1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary Essay

1. Discuss the ways in which The Communist Manifesto uses literary means for political ends - Essay Example This spectre is revealed to be communism, and it captures the imagination at the very start. The second indication of quite sophisticated literary mechanisms at work is the way that the argument is built around a fundamental conflict. The â€Å"holy alliance† between what are described â€Å"reactionary powers† and â€Å"Communism.† The authors grab the attention of the reader by taking familiar politicians, such as Metternich, and other leading figures such as the Pope and the Tsar, and linking them with obviously evil individuals such as â€Å"police spies† in the same sentence (p. 2). This device recasts all these players as harmful opponents, and defines Communism in opposition to these elements as something positive and wholesome, as well as a worthy foe to these forces. A second literary device that is used repeatedly in the Communist Manifesto is the use of emotive description, often piled up in an exaggerated way, in order to add drama and tension to the political views that are presented. Examples of this are the description of Free Trade as â€Å"naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation† (p. 5) and that of the doctrines of German Socialism as â€Å"The robe of speculative cobwebs, embroidered with flowers of rhetoric, steeped in the dew of sickly sentiment, this transcendental robe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.26). These above-mentioned devices make the text more elaborate, but at the same time more engaging for the reader, because they contain quite strong emotional content. The text switches from this elaborate language to a simpler style when key points are made. The authors make complex ideas simpler by using personification : â€Å"As the parson has ever gone hand in hand with the landlord so has clerical socialism with feudal socialism† (p. 23). They also split the text into sections with explanatory headings so that the reader does not mistake the key message contained in each section. There are recap phrases