SOURCE: Birchall, Ian H. “Marxism and Literature.” In The Sociology of Literature: Theoretical Approaches, edited by Jane Routh and Janet Wolff, pp. 92-108. Keele, Staffordshire: University of Keele, 1977.

In the following essay, Birchall sketches out a brief history of the Marxist theory of literature and its main deviants.

Marxism is a body of ideas which sees all human history as the history of class struggle. In particular, it is concerned to analyse the dynamics and contradictions of the capitalist system, and to show how the working class has the historical potential to overthrow capitalism and establish a classless, socialist society. Marxism stands or falls by its ability to interpret existing society, and to mobilise men and women to change it.

A Marxist theory of literature—or, for that matter, of music, sexuality or carpet-weaving—is conceivable only if situated within such a framework. At first sight, it might...