"Alienated Labor" by Karl Marx

In Marx's manuscript "Alienated Labor" he explains how labor in a capitalist system estranges man from his nature. He first describes man as a conscious animal: "Conscious life activity distinguishes man immediately from life activity of the animal." This is very similar to Plato's description of man as a rational animal. Marx then goes on to  say that labor in the Capitalist system is unnatural. Labor is meant to be used for the benefit of the worker, but in the Capitalist system it does the opposite. "In these two respects, therefore, the worker becomes a slave to his objects; first... as an object of labor... and secondly that he receives the means of subsistence." It forces the worker to use his skills for the betterment of the owner of production.  He argues that there is a direct reciprocal relationship between the "value" of the worker and the "value" of the product. The better the worker produces a product, the more he devalues himself. He likens it to religion: "The more man attributes to God, the less he retains in himself." This type of labor makes man believe that his essence or true nature is only to work. This is not the true nature of man. Man, as a conscious being has the right to choose his own essence. I think Marx offers a very interesting perspective. I'm sure many people might feel very similar to his sentiments. Many blue collar workers may feel that they are "slaves" to the system because the more work they put in it seems like their bosses get richer but they stay the same. It reminds me of the scene in the 1999 film Fight Club when Tyler Durden is talking to the narrator in the bar and says "The things you own end up owning you." Although I might not agree entirely with Marx's arguments, I believe there is a valid sentiment in that our work doesn't directly pay off the way the Capitalist system claims to.