Marxist Theory in Hard Times (Coketown) and Watercress GirlThese two works can both be examined from a Marxist perspective to find an explanation for the purpose of the authors. by putting pen to paper. When using a Marxist approach to analyzing literature, we must keep several key terms in mind. Looking at these texts, we must keep in mind what the bourgeoisie is; it is the upper or ruling class of a society. They are in place to rule because of their control over “the economic basis or means of production” (Bressler 212). Because it controls the base, the bourgeoisie will “consciously and unconsciously impose” its “ideology” on the proletariat or the working class. The ideology mentioned concerns the beliefs, values ​​and art of a society. By analyzing Coketown and Watercress Girl, we can see a certain influence of the bourgeoisie on the ideologies of the proletariat conveyed in the text. In Watercress Girl we have several excellent examples of forced ideologies. During his interview with the girl, Henry Mayhew recorded statements such as "although only eight years old, she had completely lost all her childish habits and was, indeed, in thought and manner, a woman » (1838). In this case, we have an eight year old girl forced to become a woman due to the economic conditions of the time. Even though this child lived with her mother who was a seamstress, she was nevertheless obliged to work as a street seller of “watercress” (1339). Evidence of this lifeless state of the girl can be seen in the statement: "We children never play there, because [because] we think of our lives" (Mayhew 1389) . Here we have the statement of a young girl who admits that she cannot play because of necessity or working for a living. One might ask, what does this have to do with the bourgeoisie and its control over ideology? If we look closely at the young girls' statements, we can see underlying meanings. This young girl is missing out on her childhood; a period where she is supposed to learn values ​​that only her parents can pass on to her. These values ​​that she should learn at home from her parents are now instilled by values ​​learned on the streets while trying to make a living. When the girl says, “We never come home to breakfast until we sell our goods” (Mayhew 1839).