According to Marx, why were the proletariat unable to develop a political awareness of their class position while the bourgeoisie were able to do so?
A) The proletariat lacked interest or motivation to do so, while the bourgeoisie were well connected politically and able to exploit their class position.
B) The proletariat were continually occupied with the struggle to make ends meet, while the bourgeoisie developed ways to keep the proletariat divided.
C) The proletariat were not as intelligent as the bourgeoisie.
D) The proletariat were entirely accepting of their position in society and recognized that class division is innate in any society.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Marx believed that the proletariat were constantly occupied with the struggle to make ends meet, which prevented them from developing a political awareness of their own class position. In contrast, the bourgeoisie were able to develop such an awareness due to their economic and political power, which allowed them to control the means of production and manipulate society in their own interests. Additionally, the bourgeoisie were able to keep the proletariat divided by creating false ideologies and promoting individualistic values, which distracted the proletariat from recognizing their shared class interests.

According to Marx, Why Were the Proletariat Unable to Develop