Marxism Lens Analysis in This Perfect Day

Marxism Lens Analysis in This Perfect Day
In many societies, social controls are established to maintain adherence to societal rules and norms. They are usually designed to shape the behavior of anyone considered problematic, undesirable, or threatening in the community (Weisburd et al. 37). However, in some circumstances, a controlled society might be draining and oppressive, especially to civilized individuals who do not want to be limited on what one should or should not do. In the book This Perfect Day by Ira Levin, published in 1970, a controlled society is depicted. The characters are told where to live, what to eat, whom to marry, and when to bear a child.
Marxism is a philosophy developed by Karl Max. It is a socioeconomic analysis method that applies interpretation of historical materialism and development to give an understanding perspective of social conflict and class relations. Therefore, Marxism can be regarded as the basis of communism because it defines a social and political society with no classes (Sayers 378). This theory supports the idea that communities should have no classes since such distinction is the primary cause of struggles. Marxists also believe that a classless society brings peace and prosperity, which will be attained if capitalist ideologies are abolished (Guo 114). However, it is a struggle to accomplish this because individuals are already used to a capitalist society.
The analysis in This Perfect Day can be made through a Marxism lens point of view. Marxism's lens within a story majorly gives special attention to oppression, class struggles, division of classes, and its political background (Parkin 165). With these aspects in mind, one can tell there is Marxism in the book's entire text. There is a distinction between classes such as the ordinary people and the UniComp. Through a Marxism lens, the text presents struggles and injustices experienced among classes of ordinary people and the UniComp/Uni persons. The UniComp acts as the bourgeoisie, one with power, control, wealth, and fame. On the other hand, the ordinary people act as the proletariat, those without power, wealth, or control over their lives. The founders of UniComp aim to control everyone by injecting drugs into them. They have also established laws and rules that are primarily against the common good of the people. In addition, the mentor, counselor, or adviser roles are not intended to help the people. They exist to manipulate individuals into believing that Uni has a plan for them. They also exist because they want to eliminate any harmful or dangerous thoughts about Uni. Ordinary individuals have no choice but to follow instructions because there are punishments for those who fail to do so. Ordinary people's situation in this place is helpless since they all suffer from society's injustices.
Marxism is also expressed in the text through the oppression posed to the main character, Chip. During Chip's childhood and adolescence stages, his grandfather and Papa Jan spent most of their time teaching him how to be brave and defy UniComp's rules and norms, making him a different child. During this period, the Uni could control people by directing them on things to do. Therefore, Chip feared them most and could not face the officers before Papa Jan assured him everything was fine. In expressing his brevity, he could be discouraged by his mentor to stop behaving and thinking in ways that were against the will of the Uni class of people. This is evidence that Chip was being prevented from discovering the truth at his younger age. The Uni knew that his way of thinking could lead to his understanding of society's true purpose, which could be disastrous if explored. It is a struggle between Chip and Uni because he follows their laws and orders in the pretense of being a good citizen. However, he suffers inwardly because that is not what he wants. At his tender age, when he also learned about the word "incurable," he was dismissed by Bob, his mentor, to forget about it because it does not ...