due to class struggle to a classless society where wealth, opportunity, and education are accessible for all people" (211). Bressler does a decent job here. He defines Marxism as it was originally intended: an economic and social view of culture and its influences. He provides a clear, simple definition of Marxism which is easily understandable.After this however, Bressler's chapter begins to fall apart. He succeeds in giving a brief description of Marxist events and theorists, but fails in his assumptions and methodology. In his "Assumptions" Bressler declares, "Marxism is not primarily a literary theory that can be used to interpret a text " ( 218). This is obvious. The same can be said for Feminism, Psychoanalysis and others. Bressler fails to mention that one does not need to be a Marxist in order to take a Marxist position towards a text. Bressler implies that one must be a Marxist in order to fully comprehend the ideology. He does this by constantly restating that since there are so many varied schools of thought on the subject, one cannot take a "single Marxist approach to literary analysis" (220). Although it is true that Marxism was not originally intended to interpret literature, presently it is. Here Bressler makes Marxism seem inferior to other schools of thought. He focuses more on the economic aspects rather than the literary. It can be said that this is valid since Marxism is an ideology that is based economically. This statement is valid, but in this context it should not be the main focus. Bressler sums up The Communist Manifesto well, but fails to define Marxism as a literary school of thought. Summarizing the section Bressler says, "all Marxists assert that a text must be interpreted in light of its culture" (220). Yet in his "Methodology" he says, "the critic may choose to begin textual analysis by examining the history and culture of the times" (221). In the "Methodology", Bressler becomes confusi...
