Difference between revisions of "Week 9 Questions/Comments-327 09"
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== Harriet Farley, “A Letter from Lowell,” 1844 == | == Harriet Farley, “A Letter from Lowell,” 1844 == | ||
I found it interesting that Harriet Farley, who was a minister's daughter, was writing a fictional letter that made the mill look like a happy place to work. '''The timing of the letter shows the way the mill owners utilized the journal for their own benefit--perhaps to counteract the female labor reform movement. It was interesting that she asked in the letter if anyone was really content. So, it's not just the work at the mill that could be making someone discontent, but that no one is content no matter where they are or what kind of work they are doing.''' '''''Although the journal certainly could be considered as a "creative" outlet for the workers, how many people outside of the mill read it and how many were aware that the mill owner's owned and controlled the editorial policy?'''''--Nancy Lee | I found it interesting that Harriet Farley, who was a minister's daughter, was writing a fictional letter that made the mill look like a happy place to work. '''The timing of the letter shows the way the mill owners utilized the journal for their own benefit--perhaps to counteract the female labor reform movement. It was interesting that she asked in the letter if anyone was really content. So, it's not just the work at the mill that could be making someone discontent, but that no one is content no matter where they are or what kind of work they are doing.''' '''''Although the journal certainly could be considered as a "creative" outlet for the workers, how many people outside of the mill read it and how many were aware that the mill owner's owned and controlled the editorial policy?'''''--Nancy Lee | ||
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| + | I found Harriet Farley's "Letters from Susan", and in particular the excerpt that we read, to be very interesting. In the letter, "Susan" describes her tasks and typical work day while also responding to a question asking if she, as well as the other mill girls, was content working at Lowell. I wonder how much of the letter is really Harriet speaking and her voice and thoughts and feelings coming through, and how much of it was written to "please" and satisfy her employers, the mill owners. Because the mill owners subsidized the "Lowell Offering", it makes me question how much they may have censored it, in a way, or restricted what was being printed to only those pieces that looked upon themselves in a favorable and satisfactory light. I also wonder what "Susan" (or Harriet) meant when she talked about "Methodist bonnets" at the very end of her letter. Is it a particular style of bonnet or head-covering worn by that denomination? -Allison Godart | ||
== The Voice of Industry, “A Spirit of Protest,” 1846 == | == The Voice of Industry, “A Spirit of Protest,” 1846 == | ||
