Government
The government is the major imagery of this thesis, because Marx's intention is to show how different models of government interact in important ways with the nation's economy and the businesses of the nation's citizens. The government is an abstract human construct with exact specifications, which is to say it is like a mechanism. Marx shows that the government is a process with a strategic goal that depends on the philosophies that underpin the model of government. Specifically, he takes on capitalism, showing that the government can very easily become corrupted in a capitalist environment with devastating social consequences.
The market
The market is similar to the government in that it is simultaneously concrete and abstract. It is abstract in that it is the theoretical accumulation of all business within a nation or an economy, but it is also concrete because every person interacts with the market anytime they trade currency for goods or services. The currency itself is part of this hypothetical construct. The market when seen as a whole can be shown as healthy or unhealthy, and Marx invokes this imagery to show that in capitalist markets, the tendency will be toward unhealthy practices that amplify profit.
Business ownership
Ideally, a person understands the benefits of owning a business. The risk of starting a venture can sometimes be severe, but for established businesses, ownership is clearly a huge advantage. In terms of lifestyle, health, housing, and provision, the profits from serious involvement in a companies ownership can mean nearly unfathomable improvements. However, information about how to effectively start healthy businesses is often hard to come by, and most working class folks choose to just work for established companies instead.
Poverty
The stakes of Capital are set by the imagery of poverty. In Marx's time, capitalism was still like the Wild West in some ways. For instance, America was already defined abroad by a kind of dog-eat-dog mentality. For winners, this is obviously a huge advantage, but for those who are not able to make ends meet, capitalism can become a hellish experience very quickly. Marx wrote this at a moment in history when poverty was nearly a condemnation. The times of poverty and famine during recessions or depressions can become even more devastating for the poor.
