Child Labor In 'Chronic Unemployment'

The United Kingdom experienced an Industrial Revolution in the beginning of the 19th century, hence the need for cheap and dangerous labor, jobs which adults did not qualify for, needed a specific type of worker. Instead of going to school and living freely, children were targeted as the form of labor, due to their smaller frames, they were physically capable to access any tasks in narrow places. Written by a 19th century-satirist author, “Chronic Unemployment”, addresses the issue of child labor using a satirical tone, irony, sarcasm, and grotesque or dark humor. The author is clearly mocking the supporters of child laborers, who view child labor as a opportunity to provide money for their families and be “productive”members of society rather

Nothing is “wonderful” about the possibility of dying, especially, the risk of a child’s death; the author assumes their audience agrees with this moral standard and decides to mock those who do not agree with the author’s way of thinking, hence the use of sarcasm. Sarcasm is meant not to be taken literally; harsher than irony because it is criticizing an issue, behavior, or way of thinking by using the opposite of what it means. Irony is used when the author who is mimicking pro-child laborers, refers to more tedious work as “generous overtime”. However, earlier in the text, the schedule of these child workers are to work the whole week with only 5 hours of rest each day. The author’s audience recognizes it is outrageous to make children to only rest 5 hours a day, but it is more infuriating how employers demand children to work more and rest less. Moreover, the audience is further appalled when “satisfaction and well-being” is used sarcastically to refer how the employers and pro-child laborers ‘care’ about the health and happiness of child. Yet, they demand children to place their lives at risks and relinquish time for school and friends

The last sentence of the text, recalls a child who had lost their feet while at work. But, in order to be considered a functioning member of society, they must return back to work no matter their health condition. The effect on the audience is to evoke disgusted feelings by the immoral logic and unsympathetic nature inflicted upon a child by cruel employers. In the previous sentence, the author mentions “getting back on their feet”, to refer to people regaining their roles in work and society after an incident. The author includes the feet incident to demonstrate how a child laborer views getting a job as a way to help you get back on your feet, but you can actually lose you feet, while working. The feet incident is a form of dark humor, which includes a terrifying tale, but yet ironic situation that be can considered either funny or