Here is the answer and explanation to the question What does Lyddie and Brigid’s encounter in chapter 21 tell you about the workers’ rights in the mills?
What does Lyddie and Brigid’s encounter in chapter 21 tell you about the workers’ rights in the mills?
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Chapter 21 isn’t the only chapter that shows how Lyddie and the other girls have next to no rights whatsoever. The girls on the factory floor are pushed hard. The machines work at blindly fast paces, and girls work multiple machines. If a girl gets hurt, she is just replaced like any other interchangeable part. This treats the girls like mere objects, and that is what chapter 21 also shows readers; however, this time the chapter shows readers that men like Marsden treat the girls like sexual objects. The huge problem for the girls back then was that they had no recourse. Any of the girls could complain, but by doing so they risk their job. Additionally, the girls risk being blacklisted and never allowed to work a factory again. This means that the girls have to take whatever conditions are given to them regardless of how grossly inappropriate it is. Lyddie does stand up to Marsden and saves Brigid, but Lyddie is fired because of it. It’s a devastating moment for readers. Lyddie does get back at Marsden, but she has to do it through blackmail. She writes up two copies of the same letter. She gives one to Brigid and one to Mr. Marsden. The letters are written to Mrs. Marsden and explain what her husband has been doing. Lyddie told Brigid to mail the letter if Mr. Marsden ever steps out of line again.
Good night, Mr. Marsden. I hope you sleep easy—before you die.
| Certified Educator
In Chapter 21 Lyddie catches the overseer Mr. Marsden sexually harassing Brigid, just as he’d previously done to her. Lyddie’s become quite close to Brigid, and hates to see her friend being treated so appallingly. So she picks up a bucket and attacks Marsden. Lyddie may have successfully stopped Marsden from abusing Brigid—for now, at any rate—but she’s immediately fired for standing up to a bully.
This whole tawdry episode speaks volumes about how the women are treated at the factory. They’re forced to perform hard, demanding work for long hours and little pay. The conditions on the whole are pretty dreadful. In such an exploitative environment, it’s no surprise that a serial predator like Marsden thinks he has the right to force himself on any woman that takes his fancy. He knows that even if one of the workers should complain about his behavior, absolutely nothing will be done about it. He won’t be the one to get into trouble; on the contrary, it’ll be the complainant who’ll risk losing her job, or anyone else who stands up to him. And so it proves with Lyddie.
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