How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"It is comforting," said Mrs. Dawes, "to think the town goes no farther. It is only a little sore upon the country yet." (8.308)
Clara Dawes isn't a very big fan of human civilization—especially modern civilization. Where some people might see a splendid town spreading itself over the disorder and chaos of nature, Clara sees a festering sore on the surface of the world. Nice image, huh?
Quote #8
[F]rom Minton across the farmlands of the valleyside to Bunker's Hill, branching off there, and running north to Beggarlee and Selby, that looks over at Crich and the hills of Derbyshire: six mines like black studs on the countryside, linked by a loop of fine chain, the railway. (1.4)
By directly comparing the railway to a chain, Lawrence gives us our first taste of the prison-like effects of modern industry. While there are many benefits to linking together different communities by train, Lawrence demonstrates that this same system also provides mining companies with a more efficient way to move their coal—thereby increasing their power over the workers who live in the countryside. No piece of technology is purely good or evil, is it? Maybe it's us human beings who decide the goodness or badness of each product, as we put that product to use.
Quote #9
[R]ight away overhead was the glass roof, and all light for the three storeys came downwards, getting dimmer, so that it was always night on the ground floor and rather gloomy on the second floor. The factory was the top floor, the warehouse the second, the storehouse the ground floor. It was an insanitary, ancient place. (5.243)
While Mrs. Morel is excited about Paul's job, the narrator isn't so enthusiastic about Jordan's manufacturing. Like many places of modern industry, the factory tries to be as efficient as possible by using little to no artificial lighting. And who likes toiling away all day in the dark? Not us, Shmoopers. Not us.