Theoretical Framework REVIEW OF LITERATURE

For Marxism, literature does not exist in some timeless, aesthetic realm as an object to be passively contemplated. Rather, like all cultural manifestations, it is a product of the socioeconomic and hence ideological conditions of the time and place in which it was written, whether or not the author intended it so. The reason is under the conviction that human beings are themselves of their socioeconomic and ideological environment Lois, 2006: 66. At least there are two interests of Marxist critics. First, the literary work might tend to reinforce in the reader the ideologies it embodies. Second, it might invite the reader to criticize the ideologies it represents Lois, 2006: 66. It is focusing on the social, political, and economic forces in society demonstrated in the literary text, including the interactions of classes and ideology in a text. Marxist approach to literature generally asks if the literary work reinforces whether intentionally or not capitalist, imperialist or classist value. After answering the question, the critic’s job is exposing and condemning that aspect of the work. In addition, Marxist literary approach seeks to answer if the work can be seen as a critique or capitalism, imperialism or classism and in what ways the text reveals and invites the reader to condemn the oppressive socioeconomic forces including repressive ideologies. A literary work can be said as to have a Marxist agenda if it criticizes or invites the reader to criticize oppressive socioeconomic forces Lois, 2006:68. The goal of using Marxist theory in literary criticism, Lois argued, is to help enrich our reading of literary works. Moreover, it helps us to see the ways in which ideology blinds us to our own participation in oppressive sociopolitical agendas 2006:68. Besides concerning with identical issues, including how a literary text reveals truth and values on oppression and class conflicts, Marxist approach also promotes socialism Bressler: 1999.

C. Method of the Study

This research is a library research. The source that is primarily used was Kappa, a novel written by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. The secondary sources used are a number of theoretical books, either related to capitalism theories, or literary theories, which are relevant to the topic discussed in this thesis. To analyze the essence of capitalism, the books that were used were Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber; and Capitalism: A Very Short Introduction. While in analyzing the relation between Marxism and literary works the writer used Marxism and Form: Twentieth-Century Dialectical Theories of Literature and Critical Theory Today: A User-friendly Guide. The source the writer’s understanding on capitalism in Japan and its social, historical, economy condition were A Historical Transformation from Feudalism to ‘Capitalism’, The Development Capitalism in Japan and Capitalism and Nationalism in Prewar Japan: The Ideology of the Business Elite. The writer also used some books and articles to explain about allegory and its function as a literary devices such as Allegory: The Theory of a Symbolic Mode, A Glossary of Cultural Theory, On Symbol and Allegory, and A Handbook to Literature.