Wage Labour and Capital & Value, Price and Profit

Karl Marx is often noted for his distinct rhetorical and literary style. What are some examples of his rhetorical or literary techniques that stood out in “Wage Labour and Capital” or “Value, Price and Profit”? Why do you think style is important for Marx? How is it related to his broader political project?

Marx uses a lot of metaphors and allegories to help explain his ideas. List two or three examples that you found particularly effective and discuss how they helped (or didn’t help) you understand his argument. Can you think of any downside to using metaphors and allegories in this way?

In both essays, Marx specifies that it is labor power, not labor, that the worker exchanges for wages in their contract with the capitalist. What is the difference between the two for Marx, and why is it important for his labor theory of value? How does his theory compare to that of other influential economists?