the condition of the working class in england by friedrich engels

This leads the working class - proletarian - has thus become enslaved to the upper class - bourgeoisie. He believes that the sheer wealth of the upper class has allowed them to own the essentials of life and charge the lower class for their use. This basic argument is the one which Engels presents to Marx when they begin cooperating. The proletarian is, therefore, in law and in fact, the slave of the bourgeoisie, which can decree his life or death.' Engels, p. What the proletarian needs, he can obtain only from this bourgeoisie, which is protected in its monopoly by the power of the state. 'The bourgeoisie has gained a monopoly of all means of existence in the broadest sense of the word. He views himself as a benefactor to these people. Through these varied associations he learns to value himself differently, without allowing money to influence his self-image. He stops spending time with his social peers and devotes his attention to the lower class. 27Įngels takes it upon himself to make amends with the working class. Glad, because thus I was induced to spend many a happy hour in obtaining a knowledge of the realities of life-many an hour, which else would have been wasted in fashionable talk and tiresome etiquette proud, because thus I got an opportunity of doing justice to an oppressed and calumniated class of men who with all their faults and under all the disadvantages of their situation, yet command the respect of every one but an English money-monger.' Engels, p. 'I forsook the company and the dinner-parties, the port-wine and champagne of the middle-classes, and devoted my leisure-hours almost exclusively to the intercourse with plain working men I am both glad and proud of having done so. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

The condition of the working class in england by friedrich engels