Itisnouseprophesyingastotheeventswhichwillaccompanythatrevolution,buttoareasonablemanitseemsunlikelytothelastdegree,orwewillsayimpossible,thatamoralsentimentwillinducetheproprietaryclasses——thosewholivebyOWNINGthemeansofproductionwhichtheunprivilegedclassesmustneedsUSE——toyieldupthisprivilegeuncompelled;allonecanhopeisthattheywillseetheimplicitthreatofcompulsionintheeventsoftheday,andsoyieldwithagoodgracetotheterriblenecessityofformingpartofaworldinwhichall,includingthemselves,willworkhonestlyandliveeasily。
THEAIMSOFART
InconsideringtheAimsofArt,thatis,whymentoilsomelycherishandpractiseArt,IfindmyselfcompelledtogeneralizefromtheonlyspecimenofhumanityofwhichIknowanything;towit,myself。Now,whenIthinkofwhatitisthatIdesire,IfindthatIcangiveitnoothernamethanhappiness。IwanttobehappywhileIlive;forasfordeath,Ifindthat,neverhavingexperiencedit,Ihavenoconceptionofwhatitmeans,andsocannotevenbringmymindtobearuponit。Iknowwhatitistolive;Icannotevenguesswhatitistobedead。Well,then,Iwanttobehappy,andevensometimes,saygenerally,tobemerry;andIfinditdifficulttobelievethatthatisnottheuniversaldesire:sothat,whatevertendstowardsthatendIcherishwithallmybestendeavour。Now,whenIconsidermylifefurther,Ifindout,orseemto,thatitisundertheinfluenceoftwodominatingmoods,whichforlackofbetterwordsImustcallthemoodofenergyandthemoodofidleness:thesetwomoodsarenowone,nowtheother,alwayscryingoutinmetobesatisfied。Whenthemoodofenergyisuponme,Imustbedoingsomething,orIbecomemopishandunhappy;whenthemoodofidlenessisonme,IfindithardindeedifIcannotrestandletmymindwanderoverthevariouspictures,pleasantorterrible,whichmyownexperienceormycommuningwiththethoughtsofothermen,deadoralive,havefashionedinit;andifcircumstanceswillnotallowmetocultivatethismoodofidleness,IfindImustatthebestpassthroughaperiodofpaintillIcanmanagetostimulatemymoodofenergytotakeitsplaceandmakemehappyagain。AndifIhavenomeanswherewithtorouseupthatmoodofenergytodoitsdutyinmakingmehappy,andIhavetotoilwhiletheidlemoodisuponme,thenamI
unhappyindeed,andalmostwishmyselfdead,thoughIdonotknowwhatthatmeans。
Furthermore,Ifindthatwhileinthemoodofidlenessmemoryamusesme,inthemoodofenergyhopecheersme;whichhopeissometimesbigandserious,andsometimestrivial,butthatwithoutitthereisnohappyenergy。Again,IfindthatwhileIcansometimessatisfythismoodbymerelyexercisingitinworkthathasnoresultbeyondthepassinghour——inplay,inshort——yetthatitpresentlyweariesofthatandgetslanguid,thehopethereinbeingtootrivial,andsometimesevenscarcelyreal;andthatonthewhole,tosatisfymymasterthemood,Imusteitherbemakingsomethingormakingbelievetomakeit。
Well,Ibelievethatallmen’slivesarecompoundedofthesetwomoodsinvariousproportions,andthatthisexplainswhytheyhavealways,withmoreorlessoftoil,cherishedandpractisedart。
Whyshouldtheyhavetoucheditelse,andsoaddedtothelabourwhichtheycouldnotchoosebutdoinordertolive?Itmusthavebeendonefortheirpleasure,sinceithasonlybeeninveryelaboratecivilizationsthatamancouldgetothermentokeephimalivemerelytoproduceworksofart,whereasallmenthathaveleftanysignsoftheirexistencebehindthemhavepractisedart。
Isuppose,indeed,thatnobodywillbeinclinedtodenythattheendproposedbyaworkofartisalwaystopleasethepersonwhosesensesaretobemadeconsciousofit。ItwasdoneFORsomeonewhowastobemadehappierbyit;hisidleorrestfulmoodwastobeamusedbyit,sothatthevacancywhichisthebesettingevilofthatmoodmightgiveplacetopleasedcontemplation,dreaming,orwhatyouwill;andbythismeanshewouldnotsosoonbedrivenintohisworkfulorenergeticmood:hewouldhavemoreenjoyment,andbetter。
