The Communist Manifesto

In the first chapters of Marx's writings, he begins to explain the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. He explains that history is a series of constant class struggle in all societies and that economic structure is what breeds classes in society. However, Marx does not believe that this strucure is permanent, but very proned to revolution. He says that the people will break from feudalism or the powers that control the market, hence the birth or emergence of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Although it seems as though people broke free from oppressive hands, ultimately they fall into the same whole they were once in because another class struggle ensues with the emergence of these two classes. This leads back to Marx's theory of history... He believed that history was shaped by economic elements alone. He did not consider societal elements such as religion, culture, or human nature as factors of great significance. The continuance of the bourgeoisie focused mainly on their constant revolution of the instruments of production, as for the proletariat the certainty of their success would be a revolution as well but a revolution that would destroy the entire system, including private property.

In these first chapters, I believe Marx lays out a clear-cut version of his plan and why it should be implemented. Explaining the difference in classes is crucial because reforming class structure is the fundamental of his ideals. I think it is interesting that he believes history is structured entirely by economic factors. In essence, this makes sense because the difference in class structure is based on financial and economic differences and because of these differences, conflicts ensue, thus writing history. It is clear that Marx wants to do away with differences in class structure because if you examine the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, each is ready for some kind of revolutuion; therefore, putting society at great risk. Fundamentally and ideally, Marx's argument makes sense; however, completely doing away with any social class structure would also lead to some kind of revolution.