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A review by thomasgoddard
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell
5.0
I cried. I'll tell you why later.
We have travelled barely any distance from the horrors skillfully written by Tressell (Noonan). We're there now still, some of us. A little less likely to starve, but only due to the efforts of people inspired by this book back in the day. Efforts that are daily threatened by greedy capitalists. We're going backwards so quickly.
My own politics has run from mere emulation of forebears through, socialist, libertine... all the way to where I am now... Apathetic.
But Tressell sums up the reason neatly... Because I've spoken loudly to all who'll listen about the evils of capitalism and it has never gotten through to anyone. They'll sneer and say it'll never change. And then go on complaining about their lot. And they'll condemn their children to the same drudgery. And the change they need is as easy as downing tools.
Or else they agree, but are happy enough to stomp on their staff as soon as they get a leg up.
Most people are just followers, I guess. Survival will make killers of us all. I guess.
Tressell writes really beautifully about the grimness of the working man's lot. He digs down into the cause of the misery and presents it clearly and concisely. He presents solutions. Some of those ideas caught on. Most of the message has been polluted.
And the thing that made me weep?
The thought of how many great works of art are simply lost to humanity because we failed to tend to the needs of people in society. How many naturally gifted writers are condemned to obscurity because they were locked into working for a living? How many musicians spend their whole lives gigging for gas money? How many jaw dropping paintings are never painted because we can't afford the materials?
That broke my heart.
We have travelled barely any distance from the horrors skillfully written by Tressell (Noonan). We're there now still, some of us. A little less likely to starve, but only due to the efforts of people inspired by this book back in the day. Efforts that are daily threatened by greedy capitalists. We're going backwards so quickly.
My own politics has run from mere emulation of forebears through, socialist, libertine... all the way to where I am now... Apathetic.
But Tressell sums up the reason neatly... Because I've spoken loudly to all who'll listen about the evils of capitalism and it has never gotten through to anyone. They'll sneer and say it'll never change. And then go on complaining about their lot. And they'll condemn their children to the same drudgery. And the change they need is as easy as downing tools.
Or else they agree, but are happy enough to stomp on their staff as soon as they get a leg up.
Most people are just followers, I guess. Survival will make killers of us all. I guess.
Tressell writes really beautifully about the grimness of the working man's lot. He digs down into the cause of the misery and presents it clearly and concisely. He presents solutions. Some of those ideas caught on. Most of the message has been polluted.
And the thing that made me weep?
The thought of how many great works of art are simply lost to humanity because we failed to tend to the needs of people in society. How many naturally gifted writers are condemned to obscurity because they were locked into working for a living? How many musicians spend their whole lives gigging for gas money? How many jaw dropping paintings are never painted because we can't afford the materials?
That broke my heart.