Chapter 4, The Proletariat as Subject and as Representation Summary and Analysis

Chapter 4 presents theses 73 through 124 and is the longest section of the text. Chapter 4 begins with a quote taken from Enquete Parlementaire sur l'Insurrection du 18 Mars. Many of the theses of Chapter 4 differ in construction from those previously seen in the text, as they are often less generally theoretical and more directly based upon contemporaneous socio-political developments. Thus, many references to individuals and specific events are included—these objects are often fairly obscure to modern readers and can present a real difficulty to textual interpretation. Typically, the author provides no biographical data or explanatory notes though some modern editions of the text have added occasional supplementary information. It is critical to remember that the work itself is dated in time, and that much of the critique of...