Therestrainingofrestlessness,therefore,isclearlyoneoftheessentialaimsofart,andfewthingscouldaddtothepleasureoflifemorethanthis。Thereare,tomyknowledge,giftedpeoplenowalivewhohavenoothervicethanthisofrestlessness,andseeminglynoothercurseintheirlivestomakethemunhappy:butthatisenough;itis"thelittleriftwithinthelute。"Restlessnessmakesthemhaplessmenandbadcitizens。
Butgranting,asIsupposeyouallwilldo,thatthisisamostimportantfunctionforarttofulfil,thequestionnextcomes,atwhatpricedoweobtainit?Ihaveadmittedthatthepracticeofarthasaddedtothelabourofmankind,thoughIbelieveinthelongrunitwillnotdoso;butinaddingtothelabourofmanhasitadded,sofar,tohispain?Therealwayshavebeenpeoplewhowouldatoncesayyestothatquestion;sothattherehavebeenandaretwosetsofpeoplewhodislikeandcontemnartasanembarrassingfolly。Besidesthepiousascetics,wholookuponitasaworldlyentanglementwhichpreventsmenfromkeepingtheirmindsfixedonthechancesoftheirindividualhappinessormiseryinthenextworld;who,inshort,hateart,becausetheythinkthatitaddstoman’searthlyhappiness——
besidesthese,therearealsopeoplewho,lookingonthestruggleoflifefromthemostreasonablepointthattheyknowof,contemntheartsbecausetheythinkthattheyaddtoman’sslaverybyincreasingthesumofhispainfullabour:ifthiswerethecase,itwouldstill,tomymind,beaquestionwhetheritmightnotbeworththewhiletoenduretheextrapainoflabourforthesakeoftheextrapleasureaddedtorest;assuming,forthepresent,equalityofconditionamongmen。Butitseemstomethatitisnotthecasethatthepracticeofartaddstopainfullabour;naymore,Ibelievethat,ifitdid,artwouldneverhavearisenatall,wouldcertainlynotbediscernible,asitis,amongpeoplesinwhomonlythegermsofcivilizationexist。Inotherwords,Ibelievethatartcannotbetheresultofexternalcompulsion;thelabourwhichgoestoproduceitisvoluntary,andpartlyundertakenforthesakeofthelabouritself,partlyforthesakeofthehopeofproducingsomethingwhich,whendone,shallgivepleasuretotheuserofit。Or,again,thisextralabour,whenitisextra,isundertakenwiththeaimofsatisfyingthatmoodofenergybyemployingittoproducesomethingworthdoing,andwhich,therefore,willkeepbeforetheworkeralivelyhopewhileheisworking;andalsobygivingitworktodoinwhichthereisabsoluteimmediatepleasure。Perhapsitisdifficulttoexplaintothenon—artisticcapacitythatthisdefinitesensuouspleasureisalwayspresentinthehandiworkofthedeftworkmanwhenheisworkingsuccessfully,andthatitincreasesinproportiontothefreedomandindividualityofthework。Alsoyoumustunderstandthatthisproductionofart,andconsequentpleasureinwork,isnotconfinedtotheproductionofmatterswhichareworksofartonly,likepictures,statues,andsoforth,buthasbeenandshouldbeapartofalllabourinsomeformorother:soonlywilltheclaimsofthemoodofenergybesatisfied。
ThereforetheAimofArtistoincreasethehappinessofmen,bygivingthembeautyandinterestofincidenttoamusetheirleisure,andpreventthemwearyingevenofrest,andbygivingthemhopeandbodilypleasureintheirwork;or,shortly,tomakeman’sworkhappyandhisrestfruitful。Consequently,genuineartisanunmixedblessingtotheraceofman。
