The Influence of Material Possession on Social Class in the Novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart using Marxism and Hegemony Theory

Abstract

This research discusses the struggle for wealth in the novel We Were Liars by E. Lockhart which is analyzed using Karl Mark's Marxist theory and Antonio Gramsci's theory of hegemony. Ideally, humans live happily with their own share of wealth. However, the emergence of groups with abundant wealth who are greedy want to dominate the social class. This of course has an impact on other groups of people who are below them. The focus of this research is on Harris and the methods used to control members of his family who are in lower positions and how they respond to this as well as the factors that result in them being controlled. The control exercised by Harris as the ruling class is proven by the theory of hegemony which is mostly described through manipulative discourse. Domination by the ruling class is maintained through the ideology they instill. Meanwhile, the response from the lower class can be proven using Marxist theory where two different responses will be formed, namely obedience and rejection. This research uses a qualitative design with the close reading method. The results of the research show that from the domination exercised by Harris, it was found that there were parties who submitted to him and there were also parties who resisted. So a conflict arises which is the impact of the opposing party. This conflict will end the greed of the ruling class who wants to dominate the social class.