Friedrich Engels captures the effects of industrialization on the working class during the 1850’s of “Merry England.” This phrase is considered one of many humorous statements that suggest that there is an earlier time when people from all classes conversed openly in a well-mannered way. Engels uses great detail to describe his portrayal of negative aspects of England and the social changes that have occurred. There is more of a focus on the physical structures of the area rather than actual people. Engels intricately illustrates how industry and commerce has shaped segregated slums in England during his era. According to Engels (1626), “We propose to discuss their condition and to discover how they have been influenced by life and work in the great factory towns”, is an example of when Engels uses “we” in a casual and somewhat roundabout way in order to personalize the story with the reader. In this story, it seems that Engels’ main audience is the middle-class and upper class.
One can identify that the author uses rhetoric to persuade the reader to acknowledge England in all its disgust and filth instead of ignoring the unfavorable existence of it. In the first instances of the account, Engels carefully places terms such as “unique” and “magnificent” to describe the physical aspects of London (1626).
The mid- and upper class seem like a stubborn group that must be handled carefully in order for Engels to effectively express his point and concerns. “We propose to describe some of these slums in detail” (1628) is an articulation that would definitely be considered an understatement after reading the entire piece throughout. In the text to come, Engels gives a little more of a description of the city’s lay-out from the working-class quarters to the slums that remain hidden from public eye. Engels refers to “the curious lay-out of the town”, in such a way that makes it seem that the reader is actually “curious” and will be drawn into the subject voluntarily only to “discover” the mysteries of the town (1628).
The Essay on France and England: A comparison of Governments
In Early Modern Europe, countries were discovering and changing the ways in which they operated. While some, for a period of time stuck to their old traditional ways, others were embarking on a journey that would change the course of their country. This paper, will explore and evaluate the two different government styles of France and England – one keeping with the traditional ways of their ...
There are two aspects of Manchester. The reader is taken through a journey in Manchester, from “the lower floors of the buildings”, that, “are occupied by shops of dazzling splendor” to “working class districts” that are close by, “the misery and filth, which lie on both sides of the road.” Engels draws the reader into the physical aspect of Manchester (1629).
In doing so, the first aspect identified is advantageous and favorable for upper-class citizens who have wealthy and convenient lifestyles. Engels uses phrases, such as “the classic home of English industry”, to present England as pleasant to condone (1628).
The text transitions gracefully from describing the area as a “beautiful hilly countryside”, and then, shifts to the society’s unattractive “degraded situation” in an attempt to present Manchester comfortably and appropriately to the upper-class (1628).
Hereafter, Engels continues to elaborate on the “industrial and commercial activity” of Manchester (1628).
Industrialization in Manchester has separated the classes into distinct groups. Engels states that there is a “tacit agreement between the two social groups”, and “the middle classes sanctimoniously ignore the existence of their less fortunate neighbors”, in which he indirectly scolds the middle-class for their selfishness (1629).
The Term Paper on Class Inequality
Social class is one of the oldest and most persistent inequalities in British society. In the past, people were very aware of their social class and their expected roles and responsibilities. People would have worn different clothes, behaved in different ways and had a very different culture from each other and they would have accepted this as a perfectly normal element of behaviour. We are still ...
Engels continues to develop his narrative of the disgusting filth that suffocates the homes and landscapes of the lower-class industrial workers. Only after this description does he find it fit to express his outlook on the grim situation and abusive lifestyle of the people in Manchester. Engels has a distinct way of revealing his point to the reader.
In the first paragraph of p. 1626, Engels feeds the upper-class egotism with compliments of in reference to London’s population, ships, and bridges. Then, Engels transitions to “human suffering” in the next paragraph (1626).
Lastly, Engels describes London straightforward as a place where “one finds on the one hand the most barbarous indifference and selfish egotism and on the other hand the most distressing scenes of misery and poverty” (1627).
He is very careful to not offend any specific group (middle- and upper-class) and effectively achieves this..
