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.