Appreciating Language Cont.

These are some quotes that I admired:

"Then, Slackbridge, who had kept his oratorical arm extended during the going out, as if he were repressing with infinite solicitude and by a wonderful moral power the vehement passions of the multitude, applied himself to raising their spirits. Had not the Roman Brutus, oh my British countrymen, condemned his son to death; and had not the Spartan mothers, oh my soon to be victorious friends, driven their flying children on the points of their enemies swords? Then was is it not the sacred duty of the men of Coketown , with forefathers before them, an admiring world in company with them, and posterity to come after them, to hurl out traitors from the tents they had pitched in a sacred and Godlike cause? The winds of Heaven answered Yes; and bore Yes, east, west, north, and south. And consequently three cheers for the United Aggregate Tribunal"
          - Slackbridge, p.142

"Most o' aw, ratin 'em as so much Power, and reg'latin 'em as if they was figures in a soom, or machines: wi'out loves and likeins, wi'out memories and inclinations, wi'out souls to weary and souls to hope - when aw goes quiet, draggin on wi' 'em as if they'd nowt o' th' kind, an when aw goes onquiet, reproachin 'e, for their want o' sitch humanly feelins in their dealins wi' yo - this will never do't, sir, till God's work is onmade"
          -Stephen, p.149

Outside Connection: History of Labor Unions

This video is shows a  brief summary of our nations labor struggles and how Coketown and the Hands in Hard Times share many of the same characteristics and grievances expressed by our nations labor movement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ5ZwOaBI24&feature=related

Men and Brothers Analysis & Outside Connections

Men and Brothers Analysis:

In book two chapter four of  Hard Times, titled Men and Brothers, Charles Dickens introduces more conflict to Stephen's arc. Men and Brothers is a chapter in which a "fiery faced" orator, Slackbridge, proposes that a union should be formed between all of the hands (workers) within the factory that Stephen is employed under. Stephen is under the impression that Slackbridge is acting irrationally but stephen's inability to articulate his thoughts properly becomes the characters downfall. Old Stephen attempts to counter Slackbridge's proposal, but Stephen's oratorical skills are not up to par and his argument was not interpreted to be favorable and fulfilling of the rest of the hands' interests; however, Stephen's points were not simply rejected: he too was "sent to Coventry" (Dickens 143).

Life for the White Hands down in Coketown's factories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jamrudGfC4&feature=related

Saruman Slackbridge's oratory skills (Take note of how this speaker holds his hands "at arm's length (as the manner of all Slackbridges is), to still the thundering sea" (Dickens 139) before him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbDby--7oWk

White Hands' Union Member Pictured Above.

Outside connection: Lord of the Rings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLvIFRNbqOs

Related to text because he decides to become free; to become and individual.

On which side to you think you fit  the best ? Bounderby's or Stephen's?

Discussion Forum 3

How would you respond to such an oppressive environment? Would you rise up and strike like the Hands or give in to the authorities?