Butastheword"genuine"isalargequalification,ImustaskleavetoattempttodrawsomepracticalconclusionsfromthisassertionoftheAimsofArt,whichwill,Isuppose,orindeedhope,leadusintosomecontroversyonthesubject;becauseitisfutileindeedtoexpectanyonetospeakaboutart,exceptinthemostsuperficialway,withoutencounteringthosesocialproblemswhichallseriousmenarethinkingof;sinceartisandmustbe,eitherinitsabundanceoritsbarrenness,initssincerityoritshollowness,theexpressionofthesocietyamongstwhichitexists。
First,then,itiscleartomethat,atthepresenttime,thosewholookwidestatthingsanddeepestintothemarequitedissatisfiedwiththepresentstateofthearts,astheyarealsowiththepresentconditionofsociety。ThisIsayintheteethofthesupposedrevivificationofartwhichhastakenplaceoflateyears:infact,thatveryexcitementabouttheartsamongstapartofthecultivatedpeopleofto—daydoesbutshowonhowfirmabasisthedissatisfactionabovementionedrests。Fortyyearsagotherewasmuchlesstalkaboutart,muchlesspracticeofit,thanthereisnow;andthatisspeciallytrueofthearchitecturalarts,whichI
shallmostlyhavetospeakaboutnow。Peoplehaveconsciouslystriventoraisethedeadinartsincethattime,andwithsomesuperficialsuccess。Nevertheless,inspiteofthisconsciouseffort,ImusttellyouthatEngland,toapersonwhocanfeelandunderstandbeauty,wasalessgrievousplacetoliveinthenthanitisnow;andwewhofeelwhatartmeansknowwell,thoughwedonotoftendaretosayso,thatfortyyearshenceitwillbeamoregrievousplacetousthanitisnowifwestillfollowuptheroadweareon。Lessthanfortyyearsago——aboutthirty——IfirstsawthecityofRouen,thenstillinitsoutwardaspectapieceoftheMiddleAges:nowordscantellyouhowitsmingledbeauty,history,andromancetookholdonme;Icanonlysaythat,lookingbackonmypastlife,IfinditwasthegreatestpleasureIhaveeverhad:andnowitisapleasurewhichnoonecaneverhaveagain:itislosttotheworldforever。AtthattimeIwasanundergraduateofOxford。
Thoughnotsoastounding,soromantic,oratfirstsightsomediaevalastheNormancity,Oxfordinthosedaysstillkeptagreatdealofitsearlierloveliness:andthememoryofitsgreystreetsastheythenwerehasbeenanabidinginfluenceandpleasureinmylife,andwouldbegreaterstillifIcouldonlyforgetwhattheyarenow——amatteroffarmoreimportancethantheso—calledlearningoftheplacecouldhavebeentomeinanycase,butwhich,asitwas,noonetriedtoteachme,andIdidnottrytolearn。Sincethentheguardiansofthisbeautyandromancesofertileofeducation,thoughprofessedlyengagedin"thehighereducation"(asthefutilesystemofcompromiseswhichtheyfollowisnick—named),haveignoreditutterly,havemadeitspreservationgivewaytothepressureofcommercialexigencies,andaredeterminedapparentlytodestroyitaltogether。Thereisanotherpleasurefortheworldgonedownthewind;here,again,thebeautyandromancehavebeenuselessly,causelessly,mostfoolishlythrownaway。
Thesetwocasesaregivensimplybecausetheyhavebeenfixedinmymind;theyarebuttypesofwhatisgoingoneverywherethroughoutcivilization:theworldiseverywheregrowinguglierandmorecommonplace,inspiteoftheconsciousandverystrenuouseffortsofasmallgroupofpeopletowardstherevivalofart,whicharesoobviouslyoutofjointwiththetendencyoftheagethat,whiletheuncultivatedhavenotevenheardofthem,themassofthecultivatedlookuponthemasajoke,andeventhattheyarenowbeginningtogettiredof。
Now,ifitbetrue,asIhaveasserted,thatgenuineartisanunmixedblessingtotheworld,thisisaseriousmatter;foratfirstsightitseemstoshowthattherewillsoonbenoartatallintheworld,whichwillthusloseanunmixedblessing;itcanillaffordtodothat,Ithink。
Forart,ifithastodie,haswornitselfout,anditsaimwillbeathingforgotten;anditsaimwastomakeworkhappyandrestfruitful。Isallworktobeunhappy,allrestunfruitful,then?
