No one quite understood the capitalist society that came to dominate the world today like Karl Marx. His insightful assessment of a heartless, money-driven society has motivated thousands to disregard their traditional freedoms and take to arms for a fair economic and social system. The Communist Manifesto addresses what ills the expansion of capitalism wrought for society and how a communist revolution could cure them.

Marx impressively dissects the true “freedoms” that one enjoys under capitalism. In the capitalist world, one believes that many freedoms exist. Marx disproves this principle, stating the only freedom under capitalism is that of free trade. The cloak of personal freedoms blinds people from seeing that the one true freedom accords the one thing that keeps the bourgeoisie in power, i.e. money. By creating a society that is dominated by money while still vaguely ensuring personal liberties, the bourgeoisie can maintain its power and still appear compassionate to the proletariat. Marx uncovers that personal freedom and life are no longer appreciated for their intrinsic worth, but for their exchange value in a money-obsessed civilization.

Correspondingly, Marx reveals the true nature of responsibility that one has under the capitalist system. Under capitalism, the façade is that one has responsibility to government, family, and rational. In reality, the conduit of self-interest rather than emotions and feelings determine life’s decisions. Dependency on money destroys every sentimental feeling, so that each action is for personal benefit. Money overwhelms every relationship, even those among family members, becoming a primary rather than secondary factor. Occupations necessary for humanity such as physicians and politicians must compete for business instead of fulfilling their moral obligations. Thus money shapes the human condition, and each individual reduces responsibilities to society to only those that will increase the self.

To combat the manipulation and poverty of capitalist society, Marx demands a communist revolution. The bourgeoisie forces continued overproduction, which eventually leads to the economy's collapse. The resulting economic deprivation finally arouses worker resistance. Using the communication tools developed during the bourgeois rise to power, proletariats mass to protest their treatment. With nothing to lose, all the workers take part. Since workers are also the majority of the population, they are able to succeed on the strength of their number alone. Once in place, the revolution sustains a stable and fair system because it is the first government that represents the majority as opposed to the minority. The proletariat abolishes private property and thus eliminates the greed for property. Consequently, the means for distinguishing classes and engendering class warfare disappears. With class conflict non-existent, the country can enter the final development phase and establish a “workers' paradise”.

In conclusion, the Marxist ideology has influenced modern society greatly by forcing us to rethink what constitutes true freedoms and responsibilities under capitalism. Though the world has not accepted Marxism, the proof exists of his criticisms of capitalism, where Bill Gates possesses the net worth of one hundred and five million lower-class Americans. Marx successfully exposed the modern-day problems that face the globalized national community and demonstrated that only with the spilling of bourgeois blood can the wrongs of capitalism be righted.