The early life of Karl Marx
Karl Marx's early life was extremely important in shaping the way he thought about society and governments and what he thought could make them better, and his experiences and up-bringing made him a pro-communist writer and believer. Karl Marx was born on May 5th in the year 1818. He was born in the small town of Trier, Germany. Trier is located in Western Germany near France and is considered the most French-like city of Germany. Trier was built by the Romans and lies in the heart of the wine region which makes vineyards the principal business of Trier. The city numbered some 12,000 people back in Marx's time. Trier was once part of Napoleon's empire, but was incorporated into Prussia by 1815. Western Germany was mostly inhabited by the Jewish. Many Jews converted to Catholicism due to the Jewish faith not being liked by government leaders. Marx was born into a middle-class Jewish family. His mother and father were both Jewish. His father, being the head of the family, converted to Catholicism. Judaism was not accepted especially for the father of the family. Judaism was passed down by Marx's grandfather being a Rabbi and a faithful Jew. Marx's mother refused to convert to Catholicism, but allowed all seven of her
Karl did not have any close friends in school. He preferred spending time with adults, most likely because they were more intelligent. Marx spent most of his time with his father and the Royal Prussian Privy Councilor Ludwig Von Westphalen. Ludwig added many ideas to Marx's mind and also gave him more liberal views. Ludwig also had many intellectual interests that helped Karl. After Marx left the University of Bonn he fell in love with the girl he liked in high school. Her name was Jenny and she was known as the most beautiful girl in Trier. She also had some noble lineage. She and Karl decided to get married. Marx's parents were shocked and not very enthused with the idea of him being married so soon. Before marrying Jenny he decided to finish college to please his father. This time he went to the University of Berlin which was far away from his family and Jenny. He didn't come back until he was finished, which was three years. His father wanted him to study law at the University which Karl didn't mind. Karl was a much more diligent student this time around mostly due to his new found love and responsibility in marrying Jenny. Heinrich Marx mostly tried to conform with the Prussian Government in public. At one time he expressed non-conformist opinions in public. When he did this the Prussian Police reacted and Heinrich withdrew everything he said. The police used force in these instances where people expressed non-conformist views. Heinrich Marx and his son Karl had very different opinions on what he should do with his life. Karl had wants and his father had wishes for his son. Heinrich wanted him to do practical things with his intelligence like inventing new things that are useful to people. Marx had no interest in any science or inventions. Marx focused more on what he liked in school. Marx liked literature and rhetoric. He read tirelessly because he thought reading was the most necessary thing for a good education, which helped him become more knowledgeable on all types of things. Karl decided to write poetry for a while in his late teens. He enjoyed writing essays and poems. Marx finally married Jenny after seven years of engagement. Jenny was his youthful and only love. Around this time Marx came to his final philosophical changes. He grew a relationship with Moses Hess, a "communist rabbi", as Marx called him. Hess had converted others to communistic beliefs. Among these people was Friedrich Engels in1842. Friedrich was high class German, and he also helped convert Marx. Karl went to Paris, France, which was the place where most Hegelians and Communist/Socialists met. Marx was already considered a Socialist. But he still changed his views most drastically while in Paris. He really had no other changes in his philosophy after the meeting in Paris. Karl had many ways of thinking about the world and of course he was gifted in his intelligence. Many people said he had an "abstract approach" to the world. which gave him a very legalistic way of thinking. He was also very causistic and analytical about society and the world. He believed that all men were created "equal" in personal relationships, legally and also politically. Karl was a very good child. Though he was stubborn
Some common words found in the essay are:
Heinrich Marx, University Bonn, Prussian Police, Marx Berlin, Louis Blanc, Jenny Karl, Rhine Gazette, Karl Karl, Paris Karl's, Jewish Jews, karl marx, heinrich marx, university bonn, marx passionate logician, passionate logician, prussian government, karl marx passionate, father's death, marx passionate, karl's father's death, marx's parents, didn't help, converted catholicism,
Approximate Word count = 2200
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
|