Indeed,ifartistoperish,thatwillbethecase,unlesssomethingistotakeitsplace——somethingatpresentunnamed,undreamedof。
Idonotthinkthatanythingwilltaketheplaceofart;notthatI
doubttheingenuityofman,whichseemstobeboundlessinthedirectionofmakinghimselfunhappy,butbecauseIbelievethespringsofartinthehumanmindtobedeathless,andalsobecauseitseemstomeeasytoseethecausesofthepresentobliterationofthearts。
Forwecivilizedpeoplehavenotgiventhemupconsciously,orofourfreewill;wehavebeenFORCEDtogivethemup。PerhapsIcanillustratethatbythedetailoftheapplicationofmachinerytotheproductionofthingsinwhichartisticformofsomesortispossible。
Whydoesareasonablemanuseamachine?Surelytosavehislabour。
Therearesomethingswhichamachinecandoaswellasaman’shand,PLUSatool,candothem。Heneednot,forinstance,grindhiscorninahand—quern;alittletrickleofwater,awheel,andafewsimplecontrivanceswilldoitallperfectlywell,andleavehimfreetosmokehispipeandthink,ortocarvethehandleofhisknife。That,sofar,isunmixedgainintheuseofamachine——always,mindyou,supposingequalityofconditionamongmen;noartislost,leisureortimeformorepleasurableworkisgained。Perhapsaperfectlyreasonableandfreemanwouldstopthereinhisdealingswithmachinery;butsuchreasonandfreedomaretoomuchtoexpect,soletusfollowourmachine—inventorastepfarther。Hehastoweaveplaincloth,andfindsdoingsodullishontheonehand,andontheotherthatapower—loomwillweavetheclothnearlyaswellasahand—loom:
so,inordertogainmoreleisureortimeformorepleasurablework,heusesapower—loom,andforegoesthesmalladvantageofthelittleextraartinthecloth。Butsodoing,asfarastheartisconcerned,hehasnotgotapuregain;hehasmadeabargainbetweenartandlabour,andgotamakeshiftasaconsequence。Idonotsaythathemaynotberightinsodoing,butthathehaslostaswellasgained。Now,thisisasfarasamanwhovaluesartandisreasonablewouldgointhematterofmachineryASLONGASHEWAS
FREE——thatis,wasnotFORCEDtoworkforanotherman’sprofit;solongashewaslivinginasocietyTHATHADACCEPTEDEQUALITYOF
CONDITION。Carrythemachineusedforartastepfarther,andhebecomesanunreasonableman,ifhevaluesartandisfree。Toavoidmisunderstanding,ImustsaythatIamthinkingofthemodernmachine,whichisasitwerealive,andtowhichthemanisauxiliary,andnotoftheoldmachine,theimprovedtool,whichisauxiliarytotheman,andonlyworksaslongashishandisthinking;
