The Sandwich Factory Essay Example

within the factory premises.

This fosters a setting in which workers feel confined and discontent, thereby pushing them to exert themselves by working extended hours at an accelerated pace. "There were three reactions to being enclosed. Firstly, indifference, continue laboring at the same pace. Or accelerate labor speed so jobs would be completed earlier, consequently, the gates would unlock. (...)"[2] As a reader, the narrator's perspective portrays a negative image of the factory. The illustration "Relativity" by M. C. Escher represents this category of factory. A factory filled with numerous workers who all appear identical.

The workers appear expressionless and appear to have surrendered their unique identities in the drudgery of their repetitive, dull labor at the factory. The story is told from a first-person viewpoint, as the narrator is also a character in it and refers to himself using the pronoun 'I', with one of his comments being: "I brushed it off (...)".[3] This perspective remains consistent throughout the tale, providing insight into the narrator's perspective and a window into his thoughts and beliefs. The credibility of the narrator may be questioned due to his lack of comprehensive understanding or knowledge about other characters like his fellow workers and managers.

The depictions given by the narrator regarding various individuals may be biased, and as such, may not be absolutely accurate. The individual telling the story is presumed to be male, inferred from the fact that someone at work seeks to pair him with a female and due to his depiction and discourse about women. Furthermore, he appears to hail from a lower socio-economic class, indicating limited wealth. The narrator also exhibits a somewhat negative outlook, vividly expressing

his animosity and aversion towards his place of employment and those associated with it. This sentiment is evident in the metaphorical comparison drawn between the sharp sting of acidic factory tomatoes and his deep-seated personal bitterness, as well as the portrayal of other characters.

The acidity of the tomatoes gradually gnaws at the fingers, causing them to prickle and pain seeping deep into one's soul. "[4] The storyteller differentiates himself from his fellow workers through his sentiments and emotional expressions, contrasting sharply with the rather mechanistic nature of the job. Despite his stoic language and voice tone, his discontentment still seeps through. He holds a belief that he is dealt with unjustly and somewhat superior to the others, given his resentment about his predicament. Relatedly, he fantasizes about a life as a wealthy factory owner, holding power and reimagining the Sisyphus myth – a defiance against the supervisors at the sandwich plant.

The aspiration is to become a factory owner, akin to the one depicted in M. C. Escher's artwork. "(...) organized in a perplexing way, imitating an M. C. Escher creation (...)"[5] Additionally, there are some other characters that contribute to the narrative of this brief tale, including Dot and the deranged man. Dot appears to be a long-term worker at the factory. The story's narrator provides a superficial, eccentric and perhaps not entirely reliable portrayal of her - labelling her as promiscuous and expressing disregard for her own self-respect. The deranged man also appears to have been associated with the factory for a while.

The narrative describes him as a deranged individual, always looking to frighten or even attack others with a blade. However, the narrator's

credibility is in question as he depicts this individual as an unhinged mental patient out to harm him specifically. Both these figures symbolize the industrialization within the factory. Their longtime presence in the factory has led to a transformation in their behavior. The insanity of the one character is overt while Dot cannot comprehend the newcomer narrator who has yet to reach a level of industrialization akin to theirs.

Dot, hence, strives to assist him in a manner she believes will benefit him - by coaxing him to engage in physical relations with someone. The narrator brings up their jobs as factory forklift operators, referring to it as the ultimate accomplishment for workers there. This reflects the rudimentary state of the individuals, devoid of substantial life principles. "Fantasizing about the day they could afford to take the test was a common sight, as they sat in the cafeteria clutching a little pamphlet." [6] Alienation, the pursuit of purpose, and human mechanization form the crux of this short story's central themes.

The workers at the manufacturing plant feel detached. They've been transformed into robotic entities constantly performing monotonous tasks along the assembly line daily. There’s an absence of joy and values in their lives as their identity and human essence are overshadowed by their roles as undistinguishable parts of a larger whole. Another central idea depicted in the narrative is the quest to find purpose in life. This notion resonates with existentialist philosophy, which centers around the individual, stresses the importance of personal choices and actions in forming one's identity, and asserts that you are the architect of your own destiny.

The story's narrator reflects on the existentialist Camus'

myth of Sisyphus, also advocating the existentialist mindset and exploring the quest to find meaning. This makes him realize that the factory workers lack both purpose and core values in their lives. Nonetheless, existential philosophy provides a chance to shift their perspectives. Consequently, the narrative ends with our narrator making a deliberate choice to quit factory work so as to not end up as a humdrum, mechanized drone that he has seen other workers get reduced to. He states, “When I had recovered, I drove home and I never went back.”[7] The routine grind at the factory potentially symbolizes his personal existence.

His departure from the factory symbolizes his liberation from the monotonous and mundane lifestyle he had previously been enduring and marks a turning point for him as the sandwich factory experience gives him a new perspective. David Lodge's narrative, "Nice work," outlines Robyn Penrose's trip to an automobile parts production facility. Her visit exposes her to the workers' repetitive daily routine. She discovers that employees perform identical tasks every day, with no variation in their roles. However, this repetitive work routine is typical of factory jobs. As inferred from the words of the factory’s managing director, workers prefer consistency over change.

The difficulty in envisioning anyone finding amusement in such dull duties indicates they may have grown so acclimated and automatic, they no longer possess any concern. B: Charles Dickens' portrayal of Coketown in his novel "Hard Times," paints a vivid picture of an industrial city in Britain using distinctive linguistic expressions. Dickens presents the city in an overwhelmingly negative light. In multiple instances, he employs metaphors, such as likening the town to the grimy

visage of a barbarian. By this, he implies the town has been soiled by smoke to the extent that the once red-brick buildings are now blackened by ash residues. "(.. ) the town was an unnatural mixture of red and black, reminiscent of a barbarian's painted face."

He further characterizes the billowing smoke from the factory smokestacks as serpents - creatures typically associated with danger and negativity. This snake-like description of the lengthy smoke trails accentuates his negative perspective on the city. "The city was filled with machinery and towering smokestacks, from which endless smoke trails, akin to serpents, emerged (.. )" Dickens even describes the local water as being polluted and discolored to shades of black and purple.

Dickens provides a vivid description of the town's factories, which are marred by incessant noise. He highlights this nuisance by likening the steam-engine to a disturbed elephant. " (... ) Its piston labored ceaselessly in an up and down rhythm, reminiscent of a melancholic and mad elephant." His choice of words is aimed at emphasizing the negative impact of factories to the town. Finally, Dickens alludes to the drab character of the town, seemingly reflecting its inhabitants - worklife, streetlife and people are remarkably similar. The lack of distinctiveness in the town is analogously evident in its inhabitants.