Spirits Rebellious: In Marxist Critical Perspective
Spirits Rebellious: In Marxist Critical Perspective
by Kate Borlasa
“Spirits
Rebellious,” a book written by Khalil Gibran, originally published in Arabic in
1908 contains three short stories entitled: Madame Rose Hanie, The Cry of the
Graves, and Khalil the Heretic. The characters in these stories share the same
fictional universe in the country of Lebanon where they struggle to attain
financial and moral justice in their society. Gibran uses freethinking
characters who break away from the oppressive social rules by following the
“truth.” He conveys the messages and lessons in his book by discussing the
concept of humility, justice, and the teaching of Christ as opposed to human
laws and societal norms. This textual analysis of Spirits Rebellious will look
on the Marxist elements depicted in the stories. Karl Marx’s theory discusses
the concept of capitalism and how it causes division among the society: the bourgeoisie
or those who own most of the wealth in the economy, and the proletariat or
those who belong to the wage-earning class. The bourgeoise are those who
control the working class exploit and manipulate the society, leading to a
conflict between the opposing classes. To eradicate capitalism, Marx’s goal is
to propagate a classless society where everybody works for the benefit of all. In
Spirits Rebellious, the main characters unfold the oppression of the ruling
class to the common people by questioning the power of their authority.
The
title of the book itself, “Spirits Rebellious” connotes a Marxist element in
which it refers to the main personas in the three stories who rebel against
human laws and social order in fulfillment of their bliss. Bold-spirited
individuals fight against corruption in deep reflection and action; persisting
to attain peace and order in spite of the persecution they receive from the authorities.
The protagonists actively engage in the economic and social situation in the
society as Madame Rose Hanie argues that she liberated herself from a forced
marriage and now freely expresses her love to another man who did not oblige
her to love him; the narrator in The Cry of the Graves contemplates on the
corrupted justice of human laws and how tragic justice is to the weak and
meager; and Khalil is declared as heretic for he opposes the power of the
church and the government. In terms of the economic situation and the class
structure, the bourgeoises are priests in the churches, the Sheiks, and the
Emir. “The farming of the land and the sowing of the seeds and the gathering of
wheat were all done under the supervision of the Sheik who, in reward for their
toil, compensated them with a small portion of crop” (Gibran 48). “Thus those
people remained obligated all their lives, left a legacy of debts to their
children and were submissive to their master…” (Gibran 48). The quotes imply
that the people under the Sheik’s rule struggle from capitalism wherein these
powerful people are exploiting the laborers. “When a man kills another man, the
people say he is a murderer, but when the Emir kills him, the Emir is just”
(Gibran 35). This idea states the brutal law in their country where the concept
of justice is immoral. The powerless are suppressed by the wealthy and powerful,
making them succumb to poverty and tyranny. Until the people keep remaining in
fear of the upper class, the hardship they experience from capitalism will continue
to another generation. The main characters in the three stories, Madame Rose
Hanie, Khalil, and the criminals killed by the Emir belong to the working class
in their economy. Because of their status, they belong to those who are
oppressed by the ruling class. Unlike the common people in the stories, these main
characters do not submit to the power of the superior instead, they open their
minds to a higher law – the teaching of Christ, which is treated as the
commodity in this analysis. The protagonists do not see their worth in the kind
of product they are labeled or the kind of product they produce. They believe
that true “humility,” “justice,” and “love” lies in the complete understanding
and practice of Christianity. Due to their virtues, they become alienated to
their own job or occupation. Madame Rose Hanie does not find it enjoyable being
a housewife of a wealthy man. Instead of relishing the riches and attention
given to her by her husband, she feels empty. Khalil as a monk in a monastery
is taught to “live a virtuous life of poverty and obedience.” However, he
cannot see this oath being practiced by the monks as they share bountiful
feasts, coffers full of gold, and a soft warm bed while the common people who
provide them these comforts fall as victims of starvation, exploitation, and
injustice. In search of spiritual truth, they respond to the oppression by
protesting against their ruler. In Marx’s The Communist Manifesto, it is
mentioned that the laborers will attempt topple capitalism through chaos. “Now,
heaven has opened our eyes and has shown us your atrocity; we shall leave you
and ignore you and allow heaven to do its will” (Gibran 109).
Marxism is evident Khalil Gibran’s
Spirits Rebellious. The stories display how the characters are challenged by
the prevailing social issue. Although written in the early twentieth century,
the book exhibit characteristics relating to Victorian literature. The ideals
of Victorian literature stresses on elements such as “truth,” “justice,”
“love,” and “brotherhood.” These Victorian literary ideals are the commodities
utilized for trampling down the concept of capitalism. Such virtues continuously
give light of movement in eliminating social class conflict and tyrannical
power. Spirits Rebellious was a representation of Gibran’s life when the book was
written. He teaches us that amidst chaos in humanity, peace is achieved through
humility. True power itself lies in love and is learned through selflessness.
Overall, truth and justice reside in the spirits and is not dictated by the
society or any human law.
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