Thomas Carlyle

Thomas Carlyle was a man who envisioned great change for his country. He speaks to the "captains of industry" telling them to focus on making the country better instead of constantly striving to increase their wealth. He sees them as responsible for the growing unemployment and urges them not to abandon their country. Carlyle wrote with such passion for change that I felt compelled by his words and ideas for social change. I liked how he didn't just express his ideas to readers in general but specifically targeted these "captains of industry".

On page 479, Carlye describes a newspaper article where the mother and father poison their three children to avoid a burial fee.

In the British land, a human Mother and Father, of white skin and professing the Christian religion, had done this thing; they, with their Irishmen and necessity and savagery, had been driven to do it.

A human Mother and Father had said to themselves, What shall we do to escape starvation?

Carlyle blames society for the actions of the couple. He believes that the world pushes people to behave in this way. Industrialism has taken over and is subsequently bringing down society. While the country, as a whole, may be experiencing an increase in wealth, people individually are suffering. While we still see cases such as these in our newspapers, I was still shocked that parents would take their children's lives in order to have a few more shillings for food.

In Past and Present, Carlyle depicts where the wealth of England falls:
We have more riches than any Nation ever had before;
we have less good of them than any Nation ever had before.
Our successful industry is hitherto unsuccessful; a strange
success, if we stop here! In the midst of plethoric plenty, the
people perish; with gold walls, and full barns, no man feels
himself safe or satisfied. Workers, Master Workers, Unworkers,
all men, come to a pause; stand fixed, and cannot farther.

Carlyle says that the country cannot continue to increase their wealth if it is at the cost of society as a whole. This will not cause England to be successful in the long run. They will eventually meet their demise. Sooner than later, the people affected by this growing industrialism will have to change the way society functions. These seem like very strong words to me. I think it puts a a burden on the common people, but this will be necessary for advancement throughout the country.