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.