How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
'But, oh my friends and brothers! Oh men and Englishmen, the down-trodden operatives of Coketown! What shall we say of that man — that working-man, that I should find it necessary so to libel the glorious name — who, being practically and well acquainted with the grievances and wrongs of you, the injured pith and marrow of this land, and having heard you, with a noble and majestic unanimity that will make Tyrants tremble, resolve for to subscribe to the funds of the United Aggregate Tribunal, and to abide by the injunctions issued by that body for your benefit, whatever they may be' (2.4.6)
Slackbridge really is a powerful speaker, and he builds his sentences to a crescendo. What he lacks in honesty and facts, he makes up for in emotion and bluster.
Quote #8
Thus easily did Stephen Blackpool fall into the loneliest of lives, the life of solitude among a familiar crowd […] By general consent, they even avoided that side of the street on which he habitually walked; and left it, of all the working- men, to him only. He had been for many years, a quiet silent man, associating but little with other men, and used to companionship with his own thoughts. He had never known before the strength of the want in his heart for the frequent recognition of a nod, a look, a word; or the immense amount of relief that had been poured into it by drops through such small means. It was even harder than he could have believed possible, to separate in his own conscience his abandonment by all his fellows from a baseless sense of shame and disgrace. (2.4.33-34)
This is an extraordinary punishment. It's hard to imagine what a life lived like this must be like. What are we to make of this kind of cruelty? And also, this is a nice demonstration of the collective power of the workers. Think of what else they could accomplish if they can stay as united as they are against to Stephen.
Quote #9
'Sir, I canna, wi' my little learning an my common way, tell the genelman what will better aw this — though some working-men o' this town could, above my powers — but I can tell him what I know will never do 't. The strong hand will never do 't. Vict'ry and triumph will never do 't. Agreeing fur to mak one side unnat'rally awlus and for ever right, and toother side unnat'rally awlus and for ever wrong, will never, never do 't. Nor yet lettin alone will never do 't. Let thousands upon thousands alone, aw leading the like lives and aw faw'en into the like muddle, and they will be as one, and yo will be as anoother, wi' a black unpassable world betwixt yo, just as long or short a time as sitch-like misery can last.' (2.5.45)
Stephen cannot picture that a united worker front would be able to overpower the "strong hand" of the factory owners and the laws that support their oppression of their workers. His solution seems to be to just wait until death and the Final Judgment.