Lafargue

Lafargue, Paul (1842-1911)

Paul Lafargue was a French revolutionary Marxist journalist, literary critic, political writer, and activist. He is best known for being Karl Marx's son-in-law, having married his daughter Laura Marx in 1868.

Lafargue was born in Cuba, the son of French parents. His ancestry was diverse, including French, Jewish, and Creole elements. He studied medicine in Paris, where he became involved in radical politics. He was a member of the First International and played a significant role in the development of socialist thought in France and Spain.

Lafargue's political activities led to periods of exile and imprisonment. He wrote extensively on various topics, including economics, history, and literature, often from a Marxist perspective. He was a strong advocate for workers' rights and a critic of capitalism.

One of Lafargue's most famous works is "The Right to Be Lazy" (1883), a polemical essay that challenged the prevailing work ethic and argued for the right to leisure and enjoyment. In this work, he argued that capitalism's obsession with work was detrimental to human happiness and well-being.

Lafargue and his wife Laura committed suicide together in 1911, believing that they had lived long enough and did not want to become a burden on others in their old age. Their suicide was considered a controversial act but was seen by some as a logical conclusion to their philosophical beliefs. Lafargue's writings and political activities continue to be studied and debated by scholars of Marxism and socialist history.