“One is what one owns,” are the words of Teresa L. Ebert. This simple phrase says a lot about class struggles, especially in today’s society. Society seems to be more focused on wealth as time passes by. However, class struggles have existed since the times of Kings and Lords as Carl Marx suggest. It is not something of the past and unless some changes are made to the current governmental systems it will not change. Jack London’s novel, The Iron Heel attempts such a change in a warlike revolution. But in the real world perhaps changes need to begin small, but what is important is for the working class to rise up and demand their rights as Charlize Theron’s character did in the film “North Country.”
Jack London’s novel explores the conflict of classes through the character of Ernest. Ernest represents the working class, but he is a very smart person who not only uses force for his revolution but manages to get involved with the owner of the Mills and his daughter. During a dinner he observes how the owner and some religious figures discuss the working class. After observing them Ernest is asked to speak and he exclaims “…and let me begin by saying that you are all mistaken. You know nothing, and worse than nothing, about the working class. Your sociology is as vicious and worthless as is your method of thinking” (London 13). Through the character of Ernest, Jack London makes a very strong social commentary about the working class and the owners. London’s commentary is still true in today’s society. The owners are not aware of the struggles the working class has. The working class has to face difficult working conditions such as working long hours and without benefits. Even if the owners are aware they choose to ignore it.
In the film “North Country,” directed by Nikki Caro the main character explores the struggles a common worker has to face in order to obtain their rights. The main character named Josey Aimes is forced to take a job in the mines where her father works. As a single mother it is the only job that allows her to provide for her and her children. However, she faces many obstacles and primarily sexual harassment. The manager of the company warns her not to go to the owner with her complaints telling her that it’s a waste of time. But after several unfortunate incidents she decides to go, but the owner basically threatens to fire her and completely ignores her request.
The owner has no idea the humiliation Josey and her female co-workers go through everyday. After much opposition Josey takes her struggle to the courts. While Josey is the only women brave enough to sue the company, the owner hires a great lawyer to represent the company as Earnest from The Iron Heel would say “The company employs very efficient lawyers…” (London 16). The lawyer attempts to break Josie down by trying to ruin her reputation. However, it is not that Josie doesn’t know how the father of her child but she conceals it because she was raped by her teacher as a young girl. There was only one witness of this attack and the company convinces him to lie and say it was consensual sex, but this turns against them when he changes his mind and confesses he lied and that Josey was raped. After this reveal more women join Josey with their complaints. Josey and her female co-workers win the case and pave the wave for sexual harassment laws to go into effect in many states.
There are still many workers who face deplorable conditions in today’s society. Perhaps not loosing arms like in the Iron Heel or being harassed like Josie. However, many workers today are facing unemployment, their benefits taken away, and their hours shorten. Parents have to work two jobs to feed their children and college students are forced to choose between a degree or getting a job in order to survive. The rich keep getting rich and the poor poorer. The middle class is near extinction, as Ebert suggests “There is no middle class. The middle class is an ideological illusion used to obscure class binaries and conceal the fact that under capitalism society is breaking up more rigidly into two classes whose opposition cannot be dissolved in the hybrid of a playful in-between-ness.”
The only thing the owners are concerned about is their wealth and expanding their companies as Marx points out “The need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the entire surface of the globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere.” Even if it means exploiting workers in other countries, owners don’t seem to care as long as their companies expand and their pockets are full. The working class is forced to deal with difficulties out of necessity. If they don’t work they don’t eat or provide for their children. There are many people like Josey who would rather “suck it up, and it like a man” then to fight for their rights. Josey was based on a true story and the real life character was able to make a difference. Perhaps more workers should rise up like Josey and fight for their rights no matter what difficulties they might face, it seems a lot better then being humiliated every day.
Working class struggles may be different but they still exist. As long as the working class allows the owners to continue ignoring their rights, things will not change, but get worst. Workers need to unite and fight for their rights, not with force and violence but with intelligence and using the court system.
Work Cited
Dir. Caro, Nikki North Country. Perf. Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sissy Spaceck,
Sean Bean, Richard Jenkins. Warner Brothers Pictures Distribution 2005,
Ebert L., Teresa, Daily Lessons on Class. www.webteach.csun.edu./engl312. Accessed 11/17/09.
London, Jack, The Iron Heel. Penguin Books 2006, New York, New York.
Marx, Carl, Manifesto of the Communist Party. www.webteach.csun.edu./engl312. Accessed
11/17/2009.
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