I can't really picture a Coketown that isn't oppressive, because that's like having a Coketown with no ash smoldering the red brick of all the buildings. And without that, the industrialism of the town sort of crumbles. I guess if Coketown treated their Hands better, though, they would be, obviously, less miserable people. Then again, I feel some of the Hands could feel some peace in the monotony of labor, much like Stephen seems to.
As for the atmosphere, I feel like it would be less tense, but then again the institution of education would probably be imposed more on the younger generations since they wouldn't be fed into the factories. And, the institution of Fact, though good natured and well-meaning, is oppressive on its own terms.
It seems to me, the reality of Coketown, is that regardless of the institution you are apart of, or rather, under, your fire will still burn out; your full potential never reached.
I agree with the Sassy Armadillo: Coketown as we know it would not exist without the oppressive forces that drive it to be the way it is. The town itself functions as somewhat of a character- it is personified and described in many instances as being overcast and ashy, as if charred by the deaths of the dreams of its inhabitants. If Coketown was not oppressive and labor driven, the entire function of Coketown in Hard Times would change. I feel that it would take away the emphasis of the fire metaphor, since the ash from the factories would not overtake the town's atmosphere.
While I agree that the oppressive forces certainly dominate Coketown and the lives of all of the people, including the Hands, the Hands could probably still function. There are probably more Hands like Rachel and Stephen that have calmly accepted their fate and have learned to tolerate their jobs. Even if the oppressive forces of Gradgrindian weren't there, there would be those that follow the mechanical pattern, same as always. However, I do agree with Jess in saying that I don't think Coketown would exist at all without those oppressive forces, as Dickens uses the town as a physical representation of the oppression of the Fact lifestyle.
I can't really picture a Coketown that isn't oppressive, because that's like having a Coketown with no ash smoldering the red brick of all the buildings. And without that, the industrialism of the town sort of crumbles. I guess if Coketown treated their Hands better, though, they would be, obviously, less miserable people. Then again, I feel some of the Hands could feel some peace in the monotony of labor, much like Stephen seems to.
ReplyDeleteAs for the atmosphere, I feel like it would be less tense, but then again the institution of education would probably be imposed more on the younger generations since they wouldn't be fed into the factories. And, the institution of Fact, though good natured and well-meaning, is oppressive on its own terms.
It seems to me, the reality of Coketown, is that regardless of the institution you are apart of, or rather, under, your fire will still burn out; your full potential never reached.
I agree with the Sassy Armadillo: Coketown as we know it would not exist without the oppressive forces that drive it to be the way it is. The town itself functions as somewhat of a character- it is personified and described in many instances as being overcast and ashy, as if charred by the deaths of the dreams of its inhabitants. If Coketown was not oppressive and labor driven, the entire function of Coketown in Hard Times would change. I feel that it would take away the emphasis of the fire metaphor, since the ash from the factories would not overtake the town's atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that the oppressive forces certainly dominate Coketown and the lives of all of the people, including the Hands, the Hands could probably still function. There are probably more Hands like Rachel and Stephen that have calmly accepted their fate and have learned to tolerate their jobs. Even if the oppressive forces of Gradgrindian weren't there, there would be those that follow the mechanical pattern, same as always. However, I do agree with Jess in saying that I don't think Coketown would exist at all without those oppressive forces, as Dickens uses the town as a physical representation of the oppression of the Fact lifestyle.
ReplyDelete