In the excerpts of Karl Marx's piece, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, Marx astutely points out the tragic fate of workers toiling away in a society under the wings of ruthless capitalists. This is a poignant reality that results in a paradoxical phenomenon, an outcome in the form of psychological effects that are part of what Marx calls "alienated labor". From alienated labor, Marx draws a fundamental comparison between humans and animals, making one cogitate their quality of life. The injustice of this situation, where the workers are at the unfortunate end of any market outcome, is palpable.
In a world dominated by capitalists, the workers never win. Not that winning is ever in a worker's perceivable future, but the worker is always at the unfortunate end of any market outcome. Workers, like commodities, struggle to find buyers for their labor. The demand decides the production, and when the demand declines, the workers are reduced to struggle in destitution. This environment renders the situation where "[t]he workers do not always gain when capitalists gain, but he necessarily loses with him" ("Wages of Labor," 7). When the economy is prosperous, this may appear beneficial to the workers, as more work is available. However, the malevolent side of this type of economy is it leads to intense overwork among the workers, consequently shortening their lives. Adding to the fact, an increase in wealth equates to increased competition among capitalists; when a section of capitalists falls into the working class, it inevitably causes raging competition among workers. On the contrary, when the market tanks, "the workers suffer in his existence while the capitalist suffers in the profit on his dead mammon" ("Wages of Labor" 10). This is the bitter dose of reality the workers are coerced into. In capitalists' eyes, they can only see social power and wealth, while those under them struggle for subsistence and with the detrimental effects of "alienated labor".
Workers in a capitalist way of production wallow in self-pity as they are coerced into alienated labor. His work is not done to satisfy his deeper needs but rather out of necessity for the benefit of others and his physical existence. This type of labor is not part of a worker's nature; he does not feel fulfilled at work, and all his energy is projected into tasks that gradually erode his tired soul. The harder he works, the more powerful and unattainably opulent the world becomes, and the less he belongs to himself. This depicts the paradoxical reality that the greater the input, the less output left for himself and the worsening of his diminishment.
Marx observes that a worker is only active during "animal functions" (eating, drinking, and procreating), while his "human functions" (such as independent thinking, spontaneous actions, and soul fulfilment) are reduced to an animal. It is "[a] conscious life activity that distinguishes man from the life activity of animals" ("Alienated Labor" 47). Alienated labor takes the "free" out of man's self-conscious free activity; it eliminates any bit of spontaneity a man has. In order to break free from this, he must separate himself from animals; his life activity should be decided upon his will and goals, something that ignites his inner passion and fuels every inch of him. Every man has his own ambitions and passions, and it is up to him to cultivate them and allow them to grow. A life that snobby capitalists rule is not worth living, and a man should realize that and consciously rebel against it. Most definitely, uncertainties will come with deviating from the norm, and many backlashes will arise from such actions. However, to live a fulfilling "human" life, a man should exercise valor and not allow these probable risks to override the life he deserves: A spontaneous and self-fulfilling life.
In the “Wages of Labor,” Marx elaborates on how the workers in a capitalist mode of production always suffer the most, whether the economy is doing well or failing. With this unfortunate certainty, workers are presented with pernicious labor that can undeniably damage their inner-selves and souls. In order to rectify this, workers need to courageously break free from the restraints of living for others and start living for themselves. The fruits from their work should be enjoyed not only by others but also by themselves. They should also have entitlement over their own work, the type of work that allows spontaneity and liberty.