Flaws In Germinal Essays - Labour Relations, Germinal, Strike Action

Flaws In Germinal The Flaws in Germinal At first glance, one might say the capitalist system is righteous and it leads to more productivity, but upon discreet examination, the system has numerous flaws. As we discussed in class, one of the main flaws was the inability of the workers to advance themselves in society beyond the point of keeping food in their stomachs. One generation after another follow each other down below into the mines without cessation. First and foremost the company needs to insure that all members of the mine town have enough to eat, enough to wear, and a roof over their head. The company can possibly provide clothing and food through a ration-based system that guarantees the people will not die of starvation or frostbite. These are necessities that the company should provide even if they are in debt. The workers should also receive a salary based on performance and profits of the company. This spending money can be used for amenities or the worker can save it if he or she one day desires to move away and attempt to start a better life somewhere else. The root of the problem lies with the education the residents of the mine town receive. Children as young as seven or eight are being sent down to work in the mines when they should be starting school. If families are unable to pay for schooling a type of indentured worker system might work out where children can attend school for free if they agree to provide the company with a year(s) work when they become of age to work. That also brings up the issue of child labor. Children should not work until at least 16 and even then they should not be responsible for dangerous and important jobs such as securing the limbering. Another important issue concerns the rights of the workers. Workers unions should be set up and all should join to make sure that the company does not use and abuse the workers. Unions should unite all workers with the same profession across the region. A strike when carried out effectively will cripple the company and force them to pay higher wages. The strike in Germinal was ineffective because only workers from one mine out of the several the company had were on strike and even in the one mine, many still went to work. Also, in Germinal, the company shows no concern whatsoever for the health and safety of its own workers. Conditions in the mine are horrendous beyond belief. Doctors hired by the company hide the truth from the workers. Unions should protect and unite the workers. Government Essays

courbet essays

courbet essays Max Buchon was a friend of Gustave Courbet. Max wrote an essay to publicize Courbets painting of the stonebreakers and a burial at Ornan. He wrote about the two paintings, what he thought about them and what the author thought about them. He also talked about how these paintings were so very realistic in the way the showed the bourgeoisie life. He also argued about Courbet not being a socialist as people thought he was. He showed why he thought that, and what Courbet really intended to do. Buchon starts off by talking about the stonebreakers painting. He says that the painting represents two life-like figures alpha and the omega. He describes the characters of the painting as that poor worker you know. He calls the kid in the picture stupid because misery often leads too stupidity. After describing the child, he describes the old man in the picture. Saying that he is good and a hard worker that probably gives a puff of his smoke to strangers he meets. He describes how good he is because of experience, but also how tired he gets because of his old age. How he works even in holidays to earn money to eat by paving the road for mankind passing by. Buchon seems disturbed by the thought of the stonebreakers not being part of the artist imagination, but actually real people that he sees every day. Then he goes to talk about what he calls Courbets principal work of the year; a burial at Ornans. Max seems fascinated by the amount of work put in by the artist for a burial at Ornans. He tells us how big it is and life like it is because he has seen those people in Ornans. He says they are wearing traditional outfits and that there are many people in the painting but you still have to look at the gravedigger. Again Buchon is concerned with the poorest of the working class. He talks about how the digger is on his knees waiting for the coffin. He says that the gravedig...