Friedrich Engels, socialist, Marx, The Marxist Theory, immigration, interpretation, industrialization, industrial revolution, british government, Old Manchester city, civilization
The Condition of the Working Class in England, translated from German and published in 1845 is Friedrich Engels' first writing. It presents a study of the proletarians in Victorian England based on notes and observations made by the author during his stay in Manchester from 1842 to 1844 when his father sent him to manage the British family textile firm. The city was, at that time, the third most populated place in England and some part of the heart of the Industrial Revolution. As the young socialist philosopher just associated himself with Marx, his friend, on The Marxist Theory, we may wonder what have been the real purposes of this unconventional essay? We'll see that this document was to reach three main goals.
[...] This text contains the seeds and the marks of Engels' early social theory. In the meantime, it also questions the notion of civilisation itself and especially the one of progress. This way, the essay sounds like a divisive writing as it is a warning anticipating the worst aspects of a new capitalism that could be regarded today as the master piece of a young genius. It finally appears as if a clever and fine observation would have enabled us to guess out what our modern world would be. [...]
[...] We have to mention the south bank description which appears as a place apart, given its dimensions, its geographical specific location and its particular surroundings. With this outlook, we may guess the impression given by the structure and therefore the power linked to that place. In a word, Manchester's force lies in this « steep » and unreachable building. This part of the description underlines the new coming capitalist power that is growing step by step in the Old Manchester city. [...]
[...] The Condition of the Working Class in England, translated from German and published in 1845 is Friedrich Engels' first writing. It presents a study of the proletarians in Victorian England based on notes and observations made by the author during his stay in Manchester from 1842 to 1844 when his father sent him to manage the British family textile firm. The city was, at that time, the third most populated place in England and some part of the heart of the Industrial Revolution. [...]
[...] His text is dedicated to middle-class readers who are unaware of this reality as these lines force the readers to consider this alarming social situation. That's why the description is full of symbols and personal interpretation especially when he refers to Manchester saying that this is a« Hell upon Earth ». In a word, here lie some of Engels' first angers and true indignations. And he offers the readers to take part in his utmost feelings as he frequently uses the adjective « horrible » and the superlative « the most horrible » to fully express the impression conveyed by the city. [...]
[...] Indeed, the stroller plays a key role in this essay as he embodies the observer and the messenger of trustable information. Engels only convenes facts as he, for example, refers to true experiences like the cholera epidemic which disfigured and completely eradicated Allen's Court and the district of Ducie Bridge. He also relies here on Dr Kay's witness as if he was expecting not to be trusted from the beginning. We can guess that Engels was fully aware of the potential effects of what he wrote. [...]
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