thoughIwillremark,thateventhiselementaryformofmachinehastobedroppedwhenwecometothehigherandmoreintricateformsofart。Well,astothemachineproperusedforart,whenitgetstothestageabovedealingwithanecessaryproductionthathasaccidentallysomebeautyaboutit,areasonablemanwithafeelingforartwillonlyuseitwhenheisforcedto。Ifhethinkshewouldlikeornament,forinstance,andknowsthatthemachinecannotdoitproperly,anddoesnotcaretospendthetimetodoitproperly,whyshouldhedoitatall?Hewillnotdiminishhisleisureforthesakeofmakingsomethinghedoesnotwantunlesssomemanorbandofmenforcehimtoit;sohewilleithergowithouttheornament,orsacrificesomeofhisleisuretohaveitgenuine。Thatwillbeasignthathewantsitverymuch,andthatitwillbeworthhistrouble:inwhichcase,again,hislabouronitwillnotbemeretrouble,butwillinterestandpleasehimbysatisfyingtheneedsofhismoodofenergy。
This,Isay,ishowareasonablemanwouldactifhewerefreefromman’scompulsion;notbeingfree,heactsverydifferently。Hehaslongpassedthestageatwhichmachinesareonlyusedfordoingworkrepulsivetoanaverageman,orfordoingwhatcouldbeaswelldonebyamachineasaman,andheinstinctivelyexpectsamachinetobeinventedwheneveranyproductofindustrybecomessoughtafter。Heistheslavetomachinery;thenewmachineMUSTbeinvented,andwheninventedheMUST——Iwillnotsayuseit,butbeusedbyit,whetherhelikesitornot。
Butwhyishetheslavetomachinery?Becauseheistheslavetothesystemforwhoseexistencetheinventionofmachinerywasnecessary。
AndnowImustdrop,orratherhavedropped,theassumptionoftheequalityofcondition,andremindyouthat,thoughinasensewearealltheslavesofmachinery,yetthatsomemenaresodirectlywithoutanymetaphoratall,andthatthesearejustthoseonwhomthegreatbodyoftheartsdepends——theworkmen。Itisnecessaryforthesystemwhichkeepsthemintheirpositionasaninferiorclassthattheyshouldeitherbethemselvesmachinesorbetheservantstomachines,innocasehavinganyinterestintheworkwhichtheyturnout。Totheiremployerstheyare,sofarastheyareworkmen,apartofthemachineryoftheworkshoporthefactory;tothemselvestheyareproletarians,humanbeingsworkingtolivethattheymaylivetowork:theirpartofcraftsmen,ofmakersofthingsbytheirownfreewill,isplayedout。
Attheriskofbeingaccusedofsentimentality,Iwillsaythatsincethisisso,sincetheworkwhichproducesthethingsthatshouldbemattersofartisbutaburdenandaslavery,Iexultinthisatleast,thatitcannotproduceart;thatallitcandoliesbetweenstarkutilitarianismandidioticsham。
Orindeedisthatmerelysentimental?Rather,Ithink,wewhohavelearnedtoseetheconnectionbetweenindustrialslaveryandthedegradationoftheartshavelearnedalsotohopeforafutureforthosearts;sincethedaywillcertainlycomewhenmenwillshakeofftheyoke,andrefusetoacceptthemereartificialcompulsionofthegamblingmarkettowastetheirlivesinceaselessandhopelesstoil;
andwhenitdoescome,theirinstinctsforbeautyandimaginationsetfreealongwiththem,willproducesuchartastheyneed;andwhocansaythatitwillnotasfarsurpasstheartofpastagesasthatdoesthepoorrelicsofitleftusbytheageofcommerce?
