Katie Klein
History 102
Section 009
Socialism is, and has been since its creation, a misunderstood political philosophy, especially in the capitalistic Western world. The common view of socialism by democracy and its supporters is that it suppresses the voice of the individual in order to create a uniform society where the weak (the poor) feed off the strong (the rich). In reality, Marx’s aim in his socialist philosophy is not in the transformation of the political constitution of society, nor the elimination of disparities between the social classes, but rather the ability of many to have control of his own destiny. This is outlined in Marx’s Communist Manifesto, which attributes the realization of this autonomous power only through the reformation of the previously mentioned societal agents. The exerpt in study is one from the autobiography of Ottillie Baader, a German socialist woman whos lived during the turn of the 20th century. The root of Baader’s accordance with socialism lies in her experience as a laborer, who is slave to the industrial system, which pits employee against his employer, his fellow employee, and his familly member, and ultimately results in the complete discontent in one’s life amassed by the tremendous struggle to survive. The aim of Marxist socialism is the eradicate the very hardhsips experienced by Baader, and many other laborers, that make life seemingly not worth living.
The exerpt specifically adresses Baader’s experience as a worker in the industrial market alongside growing technology and capitalism. She describes her working conditions as arduous and tiring, working 11 hours a day, with a small break for lunch, along side 100 other women operating a sewing machine in the exact same way (Baader Lines 26-28). This type of working condition is mentioned in the Manisfesto when Marx describes the montony and simplicity of such factory jobs, which make the worker “an appendage of the machine,” and causes him to lose all...