Marxist Theory on Crime and Punishment Essays - 742 Words

K1 Danielle K Marxist Theory and Crime and Punishment Throughout human history countless philosophers have risen with what they thought to be the best form of government for society as a whole. Karl Marx may be the most influential philosopher in Russian history. According to The Free Dictionary, Marxism is the concept that â€Å"class struggle plays a central role in understanding societys allegedly inevitable development from bourgeois oppression under capitalism to a socialist and ultimately classless society†. With this theory, Marx had a great impact on Russian literatureÍ ¾ specifically, Fyodor Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment. According the the Marxist theory, one would interpret Crime and Punishment as a perfect example to†¦show more content†¦As stated that the definition of Marxism, it says that one goes from a capitalist government, to a socialist government, and ultimately a classless society with communism. Here, this novel stands to be a perfect example of a rise to communism, and the rise of a proletariat. With this, a Marxist theory would begin to see Raskolnikov as a version of the proletariat, or common man, in charge of a violent overthrow. It is believed by Marxist theorists that the proletariat goes through various stages of development. In the beginning they struggle against the bourgeois, then this metamorphosizes itself into suffering, and the finally through the growth of the masses, victory arises for the common man. The goal of the Marxist man is to violently overthrow capitalism. Even though Raskolnikov does not conduct a violent overthrow of the government, he comes together in the same way, by violently killing what he sees as a leach on society. Raskolnikov battles his emotions and morality because of the murder of the pawnbroker and therefore suffers because of it. Though Porfiry and Sonia partake in him finding his salvation, it is ultimately Raskolnikov himself that realizes that by accepting his sins he overco mes his emotions and finds redemption. When â€Å"suddenly it was as if something lifted him and flung him down at her feet. He wept and embraced her knees†,Show MoreRelatedTheories Of Marxist Theory And Conflict Theory1066 Words   |  5 PagesMany theories have interrelated theories and derive from one another. Marxist theory has connection with labeling theory and conflict theory. Marxist theory and conflict theory explains law and criminal justice but does not oversee multi-groups conflict of society (Akers 2017). Marxist theory is a sociological model which is based on conflict of classes (Akers 2017). Marx viewed the industrial society or capitalist society from a macro point of view. Marxism is also a conflict theory, believing thatRead MoreOutline and Assess Marxist Explanations of Crime1208 Words   |  5 PagesOutline and assess Marxist explanations of crime Marxist and neo-Marxist approaches and explanations of crime are arguably some of the most controversial, for the reason that they state that it is the ruling class that is responsible for criminalising the working classes, which goes directly against what official statistics and Functionalists believe. However, Marxism and Functionalism do share a similarity in that both believe structures and institutions of society play a very important roleRead MoreOutline and Evaluate Marxist Theories on Crime1431 Words   |  6 PagesOutline and assess Marxist explanations of crime and deviance.    In looking at the Marxist explanation of crime and deviance one must also look to the non-sociologist explanations and those of other different groups in order to come to an informed view of the subject.    The non-sociologist definition of crime and deviance would be that deviance is uncommon behaviour, something that offends the morals or the majority of society, without being harmful or serious enough to be criminal. WhereasRead MoreCriminal And Deviant Behaviour Within Society867 Words   |  4 PagesMarxist claim that the bourgeoisie choose what they consider is criminal and deviant behaviour within society. 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White collar crime is mostly money-related crimes, including embezzlement, committed by the economically elite, conversely, blue collar crime is consideredRead MoreW.E.B Dubois’ Theory on the â€Å"Double Consciousness† Conflict/Radical Marxist Theory as It Applies to the Novel – a Lesson Before Dying1462 Words   |  6 PagesLIT 327 W.E.B DuBois’ Theory on the â€Å"Double Consciousness† Conflict/Radical Marxist Theory as it applies to the Novel – A Lesson Before Dying DuBois’ theory on the â€Å"Double Consciousness† states, â€Å"After the Egyptian and Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world,--a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of theRead MoreCrime Is A Social Construction Essay1565 Words   |  7 PagesCrime is often described as socially constructed, which influences our understanding of who commits a crime. Firstly, labelling theorists argue that crime is a social construction based on the powerful’s reaction to certain behaviour, those who are deviant are people that have been labelled as such. Marxists claim the bourgeoise construct crime in order to criminalise the proletariat, get away with their own deviance and maintain their own dominance. Neo-marxists look at how moral panics create aRead MoreCrime And Deviance Essay1649 Wo rds   |  7 PagesCrime can be defined as ‘An action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law’ (Oxford Dictionary, 2017). It’s the violation of a written law that is set by society and is known as ‘committing a crime’. Deviance is defined as ‘the fact or state of diverging from usual accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behaviour’ (Oxford Dictionaries, 2017). To be deviant would be to perform an act that strays from the normal behaviours, or â€Å"norms† of any given society. ThereRead MoreSociology- Marxism1579 Words   |  7 Pagesagreement. In order to reinforce socialization there are mechanisms in place that are based on rewards and punishments. On a basic level rewards are praise, encouragement and acceptance while punishments are ridicule, rejection and gossip. On a slightly deeper level, for those who are religious, there is the promise of heaven as a reward and on the opposing side there are threats of punishment in the afterlife. However there has been a huge decline in the influence of religion in modern industrialRead MoreMarxism Essay1494 Words   |  6 PagesMarxism Marxist criticism is inherently existentialist. One cannot know anything without having been exposed to it as some sort of life experience. There is no knowledge a priori, as some of the ancient philosophers would have us believe. Rather, knowledge is accumulated a posteriori, through actual experience. Therefore, there is almost nothing that is inherent and absolute in our knowledge. It can never be purely objective, as knowledge is absorbed through the grid of our own perceptions