AwordortwoonanobjectionwhichhasoftenbeenmadetomewhenI
havebeentalkingonthissubject。Itmaybesaid,andisoften,YouregrettheartoftheMiddleAges(asindeedIdo),butthosewhoproduceditwerenotfree;theywereserfs,orgild—craftsmensurroundedbybrazenwallsoftraderestrictions;theyhadnopoliticalrights,andwereexploitedbytheirmasters,thenoblecaste,mostgrievously。Well,IquiteadmitthattheoppressionandviolenceoftheMiddleAgeshaditseffectontheartofthosedays,itsshortcomingsaretraceabletothem;theyrepressedartincertaindirections,Idonotdoubtthat;andforthatreasonIsay,thatwhenweshakeoffthepresentoppressionasweshookofftheold,wemayexpecttheartofthedaysofrealfreedomtoriseabovethatofthoseoldviolentdays。ButIdosaythatitwaspossiblethentohavesocial,organic,hopefulprogressiveart;whereasnowsuchpoorscrapsofitasareleftaretheresultofindividualandwastefulstruggle,areretrospectiveandpessimistic。Andthishopefulartwaspossibleamidstalltheoppressionofthosedays,becausetheinstrumentsofthatoppressionweregrosslyobvious,andwereexternaltotheworkofthecraftsman。Theywerelawsandcustomsobviouslyintendedtorobhim,andopenviolenceofthehighway—
robberykind。Inshort,industrialproductionwasnottheinstrumentusedforrobbingthe"lowerclasses;"itisnowthemaininstrumentusedinthathonourableprofession。Themediaevalcraftsmanwasfreeinhiswork,thereforehemadeitasamusingtohimselfashecould;
anditwashispleasureandnothispainthatmadeallthingsbeautifulthatweremade,andlavishedtreasuresofhumanhopeandthoughtoneverythingthatmanmade,fromacathedraltoaporridge—
pot。Come,letusputitinthewayleastrespectfultothemediaevalcraftsman,mostpolitetothemodern"hand:"thepoordevilofthefourteenthcentury,hisworkwasofsolittlevaluethathewasallowedtowasteitbythehourinpleasinghimself——andothers;
butourhighly—strungmechanic,hisminutesaretoorichwiththeburdenofperpetualprofitforhimtobeallowedtowasteoneofthemonart;thepresentsystemwillnotallowhim——cannotallowhim——toproduceworksofart。
Sothattherehasarisenthisstrangephenomenon,thatthereisnowaclassofladiesandgentlemen,veryrefinedindeed,thoughnotperhapsaswellinformedasisgenerallysupposed,andofthisrefinedclasstherearemanywhodoreallylovebeautyandincident——
i。e。,art,andwouldmakesacrificestogetit;andtheseareledbyartistsofgreatmanualskillandhighintellect,formingaltogetheralargebodyofdemandforthearticle。Andyetthesupplydoesnotcome。Yes,andmoreover,thisgreatbodyofenthusiasticdemandersarenomerepoorandhelplesspeople,ignorantfisher—peasants,half—
madmonks,scatter—brainedsansculottes——noneofthose,inshort,theexpressionofwhoseneedshasshakentheworldsooftenbefore,andwilldoyetagain。No,theyareoftherulingclasses,themastersofmen,whocanlivewithoutlabour,andhaveabundantleisuretoschemeoutthefulfilmentoftheirdesires;andyetIsaytheycannothavetheartwhichtheysomuchlongfor,thoughtheyhuntitabouttheworldsohard,sentimentalizingthesordidlivesofthemiserablepeasantsofItalyandthestarvingproletariansofhertowns,nowthatallthepicturesquenesshasdepartedfromthepoordevilsofourowncountry—side,andofourownslums。Indeed,thereislittleofrealityleftthemanywhere,andthatlittleisfastfadingawaybeforetheneedsofthemanufacturerandhisraggedregimentofworkers,andbeforetheenthusiasmofthearchaeologicalrestorerofthedeadpast。Soontherewillbenothingleftexceptthelyingdreamsofhistory,themiserablewreckageofourmuseumsandpicture—
