Exploring Class Struggle and Economic Inequality in Tariq Rahman’s The Sweepress: A Marxist Analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the portrayal of class struggle and socioeconomic inequality in the short story The Sweepress by Tariq Rahman, employing a Marxist analytical framework. By highlighting these structural inequalities, this study demonstrates the significance of Marxism in understanding the socio-economic disparities within society. The study utilizes a qualitative methodology, relying on textual analysis to interpret the story’s themes and characters through key Marxist concepts such as the class system, exploitation, alienation, and structural inequality. The findings reveal that The Sweepress vividly depicts the exploitation of the working class, specifically the caste-marked laborers, and their struggle against systemic inequality. The story highlights the perpetuation of power dynamics by the bourgeoisie and the resultant alienation and dehumanization faced by the proletariat. The narrative not only critiques the entrenched class and caste hierarchies but also underscores the resilience and agency of the oppressed.