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Explanation to the ways of meeting oppression
Explanation to the ways of meeting oppression
Explanation to the ways of meeting oppression
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John Sayles' Matewan: Forming a Communist Society
John Sayles' movie Matewan offers an alternative to the norm when thinking about the development of class and economic systems in the modern world. Upon first glance, it seems as though the coal miners in the town of Matewan were the subjects of a cruel feudal system, sentenced to spending their lives slaving away for a company
who cared very little for them. A classic example of the type of economy Karl Marx spent his life opposing. However, it becomes apparent that this is not at all the case, for the people of Matewan eventually tired of having the fruits of their labor become more and more a burden on their shoulders. I would like to argue that in the process of unionizing their labor force, the coal miners actually managed to opt out of the feudalist system, skip the free labor market economy, and form a primitive communist system.
In the beginning of the movie, the viewer is promptly made aware of the conditions the coal miners were forced the work under. The Stone Mountain Coal Company exerted a great deal of energy to ensure control of all aspects of the miner's lives. By paying them in company script, the company forces the miners to purchase all goods and services
from the company. The miners begin their work in debt, and because of the low wages and continuance of charges placed on their account, they are unable to work their way out of the hole (no pun intended). Because the Stone Mountain Coal Company was paying the workers by the ton and not by an hourly wage, whether or not the workers were content with their jobs was basically irrelevant. The company also had obtained a monopoly on the employment in the town, forcing the workers to work for them. Most o...
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... did the hunting and fishing.
Socially, the changes that occured within the coal mining community were dramatic. Because solidarity was necessary for them to be successful, everyone regardless of race, gender, and prior socioeconomic status became equal. The interrelationships gained importance because of the lack of economy within the community. The people had to move beyond their various predjudices in order to acheive their common goal. The scene depicting everyone playing baseball together was an example of all people relating to one another on an even playing field, with the end result being a more successful community. Even in the covert attempt to murder Joe Callahan, the men were involved equally in the operation. In the end, the community was able to succeed because they realized that a communist society was the one that would work best for them.
The Stone Mountain Coal Company wielded monopoly control over the town of Matewan through a feudal system of economic, cultural, political, and environmental processes. Every person in the town of Matewan came under the power of the company in one way or another. The employees of Stone Mountain were under a bondage contract with the company. Once they came to the company it was impossible to leave and at the same time maintain a basic standard of living. They could not leave also because once they signed on with the company they owed the company a large sum of money for everything ranging from the ticket for the train that brought them to Matewan to the equipment they needed to work there. In this way it was as if they were paying the company to let them work in the mines rather the other way around. They did not have the rights basic to capitalism such as the right to join a union, the right to sell their labor in a labor market to the bidder of their choice, and the right to spend their wage freely.
The main feature of capitalism is the free labor market and 'freedom' is the key concept: freedom in choosing an employer; freedom in deciding how and where to work in order to make the most reasonable living. In that sense it is indisputable that capitalism is not the economical process taking place in Matewan. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to live in this small town and not to work for the Stone Mountain Coal Company. It holds monopoly over most of the town, it owns and controls nearly everything: stores, buildings and so on. The miners are being underpaid and overcharged at the same time. Wages have gone down again, workers have to pay monopoly rents; besides, they are getting paid not in dollars but in company scrips that can be used at
...ing the conditions faced by coal miners and their families in addition to events leading up to the uprising. However, some additional research should be done in regards to the West Virginia Coal Wars and the Battle of Blair Mountain.
The citizens of Matewan, a coal -mining town in West Virginia lived amidst a feudalistic class process. One may think of medieval times in connection with feudalism, but the film “Matewan” directed by John Sayles was based on historical events that took place in 1920. The feudal lord was not a European king, and the serfs were not farming his land. Nevertheless, feudalism existed in this southern town, as the workers did not have the ability to choose their employer. Unlike Capitalism, the members of Matewan could not go out into the free labor market and choose the businesses for which they wished to work. The Stone Mountain Coal Company made choice nonexistent and in doing so gained feudal power over the employees.
All levels of protection for the miners failed them. Every agency that was entrusted with their safety had other concerns as priority. Mr. Scanlan submitted true and honest reports of violations over a long period of time but never went that extra step to enforce the law. State authorities should have acted when the initial reports were made. The Union membership was at risk and yet the Union never represented Local 52 nor gave it support when it tried on its own to get state assistance with their grievances. Politics and profit motivated elected officials appointees and the coal company.
