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Class Conflict

  • The proletariat are innately raised to have pride in their work, which prevents them from overthrowing the bourgeoisie even though they are ironically more powerful than them
  • In order for the working class to end the cycle of subservience to the social structure of the bourgeoisie, they must establish their own terms and demand for justice
  • ""There is power in a factory, power in the land, power in the hands of a worker/ But it all amounts to nothing if together [they] don't stand", the proletariats ultimately have the power to form their own values. This power is often lost as the proletariats are hesitant to overthrow their opresses due to the pride they feel in their work. When the proletariats act with silence, the society remains stagnant

Class Conscoiusness

The End of History

-A class conflict is what drives the revolution of the proletariat closer to the "final resting place" of a system that is a "comfort to the widow, a light to the child' as implied by "There Is Power In A Union.

-The poem suggests change is soon to come in favour of the proletariat lifestyle, therefore initiation a transition in history itself.

  • The total exploitation of the proletariats by the bourgeoisie led to the workers developing "class conscoiusness" as they became aware of the unjust predicament they were existing within

  • The persona in the poem displays a high level of class conciousness as the poem emphasizes the opression of the working class "but who'll defend the workers who cannot organise". The poem suggests that the working class has the power to stand together and resist the brutality and unjust laws that have been inflicted upon them by their superior bosses

Connection to Marxism

Class Struggle

  • The poem highlights the unbalanced distribution of power in society as the working majority is exploited by the owners. The wealth and ownership of the bourgeoisie ( factory owners) allows them to have complete influence over the proletariats (working class) who lack the wealth and status necessary to be recognized as human beings. The proletariat persona within the poem recognizes the injustice inflicted upon the working class throughout history as "the lessons of the past were all learned with workers blood". The proletariats struggle to be recognized as more than objects capable of helping the bourgeoisie attain more wealth and power, the humanity of the proletariats is ignored.
  • Contrasting themes are used throughout the poem as the narrator uses this technique to convey the primary message of power

  • By speaking of the injustices experienced by the proletariats at the hand of the bourgeoisie, an emotional response is triggered and the poem than suggests that "There is power in a union". This contrast is effective in conveying the message that although injustice has occurred, the proletariats have the power to change the structure their lives have taken and demand the justice they deserve

Theme

  • Power
  • The poem suggests that individuals who are oppressed within society must unite in order to gain the power necessary to introduce justice

  • This message is universal as oppression can present itself in various ways throughout society and any group of individuals who are battling oppression have the ability to counteract the injustice inflicted upon them by standing together

  • The proletariats must utilize the power their words and actions have over the bourgeoisie

  • The poem recognizes the fact that change is difficult to implement on an individual level. In order for the rights of an oppressed group to be heard the demands of numerous individuals must be expressed in unison so that they are heard by the superior individuals

  • "There is power in a factory, power in the land, power in the hands of the worker" (Hill 1913)

  • The theme of power is present throughout the poem, the central message is concerned with providing the proletariats with a sense of power to inspire them to form a union and demand for the justice the bourgeoisie have denied them throughout history

  • The narrator is attempting to instill a sense of power into the working class by reminding them of the change they are capable of implementing when they demand for justice. The narrator further strengthens this message to the working class by referring to the historical struggle of the working class as "..the lessons of the past were all learnt with workers' blood"

Poetic Devices

Persona

  • Proletariat empowering peers. The persona uses the term "sir" as though the narrator is adressinga a superior, indicating that the persona is young and a member of the working class. It seems that the persona was born into a life of opression at the hands of the bourgeoisie which is why the persona inherently understands that "War has always been the bosses way"

Diction

  • Stanzas 1, 3 and 5 end with the same sentence, "There is power in a union". This phrase is used to empower the work force to form a union and exercise the power they have to achieve justice
  • The term "black leg" is used to suggest that opression is a form of sickness. This term also alludes to facism as within this system of government individuals are opressed by the dictator who has absolute control

Metaphor

  • "Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own Who comes to speak for the skin and bone". Describing money as having the ability to speak emphasizes the fact that individuals prioritize material wealth above the well being of human beings. This highlights the dehumanization that the bourgeoisie have inflicted upon the proletariats as they neglect to recognize the lack of humanity displayed by their selfish behaviour

  • Furthermore, the narrator refers to the proletariats as "the skin and bone" which suggests that the bourgeoisie have dehumanized the proletariats so severly that they are left as only skin and bone, lacking a soul or any other humanly qualities

Repetition

  • Repetition is an effective device that is utilized throughout the poem, allowing the narrator to emphasize the most important themes and ideas being communicated through the work

  • The word "power" is used extensively throughout the poem in order to emphasize the fact that although the proletariats may feel as though they lack the ability to control their own lives due to the overwhelming presence of the bourgeoisie, they ultimately have the power to unite and take control of their lives

Problem

  • The worker population is disproportionately powerless to the authority population who feed from the fruits of their labour. The labourers understand that there is power in the hands of a worker/ But it all amounts to nothing if together [they] don't stand." Thus, they see that "there is power in a union" and that the union itself is the only power they can retain and use against the authority

Persona

  • The persona of the poem is the voice of several workers who suffer under the feet of the authority. The voice of the workers include "brothers and... sisters from mant far off lands...from the cities and the farmlands to the trenches full of mud"

Summary of Action

  • The poem examines the experiences of workers (proletarians) who feel that they are powerless in the positions they hold in comparison to the authority figures (bourgeoisie) who benefit and enjoy the "fruits" of their labour. However, the workers are well aware that "there is power in a union" and that "the union [will] forever [defend] [their] rights". They are also hopeful that one day the authority figures will "realize that brutality and unjust laws can not defeat [them]".

Marxism Poetry Analysis

"There Is Power In A Union"

Billy Bragg

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