Dialectical Materialism in Literature & Theory

Etymology of Dialectical Materialism

Dialectical Materialism, a term coined by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in the 19th century, combines two key elements. It blends “dialectics,” the study of change through opposing forces, with “materialism,” which emphasizes the importance of the material world.

This philosophical framework posits that historical progress results from resolving contradictions within the material world, especially in the context of class struggle. It played a central role in developing Marxist theory and its applications in politics and economics.

Meanings of Dialectical Materialism

Meaning	Description
Philosophical Framework	Dialectical Materialism is a philosophical framework that combines dialectics and materialism.
Clash of Opposing Forces	It involves the study of change through the clash of opposing forces or ideas (dialectics).
Material World Emphasis	It emphasizes the significance of the material world and its underlying processes (materialism).
Coined by Marx and Engels	Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels used this term in their works in the 19th century.
Historical Progress	It suggests that historical progress occurs through resolving contradictions in the material world.
Class Struggle	Dialectical Materialism is often applied to analyze class struggle dynamics in society.
Marxist Theory Foundation	It played a central role in the development of Marxist theory and its applications in politics and economics.

Definition of Dialectical Materialism as a Theoretical Term

Dialectical Materialism, as a theoretical term, is a philosophical framework that asserts that historical and societal development is driven by the continuous interplay of opposing forces within the material world. This perspective, initially formulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, emphasizes the pivotal role of material conditions in shaping human history and serves as the foundational theoretical basis of Marxist thought.

Dialectical Materialism: Theorists, Works and Argument

Theorists	Works	Argument in Literary Theory and Criticism
Karl Marx	– The Communist Manifesto	– Historical Materialism: Dialectical materialism when applied to literature emphasizes the socio-economic and historical context in which literary works are created.
Friedrich Engels	– Capital (Das Kapital)	– Class Struggle: Literary analysis from a Dialectical materialist perspective often explores how class conflict and material conditions influence characters, plots, and themes.
		– Ideological Critique: Dialectical materialism is used to uncover and critique the ideological underpinnings of literature, revealing how it reflects or challenges dominant societal norms.
		– Materialist Analysis: Focuses on the material conditions of the author’s life and the society in which they lived as factors influencing literary creation.
		– Dialectical Process: Literary critics employing dialectical materialism examine contradictions and conflicts within literary works to uncover deeper societal truths.

Dialectical Materialism and Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Integral Role of Dialectical Materialism
Marxist Literary Theory	– Dialectical materialism serves as the foundational framework for analyzing literature within a Marxist context, incorporating class struggle, historical materialism, and ideological critique.
Historical Materialism	– Dialectical materialism forms the basis of historical materialism, a central component of Marxist literary theory. It examines how material conditions and class conflicts shape literary works in specific historical contexts.
Class Analysis	– Dialectical materialism is indispensable for class analysis within literary theory, providing tools to examine literature’s reflection and critique of class hierarchies, economic systems, and power dynamics.
Ideological Critique	– Dialectical materialism is a fundamental tool for ideological critique in literary analysis, facilitating the uncovering and analysis of underlying ideologies in literary works, whether reinforcing or challenging dominant beliefs.
Materialist Analysis	– Dialectical materialism plays a crucial role in materialist analysis, focusing on the material conditions of an author’s life and the socio-economic context in which they wrote. This perspective provides insights into the themes and content of literary works.
Conflict and Contradiction	– Its emphasis on conflict and contradiction is vital in literary theory. It aids in exploring the conflicts within literary works and how they reflect broader societal tensions and contradictions.
Historical Context	– Its attention to historical context is essential in literary analysis, helping scholars understand how literature is shaped by historical forces and class struggles of its time, making it an integral part of historical literary criticism.

Examples: Dialectical Materialism in Literary Criticism

Example 1: Novel Analysis (Title: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin – 1974): In Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Dispossessed, the protagonist lives in a society marked by stark economic disparities between anarcho-communist and capitalist worlds. Through a Dialectical Materialist lens, we can critique the novel by examining the material conditions that underlie these two societies. Le Guin explores how the economic structures and ownership of resources shape individuals’ lives. The contrasting worlds reflect the impact of different modes of production and property relations on human existence. This analysis allows us to engage in a critical discussion about the materialist aspects of social organization and class struggle in the 1970s, ultimately challenging the prevailing economic ideologies of the era.

Example 2: Short Story Analysis (Title: “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin – 1973): Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” presents a utopian city built on the suffering of a single child. Applying dialectical materialism, we can critique the story by examining the material conditions that sustain this seemingly perfect society. The narrative raises questions about the ethical and moral implications of a society that sacrifices one individual for the benefit of the many. This analysis highlights the materialistic underpinnings of social systems and the ethical dilemmas they entail, encouraging readers to consider the trade-offs and contradictions inherent in societal structures of the 1970s.

Example 1: Poem Analysis (Title: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – 1916, but influential in the 1970s and beyond): Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken,” though written earlier in the 20th century, continued to be relevant during 70s and beyond. Applying dialectical materialism to this poem, we can critique it by examining the material conditions and choices individuals face in their lives. The poem’s narrator reflects on a pivotal choice, symbolizing the paths people take in life. From a materialist perspective, we can interpret this choice as being influenced by social and economic factors. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the limitations and possibilities presented by one’s socio-economic circumstances. Analyzing it through Dialectical Materialism, we gain insight into how material conditions shape life’s trajectories.

Example 2: Poem Analysis (Title: “A Supermarket in California” by Allen Ginsberg – 1956, influential in the 1970s and beyond): Allen Ginsberg’s poem “A Supermarket in California,” though written in the 1950s, continued to influence literature in the 1970s and beyond. Applying dialectical materialism to this poem, we can critique it by examining the materialistic aspects of consumer culture and its impact on individual identity. The poem’s imagery of Walt Whitman in a modern supermarket reflects the clash between the poet’s ideals and the consumer-driven society of the mid-20th century. Through this lens, we can analyze how the material conditions of the time, including the rise of consumerism and conformity, influenced the poet’s vision and the tensions between personal expression and social norms.

Suggested Readings

Books:

1. Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. Verso, 2018.
2. Lukács, Georg. History and Class Consciousness: Studies in Marxist Dialectics. MIT Press, 1971.
3. Lenin, Vladimir I. Materialism and Empirio-Criticism. International Publishers, 1972.
4. Althusser, Louis. For Marx. Verso, 2005.
5. Sartre, Jean-Paul. Search for a Method. Vintage, 1968.
6. Colletti, Lucio. From Rousseau to Lenin: Studies in Ideology and Society. Monthly Review Press, 1972.

Edited Collections:

7. Ollman, Bertell, ed. Dialectical Investigations. Routledge, 1993.
8. Callinicos, Alex, ed. Marxism and Philosophy. Clarendon Press, 1983.