Industrial Revolution - Book Report/Review Example

Irshad Ahmad Academia-Research.Com Order # 746175 November 13, Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution refers to the period of history between 1750 to 1850. The world saw modifications in agriculture, manufacturing, methods of transportation and technology. Such modifications were outstanding and cast a deep effect on the cultural, economical and social conditions of the world. It looked like the world had changed completely with respect to its priorities. Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain.

From Great Britain, it took roots in the whole of Europe, North America and Japan. Eventually the fruits of the revolution were to be tasted by the whole world.Industrial Revolution is a turning point in history. It altogether changed almost every aspect of the daily life. The life of humans depends upon the economy and Industrial Revolution changed the average income of the man. Dickens’ Oliver Twist explains the problems that the Society of England faced during the Industrial Revolution. The story revolves around an orphan, the Oliver Twist.

He spends his life in a church’s workhouse specially designed for children. Oliver’s life portrays the flaws in the working system of the days. The children in workhouse are burdened with a heavy work and for a longer period of time. They are dealt with cruelly when they are not given enough or sometimes no food. When Oliver out of his hunger asks for his right, he is severely punished by the workhouse staff. His is made an example for the other children that they must not dare like him. A very high ratio of population growth is another issue explained in “Oliver Twist”.

The multitude of orphans was a problem in the society of England. A large number of people had a multitude of children but they could not afford their daily life expenses. They were therefore sent to the workhouses to earn their livelihood themselves. Same children were either kicked or died in the course. Some children exiled towards crimes. Dickens’ “gang of thieves” comes out responsible for the London’s rampant crime. It is because he children are left with no alternative but to be criminal or die.

The people were poor and the opportunities they lacked hence making the England of those days, an unrest (Dickens, pp72-107).Emile Zola writes about the impact of industrial revolution on the working class. Etienne Lantier is the main character in Germinal. He is a mechanic and gets a job at a coal-mine. He meets many people and acquires fame inside them. The families of rich and poor are compared in the book. Etieene catches popularity among the workers of the coal mine. His power increases day by day.

The book constantly tells of his good name in the mine. His fame earns for him a complete authority over the miners. The main event inside the book is the strike of the miners against the injustices done to them. The name of the book is Germinal because it informs of the germination of a new society. Zola’s work focuses on the working conditions in the mines and factories of the Nineteenth Century of Europe. There are several examples in the book which demonstrate the disasters of the then times’ industry.

Temperature is termed as a huge problem which the miners experience in very depths. It was very cool and troubled the miners. In short Zola looks overwhelmed by the Industrial Revolution and puts suggestions before the government to solve the problems of the industries otherwise the progress the revolution had aimed at may become but a dream only (Smethurst, pp47-91).Works citedDickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co, 1941. Print.Smethurst, Colin. Emile Zola, Germinal. London: Edward Arnold, 1974. Print.