Motywy wspólne w literackim obrazie strajku i lokautu w Manchesterze (Elizabeth C. Gaskell "Mary Barton") i Łodzi (M. Gawalewicz "Wir", K. Laskowski "Lokaut")

Abstract

The purpose of the study was the analysis of common motifs in literary presentations of factory workers, strike and lockout in Łódź and Manchester as depicted in the novels by Gawalewicz, Laskowski and Elizabeth Gaskell. The novels analysed in the study touch upon parallel problems, which seem characteristic for the cities with similar history and way of development. Among reappearing motifs there are: stories of factory owners who used to be ordinary workers; differences between old and new generations of factory owners; awareness of factory workers whose labour contributed to the growth of fortunes of their employers, descriptions of worsening life conditions of working class due to technical advancement in production and shortening of working day; sexual abuse of female workers by factory owners; conspiracy among factory workers, descriptions of the activities of trade unions; workers’ claims e.g. 8-hour working day, pay-rises; agitation by trade union members; meetings of delegates of trade unions with factory owners and management; strikebreakers; informers; factory owners mocking the poverty of working class; meetings of factory owners; closing down of factories and resulting impoverishment of the workers; assaults on factory owner’s life.