2Chapter4-7 Flashcards
A dishonest and conniving man named Slackbridge, one of Dickens’s quintessential caricatures, is at the head of a movement to create labour unions. Why does Dickens vilify him rather than support him?
As he has taken the legitimate concerns of the poor but uses it to incite outrage and to build a platform for his own power and edification (worship) than in achieving the common goals of the Brotherhood, which should be democratic- not autocratic
Under Slackbridge’s regime Stephan is ostracised as a traitor and shunned from the community. What can be said about Slackbridge’s name?
that like a bridge, he is necessary and essential to the cause, but the juxtaposition between slack and bridge suggests that he is not dependable and dangerous to the cause
Slack bridge’s worthless message and demagoguery can be compared and contrasted to Bounderby and Sparsit, two of the leading orators of the novel. How can Slackbridge’s rhertorical skills be exemplified?
in the way that he creates copies allusions that offers a sour picture of Stephen’s more credentials; he mentions the story of Jesus and Judas to hyperbolise this point
Stephan is unwilling to disparage his fellow workers. Bounderby suggests that Stephan believes he will now come into luxury for resisting the insurrectionist movement. How does Bounderby describe them?
as a group of “rascals and rebels”
What does Stephan argue is the root of social disorder in Coketown?
economics, the way in which the rich have a sense of entitlement above the poor whom they dehumanise; Stephan names it a “muddle”
The narrative structure of “Men and Masters” is significant as it follows “Men and Brothers” explore.
Once dominated by those of his own, low social standing, Blackpool is now dominated by those who are his social superiors.
The social commentary focuses on the muddle that has been created in the hypocrisy of whom?
the wealthy and the incredible want of those who are lower on the social totem-pole.
The law of fate “rose like the sea” much as Boudnerby exhibited the archetypal image of the powerful wind. In both cases, natures archetypal images are employed why?
to express the power of the forces who are against Stephen
Mr.Bounderby is increasingly wealthier and adds to the trappings of his social position with a “snug little estate”- the country house by which Harthouse will later what?
pronounce his love to Louisa.
Dicken’s social commentary is especially revealing if we think about how the poorer characters are heavily subject to___.
fate
Slack bridge is the supposed “saviour” of the workers as they make their voices of protest heard. However what does Dickens suggest about the labour leaders?
that they may be as corrupt as the employers; he depicts the labouring class as led by a false prophet
What does Bounderby call his workers?
“pests of the earth’
The meeting of Stephan and Louisa is one which interweaves the, prior to this, seperate plotlessness and illustrates that Louisa is not entirely without compassion or felling. Previously, Louisa had known the Hands only as “_________________________” but in visiting Stephan she is enlightened to the suffering of these individuals
“something to be worked so much and paid so much”
