Final answer:
Marx believed capitalism perpetuates class structures by allowing the bourgeoisie to exploit workers, the proletariat, and that this would eventually lead to class struggle, revolution, and the establishment of a communist society with no class distinctions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Karl Marx's assertion that society "reproduces the class structure" is a cornerstone of Marxist theory, which addresses the issues arising from capitalism. Marx posited that the economic system of capitalism, driven by the bourgeoisie's ownership of production means, inherently exploits the proletariat, leading to entrenched class divisions. Marx foresaw continuous class conflict until a revolutionary change would usher in socialism and eventually communism, a stateless and classless society where the means of production are collectively owned, abolishing class distinctions and resolving the inherent conflicts of capitalism.
In Marx's view, the recurring pattern of class struggle and the dominance of one class over another creates a cyclical reproduction of society's class structure. The bourgeoisie, owning factories and resources, wield economic power over the proletariat, who carry out the labor. This divide results in social unrest and revolution, seen throughout history, with the promise of eventual transformation into a communist society where such conflict ceases to exist due to the equal standing of all members.