Take 3 different termsbelow from Marxist Criticism and apply each to one of the stories/poems below, so you'll have 3 separate responses here--a quote and an illustration of that quote for three literary selections. You must use the selections below. You have three prose works, including Miller's play, and three poems. Use at least one of the poems and one of the prose works, which can involve either Miller, Olsen, or Updike. In other words, you want reference to poetic and prose works in your essay. Don't forget to use specific quotes from the stories/poems too.
Marxist Criticism terms to use:
• base-the Marxist term for an established economic system
• bourgeoisie-middle classes
• commodification-when consumers value the products not for their usefulness but only for the pride they take in owning them
• conspicuous consumption-an extreme form of commodification
• economic determinism-when all parts of society are affected by the corrupt ideology of the ruling class
• false consciousness-when people are convinced by those in power to accept capitalist ideology without question
• Marxism-a political and economic ideology that is based on the theories of Marx and Engels
• proletariat-working class
• superstructure-the Marxist term for the culture that is supported by the base
Prose works and poems you must use:
• Death of a Salesman, (1000-1080); Tillie Olsen, "I Stand Here Ironing," (418-425); John Updike, "A and P" (430-435)
• James Wright, "Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy's Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota"; W.H. Auden, "The Unknown Citizen"; Mitsuye Yamada, "To the Lady".