Class Struggle as Perceived in The Characters of Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians

Abstract

This study aims to provide a discussion toward class struggle described in the characters of Kevin Kwan’s novel Crazy Rich Asians. The novel describes two classes that can be found in the characters of Rachel and Kerry as the proletariat while Young Family as the bourgeoise. The proletariat who has to sell their ability to survive while the bourgeoisie consists of people who own capital or production. Class differences experienced by the lower class and the upper-class result in a class struggle, where Rachel wants to be accepted and treated well in the Young Family. Both classes demonstrate their socio-economic status through the characterization provided by the author. In conducting this study, the researcher uses a qualitative method. The primary data used to compile this study is the object of the study, Kevin Kwan’s novel Crazy Rich Asian. The secondary data used to analyze the study, the researcher used Marxism theory and some related theories that can help the researcher to develop this study. The researcher analyzes the classes portrayed in the novel, the ways the upper class maintains their position, and the lower class struggles against the upper class. This study shows the lower class’s failure in class struggle happened because the bourgeoisie has more power to maintain their reputation and position, so they do not give a space for the proletariat to move to the higher class.