Marxist literary theory posits that literature is determined by the economic conditions and class relations of the society in which it is produced.

Marx and Engels believed that literature is a tool of class struggle, used by the ruling class to maintain its power and control.

Realism, with its focus on everyday life and the struggles of ordinary people, is often seen as the literary movement most closely aligned with the working class.

Dickens' novels, such as Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, vividly depict the harsh realities of life for the working class in Victorian England.

Lee's novel explores the complex interplay of race, class, and justice in the American South during the Jim Crow era.

Cultural Materialism, developed by Raymond Williams and others, examines how literature is shaped by and reflects the material conditions of society, including class relations.

Bourdieu posits that taste is a form of cultural capital, which is a resource that can be used to gain social advantage and distinction.

Eliot's novels, such as Middlemarch and The Mill on the Floss, delve into the complex social and economic realities faced by women of different classes in Victorian England.

Fitzgerald's novel explores the relationship between social class and wealth, the American Dream, and the cultural and social changes of the Jazz Age.

Realism emerged in the 19th century as a response to the social and economic changes brought about by industrial capitalism and urbanization.

McRobbie's book examines the complex relationship between class and leisure, arguing that the working class has its own distinct leisure culture, but is also influenced by and excluded from mainstream leisure activities.

O'Casey's plays, such as Juno and the Paycock and The Plough and the Stars, depict the lives and struggles of the working class in Dublin during the early 20th century.

Bourdieu argues that social class is determined by both economic capital (wealth and income) and cultural capital (education, knowledge, and taste).

These authors are all known for their powerful and insightful explorations of class and race in their novels, often focusing on the experiences of African Americans in the United States.

Du Bois's book explores the complex and multifaceted experiences of African Americans in the United States, arguing that they have a distinct double consciousness, are excluded from mainstream American society, but are also capable of achieving full equality.