galleries,andthecarefullyguardedinteriorsofouraestheticdrawing—rooms,unrealandfoolish,fittingwitnessesofthelifeofcorruptionthatgoesonthere,sopinchedandmeagreandcowardly,withitsconcealmentandignoring,ratherthanrestraintof,naturallongings;whichdoesnotforbidthegreedyindulgenceinthemifitcanbutbedecentlyhidden。
Theartthenisgone,andcannomorebe"restored"onitsoldlinesthanamediaevalbuildingcanbe。Therichandrefinedcannothaveitthoughtheywould,andthoughwewillbelievemanyofthemwould。
Andwhy?Becausethosewhocouldgiveittothericharenotallowedbytherichtodoso。Inoneword,slaveryliesbetweenusandart。
Ihavesaidasmuchasthattheaimofartwastodestroythecurseoflabourbymakingworkthepleasurablesatisfactionofourimpulsetowardsenergy,andgivingtothatenergyhopeofproducingsomethingworthitsexercise。
Now,therefore,Isay,thatsincewecannothaveartbystrivingafteritsmeresuperficialmanifestation,sincewecanhavenothingbutitsshambysodoing,thereyetremainsforustoseehowitwouldbeifwelettheshadowtakecareofitselfandtry,ifwecan,tolayholdofthesubstance。FormypartIbelieve,thatifwetrytorealizetheaimsofartwithoutmuchtroublingourselveswhattheaspectoftheartitselfshallbe,weshallfindweshallhavewhatwewantatlast:whetheritistobecalledartornot,itwillatleastbeLIFE;and,afterall,thatiswhatwewant。Itmayleadusintonewsplendoursandbeautiesofvisibleart;toarchitecturewithmanifoldedmagnificencefreefromthecuriousincompletenessandfailingsofthatwhichtheoldertimeshaveproduced——topainting,unitingtothebeautywhichmediaevalartattainedtherealismwhichmodernartaimsat;tosculpture,unitingthebeautyoftheGreekandtheexpressionoftheRenaissancewithsomethirdqualityyetundiscovered,soastogiveustheimagesofmenandwomensplendidlyalive,yetnotdisqualifiedfrommaking,asalltruesculptureshould,architecturalornament。Allthisitmaydo;or,ontheotherhand,itmayleadusintothedesert,andartmayseemtobedeadamidstus;orfeeblyanduncertainlytobestrugglinginaworldwhichhasutterlyforgottenitsoldglories。
Formypart,withartasitnowis,Icannotbringmyselftothinkthatitmuchmatterswhichofthesedoomsawaitsit,solongaseachbearswithitsomehopeofwhatistocome;sincehere,asinothermatters,thereisnohopesaveinRevolution。Theoldartisnolongerfertile,nolongeryieldsusanythingsaveelegantlypoeticalregrets;beingbarren,ithasbuttodie,andthematterofmomentnowis,astohowitshalldie,whetherWITHhopeorWITHOUTit。
Whatisit,forinstance,thathasdestroyedtheRouen,theOxfordofMYelegantpoeticregret?Hasitperishedforthebenefitofthepeople,eitherslowlyyieldingtothegrowthofintelligentchangeandnewhappiness?orhasitbeen,asitwere,thunderstrickenbythetragedywhichmostlyaccompaniessomegreatnewbirth?Notso。
Neitherphalangsterenordynamitehassweptitsbeautyaway,itsdestroyershavenotbeeneitherthephilanthropistortheSocialist,theco—operatorortheanarchist。Ithasbeensold,andatacheappriceindeed:muddledawaybythegreedandincompetenceoffoolswhodonotknowwhatlifeandpleasuremean,whowillneithertakethemthemselvesnorletothershavethem。Thatiswhythedeathofthatbeautywoundsusso:nomanofsenseorfeelingwoulddaretoregretsuchlossesiftheyhadbeenpaidforbynewlifeandhappinessforthepeople。Butthereisthepeoplestillasitwasbefore,stillfacingforitspartthemonsterwhodestroyedallthatbeauty,andwhosenameisCommercialProfit。
