Literature may be a part of Superstructure but it is not merely the passive reflection of the economic base. Engels denies the fact that there is a proportionate relation between base and superstructure. The ingredients of superstructure always a react upon the economic base and influences it. Some important forms of art flourish in the undeveloped stage of artistic production. Marx is of the opinion that there is no proportionate relation in the development of realistic production and artistic production.
A The Greeks we were able to produce great art Society. It means. in an economically undeveloped state of society. It means that the creation of great art does not depend on the highest development of productive force. The creation of the great art form like epic is possible only in an undeveloped society. Here is a quiry of Marx: Why these art-forms stir our mind in spite of a long-time gap. It is fact that Greek art and epic stage of social development. The difficulty lies here that provide us with aesthetic pleasure still now. All these art-forms serve somewhat as a yard-stick or un-imitable ideal.
Why does the Greek art provide us with aesthetic pleasure even today? Marx gives its appropriate answer:
A man cannot regain his childhood. If he does, he becomes childlike. But does he not get pleasure in this childlike simplicity? Does he not try to express again this truth of his childhood in his developed stage? Is not the real characteristics of each age reflected in the children of that age? Why this historical childhood of the humanity and its most beautiful revelation which will never come back, will not charm us for ever? This art-form flourished in the undeveloped society. There is a great influence of that art form on us. But there is no contradiction between that art form and its influence upon us. The undeveloped state of society in which this art form was born or the only social state which could bear forth it will never come back. So we like Greek-art because we go back to our childhood memories.
Marx opines that the Greeks were able to write great art not in spite of but because of their undeveloped state of society. In the ancient societies which were not divided by the division of labour of the Capitalist system and the societies in which ceaseless development of the productive force did not take place. There may exist a relation between man and nature. This coherence was possible a man due to the limitation of the Greek society. The childish world of the Greeks was attractive because its growth and development were confined within a limited boundary. This boundary is excelled by the unbound demand for production and consumption of the bourgeois society. It is historically true that limited society will breakdown as soon as the productive force breaks its boundary.
How is it possible that we take aesthetic delight in the art created by created by a society different from our own even today. Why do we the modern people respond to the adventures of Spartacus! We respond to the adventures because our history connects us with the continuity of that ancient society. We find an undeveloped stage in that society of the forces which regulate us at present. In that society we find an antique form by consistency between man and nature.
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