Dickens portrays how the city of Coketown is entirely industrialized, the city is all work and nothing else. The town consists of fact and everyone in Coketown acts like machines. Most humans would go with the flow and would not change how the society runs. Then again Coketown is so oppressive, people are called by numbers and everything looks the same. "It contained several large streets all very like one another, who all went in and out at the same hours, upon the same pavement..."(28). Personally I would rise above the oppressive environment because Coketown is so dull and gruesome. However, It is easier said then done.
I would argue that it is often foolish to "rise up" in many oppressive environments because there is generally a pretty good reason that you are currently in an oppressed state such as a large military of some sort. To "rise up" connotes blatant defiance and would likely result in some sort of grotesque punishment, thus I believe that an individual is better served if they act surreptitiously in their defiance; This would allow one to accomplish much more behind the scenes - under the veil of night - than would one if the rose up and were punished. Then again, as Lizzy said "it is easier said then done."
The word oppressive can be defined as “difficult to bear; burdensome”. With this said, an oppressive environment would be certainly uncomfortable; but not unbearable. Therefore in order to answer the question, I would have to say that I would not be the first person desiring an uprising. I would do this for one reason: the consequences are simply too great. Now, there is also a distinct difference between being cautious and “giving into authorities”. Instead of rising up like the Hands, a good alternative would be to simply oppose the government privately. The only instance where it would be appropriate to strike openly is when your life is endangered indefinitely.
Dickens portrays how the city of Coketown is entirely industrialized, the city is all work and nothing else. The town consists of fact and everyone in Coketown acts like machines. Most humans would go with the flow and would not change how the society runs. Then again Coketown is so oppressive, people are called by numbers and everything looks the same. "It contained several large streets all very like one another, who all went in and out at the same hours, upon the same pavement..."(28). Personally I would rise above the oppressive environment because Coketown is so dull and gruesome. However, It is easier said then done.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that it is often foolish to "rise up" in many oppressive environments because there is generally a pretty good reason that you are currently in an oppressed state such as a large military of some sort. To "rise up" connotes blatant defiance and would likely result in some sort of grotesque punishment, thus I believe that an individual is better served if they act surreptitiously in their defiance; This would allow one to accomplish much more behind the scenes - under the veil of night - than would one if the rose up and were punished. Then again, as Lizzy said "it is easier said then done."
ReplyDeleteThe word oppressive can be defined as “difficult to bear; burdensome”. With this said, an oppressive environment would be certainly uncomfortable; but not unbearable. Therefore in order to answer the question, I would have to say that I would not be the first person desiring an uprising. I would do this for one reason: the consequences are simply too great. Now, there is also a distinct difference between being cautious and “giving into authorities”. Instead of rising up like the Hands, a good alternative would be to simply oppose the government privately. The only instance where it would be appropriate to strike openly is when your life is endangered indefinitely.
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