Comparing Inequalities Between 'The Doctor And The Doctor's Wife'

Founded by Karl Marx, Marxism is a school of thought which explores the relationship between the upper and lower classes of society. It was taught through Marxism that the main cause for historical change was disputes between social classes. This social warfare stemmed from the belief that the state, or government, for as long as it has existed, has used its authority to oppress the working masses for the benefit of the wealthy few. The relationship between the proletariats, the working class, and the bourgeoisie, the rich, was posited as one of opposition and conflict. Marx believed that a successful capitalist-run society was impossible and doomed to fail. Inequalities between the privileged and the unfortunate would lead to a war of the
classes, and a classless society would result, with the proletariats seizing the means of production. Marxist literary criticism concerns itself with class differences in the economy and its complications. When viewed through a Marxist lens, Ernest Hemingway’s short story “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife” suggests that conflicts that arise within a social class bode for the demise of that class. “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife” begins by describing the doctor and Dick Boulton’s job of sawing up logs they find on the beach.
After leading a small crew there, the doctor, referred to as “Doc,” refuses to allow the logs they find to be sawed up after he realizes they strayed from a boat belonging to “White and McNally.” It can be inferred that this is a powerful business in the story, representing the bourgeoisie, which is most like the reason for Doc’s sudden urge to leave the logs where they found them. Disagreeing with Doc’s decision, Dick confronts him, and Doc, intimidated by Dick’s broad stature, leaves the men and returns home, where he complains to his wife about the events of the day. He is described as continually “cleaning [his] shotgun,” which he is “very fond of” (2-3). He appears to be considering taking up arms against the others, something that Marx believes should never happen within
classes. The most prominent examples of inequality within the social class of the proletariats are between Doc and Dick. Following Doc’s decision to leave the logs, Dick begins to argue with him, but Doc tells him to leave. Dick protests, trying to calm him down, but Doc says “‘I’ll knock you eye teeth down your throat,’” indicating that he demands more respect from people he sees has his subordinates (2). In the story, Dick and Doc both belong to the proletariats, the working class, if it is believed that “White and McNally” are the bourgeoisie. Earlier in the text, it is indicated that Dick is a “half-breed,” meaning that he is half-white and half-Native American (1). Doc, on the other hand, is a white man, which may give him the feeling that he deserved to be seen above his fellow proletariat, Dick. In Marxist belief, there should be equality among the classes, especially within one, which is the proletariat in this case. In order to stage an eventual revolt against the bourgeoisie, proletariats must unite. However, Hemingway’s portrayal of inequality between Dick and Doc appeared to spell the demise of their partnership, as Doc seemingly contemplates going back with his shotgun to respond to Dick’s aggressive actions. This imbalance of power between characters making up the proletariats comes from the privilege that Doc feels he has for being white. Another way there is inequality within the proletariats is by the position the characters hold.
Doc, evident from his name, is a doctor, which means that he must have gone through intense studies in order to achieve this title. Obviously, Doc would be proud of his achievement and title, and he would want to be referred to using it. When Dick disputes with Doc, he continually calls the doctor “Doc,” as if it is his nickname. This irritates the doctor to the point of him saying that “if [he] call[s] [him] Doc once again, [he’ll] knock [Dick’s] eye teeth down [Dick’s] throat” (2). Although Dick appears to be using “Doc” as merely a nickname for the doctor, it could be representative of Dick’s efforts to bring the doctor down onto the same level as him pertaining to jobs. Dick is only a worker, so Doc would feel as if he is superior to the man without a true profession. This is another reason for the demise of the relationship between Dick and Doc. The title of “doctor” that Doc earned makes him feel more authoritative, creating an unevenness within the proletariats that cannot exist in order for the group to stay
together. The main way to create an imbalance in a system is to give one person or a select group more power than the rest. With all characters making up the proletariat group, and the bourgeoisie being the richer lumber companies, having some proletariats employing others would create a shift from the balance of power spread throughout the group. In the story, the doctor hires Indians to help collect and cut the logs that they find on the beach. Although it is said in the story that he “hired the Indians” for their help, it can be inferred, based on the way that white people treat natives, that Doc enlisted the Indians only for their manual labor (1). They would most likely not be compensated for their work, so the power that would have been previously distributed evenly throughout the proletariats has now shifted in favor of the employer of the Indians, Doc. The fact that members of the proletariats are working for other proletariats would mean failure of the group in the eyes of Marx, which is why a balance of power must be kept within the groups of the proletariats and the bourgeoisie. In conclusion, “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife,” by Ernest Hemingway, explores the failure of social classes due to imbalances within when viewed through a Marxist lens. It is evident that the characters have power over each other at specific points, but their belonging to the same social class links their issues with the demise of their group. The only way for the proletariats, including Dick and the doctor, to be successful is to rise against the bourgeoisie, the lumber companies. However, only a united proletariat group could lead a successful revolution.