Thomas Carlyle’s Past And Present Essay, Research Paper

Q: Using the work of Thomas Carlyle, briefly discuss what he sees as a major problem in Victorian society and what solutions does he offer?

It is apparent from reading his essay entitled “Past and Present” that Thomas Carlyle saw the poor working conditions as a major problem in society. He states “that in no time, since the beginnings of Society, was the lot of those same dumb millions of toilers so entirely unbearable as it is even in the days now passing over us” (p. 1111). In this short passage much is revealed about Carlyle’s opinion about the working class. First of all, he is sympathetic to their plight. He recognized that they were overworked, underpaid, starving, and suffering many injustices. In his opinion, labor needed to be organized, and the workers deserved to be paid better wages. He realized that this would be a daunting task, but one worth undertaking in the long run.

The other message that Carlyle is attempting to convey involves his opinions on how these problems should be dealt with. While he is concerned about the citizens’ predicament, it seems as thought Carlyle views the commoner as incapable of doing the right thing for himself. He states that “true liberty were that… any and every wiser man… could… lay hold of him when he was going wrong, and order and compel him to go a little righter” (p. 1113). He realized that the ‘Laissez-faire’ approach to government was not effective in solving the problems that faced society, but also felt that democracy could not work either. In his opinion, only a select few are born with the ability to be great leaders, and everyone else is content to follow. It almost appears as though Carlyle would have like the government to step in and take control of the people’s lives. At one point, he even states that “the true liberty of a man… consisted in being forced to find the right path… to be taught what work he actually was able for” (p. 1112).

However, at the same time, Carlyle is calling for another type of leadership outside of the government. He ralized that government can do much, but it cannot do, by all its signaling and commanding, all (pl 1115). Therefore, “the main substance of the immense Problem of Organizing Labour, and first of all of managing the Working Classes, will have to be solved by those… who… preside over work” (p1115). In this way, he is calling for the Captains of Industry to come forth and take care of their workers.

In conclusion, Carlyle recognized the many injustices suffered by the working class. He was sympathetic towards the common citizen, and realized that labor needed to be organized. However, he felt that this goal of “maximum wellbeing” could only be achieved when “wiser men” susch as Government Officials or Captains of Industry took charge of the working class.

bibliography: The Norton Anthology of English Leterature/ seventh edition/ pages 1110 -1119.