Coal mines in these times were glorified death traps and collapsed. Often. Workers or their families were basically never compensated for anything, and even when they took things to court, essentially no court was sympathetic toward any coal miner or their family, and if their father or brother died, they were on their on for the rest of their life, often then forcing child boys to work if they weren’t already. Also, not many workers spoke proper english in the mines, so they could not read instruction signs, and by misuse of equipment, killing themselves and/or other
When a group of people must adapt to a lifestyle distinct from the agricultural lifestyle one would not know what to expect. Like a nation that is just starting, it would take time to construct and enhance laws; it’s a trial and error process. These businesses were starting out and there were no regulations as to how to run them. Unquestionably, there were no laws imposed to aid the labor conditions of these employees like we know today. The testimony and interview proved that the 1800’s took advantage of the work of children, often depriving them of food. It was obvious most children stuck around due to the urgency of money, therefore I am sure employees threatened to replace them seeing how the money was needed for families. For those who worked in factories with heavy, dangerous machinery, they were prone to accidents or even death. According to the sub-commissioner, the young girls picked the coal “with the regular pick used by men” . It is typically easier for a grown man to lift a regular pick than it is for a young girl because of the physical development and obvious age difference. Still there weren’t any regulations to protect children against the harms of labor and their wages were unreasonably
In the play Antigone, I choose Creon to be the tragic hero because he is the King of Thebes and he looses everything he has. Creon being King makes the audience believe that something like that can happen to the King then what can happen to us. Antigone the niece of Creon, The sister of Polyneices was punished by Creon for burying Polyneces after his death, Creon has forbidden anybody to do so. Once Creon punished Antigone the blind prophet Teiresias told him that the Gods will take revenge for his actions, then Creon tried to change everything but he is too late. Creon's tragic flaws were his stubbornness, the abuse of power and the actions he took to cause the downfall of the Thebes.
The period in American history between 1900 and 1920 was a very turbulent one. Civil unrest was brewing as a result of many pressures placed upon the working class. Although wealth was accumulating at an astonishing rate in America, most people at the lower economic levels were not benefiting from any of it. Worst of all for them, the federal government seemed to be on the side of the corporations. Their helpless situation and limited options is why the coal strike of 1902 is so important.
The narrator came up with an idea that overpowered his emotions and made him stand up for what he thought was wrong. He said “Over the next few days an idea forms within me, ripening, swelling, pushing everything else into a corner.” (Kinsella 3). This shows his passion for the sport and that he will do as much as he can to right the wrong because it could not be forgotten. The narrator also rebelled against the strike and the artificial turf by gaining accomplices and slowly switching the synthetic grass to a real square of sod. This led a protest against the strike and made the protagonist, and many other community members stand up for what they believe is right. Furthermore, defiance is a theme all through the story by the protagonist rebelling and standing up for what he truly believes in.
Antigone, written by Sophocles is a tale of a tragic hero who suffers with the recognition and realization of his tragic flaw. Although this short story is titled after Antigone, Creon is the main character and he provides the moral significance in the play. First, Creon withholds the respect of his citizens but it is clear to them he is not perfect through his pride (tragic flaw). Secondly, his radical reversal of fortune is made clear after he struggles with the recognition of his fatal flaw. Thirdly and lastly, his pity and fear flowers into an understanding of his prideful and destructive nature leading to his redemption. Nevertheless he is left with the burden of the deaths of his family, becoming a shell of misfortune and loneliness. Although Creon's actions cannot be labeled as courageous, his character traits pertain greatly to that of a tragic hero.
A subject of debate in Sophocles’ play Antigone is which character complies with the characteristics of a tragic hero. The qualities that constitute a tragic hero are, in no particular order, having a high social position, not being overly good or bad, isolation, being tenacious in their actions, arousing pity in the audience, a revelatory manifestation, and having a single flaw that brings about their own demise and the demise of others around them. Creon possesses some of these qualities but, does not completely fulfill them all. Antigone does, however, conform to the persona of a tragic hero.
He chooses to lock up Antigone for her crimes against the state. His prophet Teiresias then tries to warn him that he’s made a mistake, “Then take this, and take it to heart... corpse for corpse, flesh of your own flesh... you have thrust the child of this world into living night” he chooses to disregard him. (Antigone, 5. 75-76, 79-82). However, when the Choragos tells him that Teiresias has correctly prophesied what will happen and he's made a mistake in locking away Antigone and leaving her fate up to the Gods, Creon gets his epiphany and states “My mind misgives- The laws of the gods are mighty, and a man must serve them to the last day of his life” (Antigone, 5.
In conclusion, Creon is the tragic character of Antigone because of his pride which caused him never ending agony by the end of this tragedy. Although Antigone’s stubbornness concerning the divine law and her brother’s burial lead her to her misfortune, her suffering was cut short by her death. On the other hand, Creon had to live through having his own son and the citizens of Thebes against his decision. Also, Haimon and Eurydices died as a result of his actions, leaving Creon without a family. Hence, Creon is the tragic character of the tragedy due to eternal distress caused by his judgment.
Creon’s arrogance and pride is the tragic flaw that leads to his inevitable downfall. He does not hand down a just sent...