SUPPRESSION, OPPRESSION, AND SURVIVAL: THE EXPLOITED WORKER IN TONI MORRISON’S JAZZ

Abstract

Karl Heinrich Marx’s worker loses his identity as he descends to the level of commodity by working like a machine in a capitalist world. Capitalism thrives on exploitation, unemployment and monopoly of the capital. I endeavour to locate how Toni Morrison’s Jazz accentuates the struggle of oppressed members of the black community against firm structures of slavery, feudalism and capitalism. Morrison addresses strain perpetuated on burdened people through exploitation of economy; thus Jazz epitomizes the marginalized section of the society, which is not given equal opportunities to sustain and have no access to wealth and positions of privilege. The dominant class uses power and discourse to make the system appear logical and natural. Analysis is based on examples from the text, which are stylistically worked out and structurally scrutinized. It is an examination of social realities of African-American community which has decided to raise voice against injustice.

Keywords: bourgeoisie, capitalism, economic, exploitation, labourer, proletariat