The Revolution

The Industrial Revolution caused a new era in literature because it caused a new revolution in life. "The most fundamental transformation of human life in the history of the world (487)" describes the view the Industrial Revolution had. People were altered in ways they were unaware could happen because of the use of the factory systems as well as new transportation. With the creation of factory systems it caused the need for cityscapes to house them. Factories caused cities to be burgeoning beacons of industry. Society began to move from farming communities to factories, causing commutes for businessmen and factory workers. Factories, mills, and mines caused pollution the likes of which no one was possible. "The factory system disrupted not only traditional patterns of work but also family life "(487). With people believing their society crumbling around them some authors as well as people thought to look towards the past for answers to the "problems" being caused by technology. The Testimony of Ann and Elizabeth Eggley show a dark side of technology. In this instance these 2 sisters work in a mine for their father to maintain a lifestyle where they just get to eat everyday. The sisters are 18 and 16 and neither have an education to speak of. They explain that even their father is ashamed of them working as they do but they have no options because there is nothing left for them to do (494). This shows the implications caused by enlarging the gap between working class and upper class. Slums became a staple in the city to house those that couldn't afford to live in the suburbs.



I think of this in terms of today. We also had a technological advance in the internet. The internet was looked at with excitement and fear. Often times change is viewed with increasing apprehension because there is no guarantee that it could be a change for the better. For example the Industrial Revolution was viewed by Carlyle with apprehension. He writes in Past and Present that the people of England became enchanted after the revolution. "In the eyes and brows of theses men hung the gloomiest expression, not of anger but of grief and shame and manifold inarticulate distress and weariness; they returned my flance with a glance that seemed to say 'Don't look at us. We sit enchanted here, we know not why"(478). These workhouse workers lived in poor environments disinfranchised by the Industrial Revolution. Not being able to withstand the change, Carlyle feared that all of society in England would also become desolate. Carlyle wrote also that "England is full of wealth, of multifarious produce, supply for human want in every kind; yet England is dying of inanition" (477). Meaning that the revolution brought about some great changes in production and the opportunity to afford people with more jobs, but instead life became empty. Life was cut short made less than by the creation of factories and mills because it caused farm life to change. It caused individuals to lose worth.