English 10 - Quarter 3 - Lesson 10: Power, Class, and Money: A Marxist Critique

English 10: Quarter 3

Lesson 10: Power, Class, and Money

Lesson 10: Power, Class, and Money: A Marxist Critique

I. Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Knowledge: Define Marxist critique and identify key concepts such as "power struggles," "social class," "bourgeoisie," and "proletariat."
• Skill: Analyze a short text to identify the power struggles and class differences between characters and compose a short critique based on these observations.
• Affective: Appreciate that literature can be read as a commentary on social and economic inequality and the way money and power influence human relationships.

II. Introduction

Good morning, class. Today we're asking a few questions: Why in so many stories is there a rich, powerful character and a poor, struggling one? Why are there so many conflicts about money, or about who is 'in charge'?

We are going to learn about a very specific and powerful way of reading called a Marxist Critique. This approach reads literature by looking for one main thing: the struggle for power, which is almost always connected to money and social class. We are going to put on our "economist glasses" and see how the hidden forces of class and wealth shape the characters and the plot of a story.

III. Definition (Key Terms) - Part 1

[Image of social class pyramid]

1. Marxist Critique:
A type of literary critique that focuses on the issues of social class and economic power. It asks, "Who has the power, and why?" (Usually, it's who has the money).

2. Social Class:
A way of dividing society into groups based on their wealth, social status, and economic power (e.g., Royalty vs. Commoners).

III. Definition (Key Terms) - Part 2

3. The Bourgeoisie (The "Haves"):
The ruling class, the wealthy elite who own the "means of production" (factories, land, businesses).
Example: Kings, rich CEOs, First Class passengers on the Titanic.

4. The Proletariat (The "Have-Nots"):
The working class, who must sell their labor to the bourgeoisie to survive.
Example: Servants, factory workers, Third Class passengers on the Titanic.

5. Power Struggle:
The central conflict between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat for resources and control.

IV. Spring Board: The Two Gardeners

Read the short story below focusing on the relationship between the two characters.

Mr. Harrison owned the largest estate in the county, a grand mansion surrounded by immaculate gardens. He employed a single gardener, a young man named Thomas, paying him just enough to live on. Mr. Harrison loved to walk the grounds and give orders. "Thomas," he'd say, "I want all these red roses replaced with white ones. Be sure it is done by tomorrow." It was a huge, back-breaking job, but Thomas would just nod and say, "Yes, sir."

One day, Mr. Harrison announced he was holding a grand party and that the gardens must be "perfect." Thomas worked from sunrise until after sunset for two weeks, his hands cracked and bleeding. When the day of the party came, the garden was a masterpiece. Hundreds of rich guests arrived.

Thomas, covered in mud, watched from behind a tree. He overheard Mr. Harrison talking to a group. "My gardens are a triumph, are they not?" Mr. Harrison said, taking a sip of champagne. "It takes a true artist—a true vision—to create such beauty." He never once mentioned Thomas's name.

V. Essential Questions

Analyze the story using your "Marxist glasses."

1. Who are the two main characters, and what is their relationship?

Answer: Mr. Harrison (the owner/employer) and Thomas (the gardener/employee).

2. From a Marxist perspective, who is the bourgeoisie and who is the proletariat?

Answer: Mr. Harrison is the bourgeoisie (owns the estate/wealth). Thomas is the proletariat (sells his labor).

3. What is the main power struggle in this story?

Answer: It's an unspoken struggle over labor control. Mr. Harrison demands unreasonable work because he has the money/power, and Thomas cannot refuse because he needs the job.

4. How does the story show the exploitation of the proletariat (Thomas)?

Answer: Thomas works until injury ("hands cracked and bleeding") for a garden he can't enjoy, while his boss takes all the credit.

5. What is the story's Marxist critique of Mr. Harrison?

Answer: It exposes that the rich see themselves as "visionaries" but are actually completely dependent on the exploited, invisible labor of the working class.

VI. Exercise: The Power Map

Analyze the story of Cinderella using a Marxist lens. Fill out the Power Map below.

1. Bourgeoisie (The "Haves"): Who is in this group? 2. Proletariat (The "Have-Nots"): Who is in this group? 3. The Power Struggle: What is the main conflict about? 4. The Goal: What is the only way for Cinderella to "win" the class struggle?

Possible Answers:
1. Stepmother, Stepsisters, Prince (Royalty).
2. Cinderella, the mice/servants.
3. Cinderella provides free labor (cleaning) and is denied access to the upper class (the Ball).
4. She has to marry into the bourgeoisie (The Prince) to escape her class.

VII. Generalization

Today, we learned to read with the "Marxist lens." This lens helps us see that many stories are not just about good vs. evil, but about rich vs. poor and powerful vs. powerless.

This skill is valuable because it shows us how deeply our social and economic structures are woven into our culture. It helps us ask critical questions: Who has the power? Who is being exploited? And whose side is the story really on?

VIII. Evaluation

English 10 - Short Quiz No. 10

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

Full Name:

Result: English 10 - Short Quiz No. 10

Name:

Score:

Attempts:

IX. Additional Activity (Enrichment)

Assignment: Watch a popular movie or TV show (or think of one you know well).

Write one paragraph answering these three questions:

1. Who is the bourgeoisie (who has the power/money)?
2. Who is the proletariat (who is working for them or has no power)?
3. What is one power struggle (a conflict about money, class, or control) that you see between them?

Congratulations! You have completed Lesson 10.