Manifestations of Capitalism from a Marxist Perspective : A comparison of Cultural Values and Moral Codes in Moby Dick and David Copperfield

This is a study of Charles Dickens David Copperfield and Herman Melville Moby Dick from a Marxist perspective, exploring the different manifestations of the capitalist system, with critical reference to the theories of Raymond Williams and Terry Eagleton. It will attempt to understand cultural differences, values and moral codes, that the two novels reveal about Victorian England and Antebellum America, at this point in literary history, the decade of time with 1850 at its centre. The thesis will explore how the cultural legacy and ambitions of each nation is represented in each of the novels. By comparing the central themes of each work, the study will attempt to illustrate how capitalism is expressed specifically in each nation.