Moth Smoke

Mohsin Hamid
Marxist Analysis:
Marxism is a method of socioeconomic analysis that views class relations and
social conflict using a materialist interpretation of historical development and
takes a dialectical view of social transformation.  It originates from the works of
19th Century German philosopher Karl Marx.
Story of this novel portrays the social culture and social history of Pakistan. It also
highlights the unevenness, disgusting and exploitation among working class and
land owner of the Pakistan just after the creation of Pakistan.
Realism:
Moth smoke brings out the social evils committed by elites as well as masses and
presents them as an important tool of obstacle in countries development. Lack of
concern, unequal distribution of wealth, moral corruption, and injustice. Moth
smoke acts as a cure in a lively manner to eliminate them from society.
Class Conflict:
Mohsin Hamid novel Moth Smoke true representative of Marx’s philosophy of
Marxism. Marxism defined that class struggle, class distinction, and class
differences are the main part of human life. According to Marx, all features of
society (e.g. political systems, law, religion, social norms) are molded by the
dominant class in order to help them maintain economic supremacy. Mohsin
Hamid describe the story comparatively. Ozi and Daru are a two young man, one
is belonging to upper class and other is belonging to middle class family. Ozi’s
father is a corrupt politician and he had facilitated all the necessities of life. Daru’s
father died in very age. High quality of education is only enjoyed by the rich.
 Elite can afford to send their children abroad for higher studies while poor have
to go only local institution. Ozi went abroad while Daru has to study at Govt.
College, Lahore. Elite classes are well connected in social set up.  Lower classes
have to suffer due to lack of connection.  Daru unable to find a new job because
of lack of proper connection.  Inequality of applicability of law created
dissatisfaction in the lower classes and exposes the class conflict. The attitude of
upper class towards the lower class is humiliating.
Corruption:
Upper class has superiority complex and lower class inferiority complex. This
complexity leads the classes to the corruption. Different type of corruption has
Been seen throughout the novel Social corruption, moral corruption, religious
Corruption and sexual corruption. Shahzad and Murad being educated face
complexities of life because of unemployment, so become criminal .Mumtaz is
taking revenge from Ozi and is a victim of complexity of life, so criminal. Ozi son of
wealthy corrupt father. All the characters have some kind of corruption in
themselves.
Alienation:
Alienation is a theoretical concept developed by Karl Marx that describes the
isolating, dehumanizing, and disenchanting effects of working within a capitalist
system of production. Managers who purchase labor from workers for wages,
creates the alienation of the entire working class. Lower class people work hard
but unable to fulfill the basic necessities of life. Lower class always feels insecure
as they Can’t afford the luxuries as rich had, as Daru is Jealous of his best friend to
attain the same position as well as to enjoy the same status. .Ozi has everything
while as Daru has nothing. Ozi has Pajero, a well Paid job, a foreign degree and a
beautiful wife Mumtaz.
False Consciousness :
The masses, or proletariat are deluded into thinking that everything is fine and
that the appalling in which they live and work are inevitable. This delusion is
known as False Consciousness. In Marxist terms, the masses suffer from false
class consciousness and fail to realize their common interest against their
exploiters. In Moth Smoke, Darashikoh meets utter destruction at the hands of
his brother-like friend Aurangzeb with whom he was brought up since childhood
because fathers to both were friends in pre-story scenario. His life since childhood
is on mercy of the rich and he seems to experience severe blows caused by the
rich people around him. Even further, it is known through these flashbacks that
Ozi’s father was giving money for Daru’s schooling, this was for keeping his affair
with Daru’s mother. Even Daru’s bank job was also on courtesy of the uncle (Ozi’s
father).
Capitalism :
capitalist do not work rather workers are doing hard working in their lands and
mills, so capitalist become gradually rich and they exploited the rights of worker,
so they had gradually become weaker and poorer. Capitalists are the owners of
the means of production. This constant exploitation becomes the cause of
aggressive and this aggression turns into revolution. The owner ship of the means
of production of the capitalist gives them freedom and control over the whole
society and they changed. Because of this case proletariat made hard struggle but
production gains all production and staying them empty handed. The novel
comments on the unequal distribution of wealth as a means of shaping the lives
of the people. Upper class enjoys disregard of laws and mistreatment of lower
class. Ozi has a new bigger house which makes Daru uncomfortable. Novel
exposes what is materially practiced by demonstrating how financial institutions
have so much power that they can fire anybody once he/she challenges the rules
of the game.