Which term describes the lower classes that provide labor to production?

• A. Bourgeoisie
• B. Proletariat
• C. Estate
• D. Caste

Answer: (B)

In Marxist thought, the group that provides labor for production but does not own the means of production is the proletariat. They are the wage-earning working class who sell their labor power to those who own factories, land, and capital. This arrangement creates a fundamental class distinction: the owners reap profits from the labor of the proletariat. The other terms describe different social groups or systems—one refers to the owners of production, another to feudal-style estates, and another to hereditary social groups. Understanding the proletariat highlights how wage relations and control over productive resources shape class dynamics and potential collective action.