Bourgeoisie and Proletariat (The Communist Manifesto)

In The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx describes the bourgeoisie as the owners of production—businesses, factories, and wealth—and the ruling class in capitalist society. The proletariat are the working class, those who sell their labor to the bourgeoisie in exchange for wages. Marx argues that this relationship is based on exploitation, as the bourgeoisie profit from the surplus value created by workers. He envisions a future where the proletariat overthrow the bourgeoisie to establish a classless society, abolishing private ownership of production and ensuring equality.