Chapter 5 : Men and Masters Analysis

          
         Up to this chapter, Stephen has been ostracized from the Union and fellow workers. They avoid him and are forbidden to have an contact with him. Stephen sinks into a deep depression because of his lack of human interaction. While he is wallowing in his despair he is approached by Bitzer to speak with Bounderby about the Union and what they are planing. Bounderby believes that because Stephen was cast out that he will rat out on the Union and even accuses Stephen of being intimidated into silence by them. Stephen is the odd man out because he refuses to join the Union, but does not feel comfortable selling them out to Bounderby. He does express his grievances with the Union when he states, "I'm as sooary as yo, sir, when the people's leaders is bad,'...They taks such as offer. Haply 'tis na' the sma'est o' their misfortuns when they can get no better" (145). Stephen doesn't like the idea of upsetting the authorities because by unionizing and complaining he believes that the peoples situation is only going to get worse. Mr. Bounderby's accusations grew more heated and extreme as the chapter progressed and he was described as the Wind. He became more and more "boisterous" and eventually was raging at Stephen and "blowing like a hurricane" (148). Through his argument with Mr. Bounderby, Stephen discovered that he would stay loyal to his fellow workers regardless of how they have treated him and actually accused Bounderby and the upper class of perpetuating their problems. Stephen criticizes Bounderby's actions when he says, "The strong hand will never do't...Agreeing fur to mak one side unnat'rally awlus and for ever right, and toother side unnat'rally awlus and for ever wrong, will never, never do't" (149). Stephen repeatedly argues that they way society is oppressing the lower class will never solve their current problems and that the upper class is to blame for suppressing them in the first place. The labor institutions in this passage are the tools for the upper class to keep the workers in the same socioeconomic status; by controlling their work they can control their entire lives. Stephen has an overall disdain for abuse of power in the form of the labor Union, but also of the upper class because it caused the problems and only continues to make them worse. He believes that complaining could result in harsher repercussions but more mutual respect could amend both sides issues.

Appreciating Language

“For the first time in her life, Louisa had come into one of the dwellings of the Coketown Hands; for the first time in her life, she was face to face with anything like individuality in connexion with them. She knew of their existence by hundreds and by thousands. She knew what results in work a given number of them would produce, in a given space of time. She knew them in crowds passing to and from their nests, like ants or beetles. But she knew from her reading infinitely more of the ways of toiling insects than of these toiling men and women” (155).

Chapter 6: Fading Away Analysis

 Stephen nodded assent. 'Though as to master,' said he, glancing again at Rachael, 'not master onny more. That's aw enden twixt him and me.'... 'Whether I ha left'n his work, or whter his work ha left'n me, cooms t' th' same. His work and me are parted... I mun turn my face fro Coketown fur th' time, and seek a fort'n, dear, by beginnin fresh.' (152).

In this passage, Stephen has just departed from Bounderby's and ran into Rachael; he explains to her he quit his job as a Hand of Bounderby's factory.

The significance of the labor unions goes beyond the workers, or "Hands." The relationship between the authority and the Hands reflects the labor unions, because the authority holds the fate of the Hands of Coketown--ironically in their hands. Bounderby is the leader, rather a dicatator ,of the industrial revolution in Coketown; whereas, the Hands are the poverish, low class making up most of the town. However, with money comes power, and thus Bounderby is granted the position of power. Bounderby's authority is emphasized as Stepehn refers to him as "master." A master is not simply an authority figure, but rather an authority figure with a sort of a dictating control over his people.

Another technique used is the poor language Stephen has. This creates a stereotypical image of a poor, uneducated man with no purpose or a future. However, there is a strange connection between Bounderby and his Hands. He makes notice of his dpressing childhood: "I was born in a ditch...I was so sickly...ragged and dirty" (21). The description Bounderby uses for himself, fits the image of Stephen. Ironically, Stephen seems to have the same intentions as Bounderby: to "beginnin fresh." Stephen aspires to become what Bounderby is. His courage to take a stand and rebel against Bounderby reveals his strong personality to be an individual, not strictly a "Hand." Thus, reflecting the importance of the individual, to resist comforming to the standards within a societal class. Proving any individual is capable to step out of their comfort-zone if they have the confidence to become thier own authority.

Discussion Forum 1

How would Coketown's society and atmosphere differ if the labor institutions weren't  so oppressive to The Hands and their way of  life?

I want Facts! Section 4: 2 quotes that I liked

 1. "When the Devil goeth about like a roaring lion, he goeth about in a shape by which few but savages and hunters attracted. But, when he is trimmed, smoothed, and varnished, according to the mode: when he is aweary of vice, and aweary of virtue, used up as to brimstone, and used up as to bliss; then, whether he take to the serving out of red tape, or to the kindling of red fire, he is the very Devil (Dickens 175)."


2. "At last, when the darkness and stillness had seemed for hours to thicken one another, she heard the bell at the gate (Dickens 184)"