In our last post, we looked at how plantation economics is portrayed and, in part, rectified in the book and mid-1980s TV mini-series, North and South. Another famous book of the same name was written in the 1850s by English author Elizabeth Gaskell and made into a TV mini-series in 2004. Not only are these two works set during the same time period, they are, ironically, connected economically by the same industry: cotton. They also both focus on the evils of the all too pervasive plantation mindset of the time.
In the opening of the book, we are introduced to Margaret Hale, a fiery and independent young woman who is the daughter of an Anglican minister. Margaret and her parents move from rural southern England to the northern industrial town of Milton, where the cotton industry is king. Having been brought up to take care of the poor and working class in her father's parish, Margaret is shocked by the harsh and sometimes brutal conditions in the cotton mills. She is especially repelled by mill owner John Thornton, a man she at first regards as a cold and heartless businessman.
A 19th century cotton mill, © onfilm from Getty Images Signature via Canva.com
In keeping with her role as a minister's daughter, Margaret befriends the working-class Higgins family whose father, Nicholas, is a union organizer. Margaret becomes very attached to the family and especially to the older daughter, Bessy, who eventually dies from a lung condition she acquires from ingesting cotton dust while working in the mills.
This toxic health issue is flippantly touched on when the mill owners eat dinner together one night. As they discuss the pros and cons of purchasing a machine that can clear the air of dust, one owner laugh and say that his workers don't want him to buy the machine, as ingesting the dust calms their hungry stomachs! John Thornton has purchased such a machine and says that it's worth the price, as it makes his employees healthier and thus able to work more and better. Thornton is farther along in his thinking than the other owners, but he has a long way to go before embracing a true partnership mindset.
Bessie's lung disease is one of many distressing issues resulting from the detrimental mill environment. The "masters'" (mill owners) attitude toward these problems is typical of classic plantation economics: making a profit is deemed as the one and only goal, regardless of the effect on their employees or the environment. At first powerless to address these abuses, the workers eventually strike for better wages and working conditions. Led by Nicholas, they launch a campaign of non-violent protest but eventually succumb to hunger and go back to work.
Prompted by Margaret after the strike, Thornton gives Nicholas a job in his mill when none of the other owners will employ him. Nicholas and Thornton begin to have conversations, especially over the dilemma of workers not being able to get sufficient or decent food. At first wary of each other, the two eventually collaborate to create an on-site cafeteria of sorts, where workers can get a hearty and nutritious dinner. The two continue to work together, and when Thornton is forced to close his mill, Nicholas gathers a list of workers who want to work for him again if he is able to reopen.
The change we see in John Thornton's character is striking for a book written in the mid-nineteenth century. Originally under his mother's and other owners' influence, where he sees his employees as adversaries, he begins to view them as stakeholders as he comes more and more under Margaret's influence and listens to Nicholas' viewpoint.
The change of Thornton's and Nicholas' attitudes toward each other is also noteworthy. During a time when other authors advocated for class warfare, Gaskell shows a way forward that benefits everyone. Thornton and Nicholas have plenty of reasons to despise each other; yet like Orry and George in the American North and South, they are at the core, men of honor and integrity who are eventually open to change.
Ultimately, a culture of mutuality is made possible when people on all sides are honest about what is wrong and also open to transformation, both personally and in their work environment. In these two books, there are people who influence the main characters toward a new view. It goes without saying that we need to be aware of how our information sources affect our thoughts and actions. Mindfulness is often the first step toward change.
Who are your influencers? Whether they are people in your life, your education, your daily news feed, or an Audible book, they all affect how we view the world, including our economic mindset. As you think about these sources, take some time to evaluate how they are contributing to your perspective. Just as Milton Friedman influenced a generation of businesspeople with his NY Times article, The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits, so too can the voices in your space affect you, and you in turn can affect others.
We hope that Better Capitalism is one of the positive economic influences in your life! If so, please share this blog with your friends, family, and co-workers. As in both versions of North and South, starting the conversation can further the awareness and influence of Partnership Economics and bring about much needed change for the better.
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