Appleman Ch 4

Appleman's introduction to Marxism is simlply that, an introduction. The topic of Marxism has so many layers and elicits many responses, some curious others unfavorable. She suggests using Marxism as a tool to go further into the background of a text. She juxtaposes Marxism with other lenses such as feminism and cultural studies. She asserts 'This quest for additional knowledge helps set the stage for cultural criticism or for political lenses such as Marxism and feminism' (Appleman 59). This in a nut shell provides the reason why teachers should at leats consider teaching through a Marxist lense. She later demonstrate what it may look like to tecah through this lense in a reading of 'Hamlet'. It focused on being socially conscious and aware of the political biases present in even the most classic literature such as 'Hamlet'.

I believe that Marxism is a useful tool in allowing students to dig deeper into the political framework of a given literary piece. It encourages students to be conscious of our political constructs and how they shape the authors voice as they tell a story through novels. Although Marxism compels readers to scan their world with a political eye, it is often associated with communism (as Appleman mentioned), which is a sour subject for most Americans. I imagine that while introducing this lense into the classroom, an instructor would have no choice but to anticipate possible problems from parents and potentially students too. Sending a note home may ease the tension. I, personally would take from Marxism, all that I want my students to know (political biases, seeing things through a socially conscious lense etc) and call it something else just to avoid any issues!