Essay On Capitalism

This article written by Karl Max was produced to expose the rise of the bourgeoisie, their strengths, frailties, undoing and their dark side, vis-a-vis their interactions with other strata of the society especially the Proletariat. The bourgeoisie is that class of modern capitalists. They own all the means of production and also employers of wage labour. Also, the proletariat belongs to that class of wage labourers of the modern day. They are the 'have not’s lacking their personal means of production but depend on the bourgeoisie for existence by selling their services in exchange for daily wages. Marx voiced his opinions following waves of monumental industrial changes sweeping across Europe. Recently industrialises cities were expanding rapidly and a larger percentage of the workers lived in penury and poverty. He thought that class struggles continued to repeat itself with the oppressed rising up in battle against their oppressors and that the eventual victory of one class in the struggle will ultimately lead to the freedom of the whole people. In the mediaeval and ancient times, the wealthy oppressed the poor plebeians, labourers and the slaves harshly and with impunity. However, as new and improved technologies were introduced and the economy improved, things changed. The middle class stood up against the old rulers challenging their authority and power, this was simplified because of the wealth accumulated from manufacturing and subsequent trading. At that point, the class which owned the property was locked in battle with those working in the industries (the proletariat) and it occurred frequently. The bourgeoisie had a certain weakness for money and craved for it on an endless note. They believed that money was everything and hence, a man's worth is the amount of money he had. Since the proletariat were very poor, the capitalists took a big advantage of this and shamelessly exploited them. The work done by the working class in the industries continued to advance the capitalists economic prosperity on a larger scale. The products of the various factories were sold for far higher prices than the corresponding efforts of labour. The capitalists made more profits never imagined in their wildest dreams and the more the workers worked harder, the poorer they became, because with the increasing economic prosperity came advancing technologies, hence, the working class were reduced to mere appendage of the machinery used for production in the various factories.
With the foregoing, capitalism was on a self destruction mission because the wealth and economic prosperity of the bourgeoisie depended on the continued exploitation of the working class. This implies that, capitalism requires an underclass to sustain itself and survive. However, the continued agitation for more pay and improved working conditions highlighted by the numerous workers unions formed by the workers will one day eventually bring about a revolution against the capitalists and subsequent overthrow of capitalism and all her acolytes. Eventual defeat of capitalism and its cohorts by the proletariat will result in an egalitarian society, where class structure would be abolished, slaves and freeborn would have equal rights to education, peace and harmony would reign.
In conclusion, capitalism, because of its harsh treatments of the working class would crumble under the weight of the antagonism and rebellion by the proletariat and a new classless society will evolve where each individual will have according to his own abilities. Where are the factors of production; land, labour, wealth and industry would be shared between all the citizens.

K. Marx (1847)The Communist Manifesto