotions, beauty, and self. I think that at first i did not have such an appreciation for this poem as i do now. Due to writting this blog and our class discussion i better understood the angles of the poem and actually have gained a great appreciation for this poem.

Song to the Men of England
In "Song to the Men of England" Shelley addresses the impoverished working class who are exploited by the ruling class. Again, he criticizes the system, but pays special attention to the mistreatment of those who work with the land. Shelley sympathizes with the working class, all the while demanding to know why they allow themselves to be exploited. The purpose of "Song to the Men of England" is to motivate the laborers to revolt. Shelley recognizes that they work only to have their products and profits seized by the ruling class; however, he urges that they take action rather than just complaining about their problems.

…There really wasn’t a word that stuck out in particular to me as much as the phrase “Bees of England,” because it really classifies the people as the working class. He compares the masses to bees, insects that work their whole lives away so that the Queen (or King, in the case of England) does not have to perform any honest work herself. Shelley seems to both pity and scorn the working class for allowing themselves to be victimized by those in power.

Sonnet: England in 1819

...The word that really sticks out to me in this poem is “leech-like,” because I find it interesting how it seems as though all of Shelley’s poems mimic the same pattern which is England at its worse; especially since he directs this phrase/ word at the rulers and higher class of England.

William Wordsworth's poems

Lines (Tintern Abbey)
This poem uses the dramatic monologue, a poem in which the poet is addressing a listener who never speaks but is referred to, in order to take you on a series of emotional states by trying to sway himself, his sister, and eventually his readers. The loss of innocence and intensity over time is compensated by gathering knowledge and insight. Wordsworth proves that although time was lost along with his innocence, he in turn was able to gain an appreciation for the aesthetics (which is the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty) that consoled him by incorporating all together, the wonders of nature, his past experiences, and his present mature perception of life.

Note- Wordsworth was inspired to write Tintern Abbey after a fifty mile walk with his sister. It was added at the last minute to the end of the Lyrical Ballads. Though its inception was impulsive and it did not fit with the rest of the poems, Tintern Abbey undoubtedly had a “worthy purpose” of its own. Tintern Abbey is renowned for its references to politics and society and its insight into the life and mind of Wordsworth.
(http://ssad.bowdoin.edu:8668/space/Manipulation+and+Reception)

…The word that stood out the most to me was “pleasure,” because it seems as though it sums up the importance of the poem. Wordsworth has just went on a 50 mile walk with his sister, and all he can talk about is how it was a riveting experience to be out in the wild and alone with just his thoughts, and emotions.

Composed upon Westminster Bridge, Sept. 3, 1802.
“Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802” is a prime example of the way in which nature captured Wordsworth’s heart.

…The word that stood out to me the most was “splendor,” because this expresses Wordsworth’s love for London. This is expresses how he looks upon London as a place of splendor, and is in awe of the vision of beauty he sees before him. The fact that he uses the words “Dear God!” shows that he is taken aback by what he observes.

The World is too much with us; late and soon
The speaker of this poem is Wordsworth, talking about materialism. "The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers" is basically saying lately no one has payed attention to anything except for money and greed, using their (industrial revolutionaries/citizens of London) power to gain more power.
In line 8, Wordsworth speaks of being "out of tune", meaning the people are not doing as nature intended; greed and control is taking over everyone's life course.
There is a reference to three religions at the end of the poem ("Great God!" - Christianity, "a pagan suckled..." - Paganism, and "Proteus... Old Triton" - Greek Mythology). As the greater majority of people in London at this time were Christians (or catholic), the way Wordsworth says he'd rather be a Pagan (or his sight and sound of the Greek Gods) shows how disgusted he is in the demoralization of ideals at this time (further emphasizing the materialism at the time).

…The word that stuck out to me the most was “Nature,” because there is so much biblical references, that the word Nature or even God leaves it somewhat open ended. As opposed to A Pagan or even Proteus (the Sea God) is more specified. It seems to relate to all.

William Blake's poetry

London

This poem is a lyric ballad that expresses the tension, sounds, and meanings of a collapsing city. The poem shows the reader a dark and sad city by through the tension in the poem’s voice, expressing sounds and anger that escapes beyond the boundaries of the poem itself. It is a sense based poem; there is sight, emotion, things heard, etc.

…The word that stood out the most to me was “weakness,” because following that word there is a repetition of the phrase “in every…” To me it seems as though every person, man or woman, is feeling the same way, with weakness in their hearts. It seems as though the society is being eroded by the strict policies of London.

Proverbs of Hell
It seems as though Blake's conception of Hell is not as a place of punishment, but a source of unrepressed, somewhat philosophical energy. Blake eluded to the readers a repressive nature of conventional morality andinstiutional religion.

…The word that stood out the most to me was “God,” just because throughout the poem, the poet declares the uniqueness of his vision when compared to the conventional wisdom of "the present world," not to mention the vision of the angels and demons. So it was just interesting to me that his poem was directed towards both evil and goodness.

Connection between personhood and the ability to feel pain.

This passage is about the question that was raised in class when we were on the topic of Elizabeth Cady Staton. Nathan asked what the connection between, or assuming, personhood (in a broad sense) and the ability to feel pain was.

The ability to paint a picture is at odds with cold hard truth. Staton is suggesting that the slave holder can recognize the oppressiveness of the slave situation. And at the same time essential saying, the slave doesn’t feel it, or it is different that it doesn’t hurt so much. By extension, Stanton is also saying the same thing about the statement, that all woman are in the position of slaves in respect to male dominant society. Men might recognize, but woman don’t experience this as brutality. Therefore, slaves and woman both have the capacity to be hurt, they therefore have rights...

February 11. Pg. 44-73 in reader

So the reading, within the homework which we had to do, that caught my eye the most, was Fredrick Douglass's "What the Fourth of July Means to the Negro." I found it interesting that the first part of Douglass's speech praises what the founding fathers did for this country, but then the speech soon developed into a condemnation of the attitude of American society toward slavery.

I also have a question, did Douglass considers himself a citizen of America, and an equal to the spectators in attendance....?

I found it interesting how he tells the audience that they have gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July, but all the while reminding them that the nation is young, and, like a young child, it is still capable of positive change. Therefore he was advocating for them, but then he apologizes to them... so did he feel as though he was different than them?

And lastly, i found that the real subject of his speech is American slavery. He condemns America for being untrue to its founding principles, in both the past, and the present. The audience must fulfill what the founders of the country advocated.

Overall, it was very powerful, and i enjoyed the read, because history has always been of interest to me, especially the civil war and slavery periods.