Irepeat,thateveryscrapofgenuineartwillfallbythesamehandsifthematteronlygoesonlongenough,althoughashamartmaybeleftinitsplace,whichmayverywellbecarriedonbydilettantifinegentlemenandladieswithoutanyhelpfrombelow;and,tospeakplainly,Ifearthatthisgibberingghostoftherealthingwouldsatisfyagreatmanyofthosewhonowthinkthemselvesloversofart;
thoughitisnotdifficulttoseealongvistaofitsdegradationtillitshallbecomeatlastamerelaughing—stock;thatistosay,ifthethingweretogoon:Imean,ifartweretobeforevertheamusementofthosewhomwenowcallladiesandgentlemen。
ButformypartIdonotthinkitwillgoonlongenoughtoreachsuchdepthsasthat;andyetIshouldbehypocriticalifIweretosaythatIthoughtthatthechangeinthebasisofsociety,whichwouldenfranchiselabourandmakemenpracticallyequalincondition,wouldleadusbyashortroadtothesplendidnewbirthofartwhichIhavementioned,thoughIfeelquitecertainthatitwouldnotleavewhatwenowcallartuntouched,sincetheaimsofthatrevolutiondoincludetheaimsofart——viz。,abolishingthecurseoflabour。
Isupposethatthisiswhatislikelytohappen;thatmachinerywillgoondeveloping,withthepurposeofsavingmenlabour,tillthemassofthepeopleattainrealleisureenoughtobeabletoappreciatethepleasureoflife;till,infact,theyhaveattainedsuchmasteryoverNaturethattheynolongerfearstarvationasapenaltyfornotworkingmorethanenough。Whentheygettothatpointtheywilldoubtlessturnthemselvesandbegintofindoutwhatitisthattheyreallywanttodo。Theywouldsoonfindoutthatthelessworktheydid(thelessworkunaccompaniedbyart,Imean),themoredesirableadwelling—placetheearthwouldbe;theywouldaccordinglydolessandlesswork,tillthemoodofenergy,ofwhichIbeganbyspeaking,urgedthemonafresh:butbythattimeNature,relievedbytherelaxationofman’swork,wouldberecoveringherancientbeauty,andbeteachingmentheoldstoryofart。AndastheArtificialFamine,causedbymenworkingfortheprofitofamaster,andwhichwenowlookuponasamatterofcourse,wouldhavelongdisappeared,theywouldbefreetodoastheychose,andtheywouldsetasidetheirmachinesinallcaseswheretheworkseemedpleasantordesirableforhandiwork;tillinallcraftswhereproductionofbeautywasrequired,themostdirectcommunicationbetweenaman’shandandhisbrainwouldbesoughtfor。Andtherewouldbemanyoccupationsalso,astheprocessesofagriculture,inwhichthevoluntaryexerciseofenergywouldbethoughtsodelightful,thatpeoplewouldnotdreamofhandingoveritspleasuretothejawsofamachine。
Inshort,menwillfindoutthatthemenofourdayswerewronginfirstmultiplyingtheirneeds,andthentrying,eachmanofthem,toevadeallparticipationinthemeansandprocesseswherebythoseneedsaresatisfied;thatthiskindofdivisionoflabourisreallyonlyanewandwilfulformofarrogantandslothfulignorance,farmoreinjurioustothehappinessandcontentmentoflifethantheignoranceoftheprocessesofNature,ofwhatwesometimescallSCIENCE,whichmenoftheearlierdaysunwittinglylivedin。
Theywilldiscover,orrediscoverrather,thatthetruesecretofhappinessliesinthetakingagenuineinterestinallthedetailsofdailylife,inelevatingthembyartinsteadofhandingtheperformanceofthemovertounregardeddrudges,andignoringthem;
andthatincaseswhereitwasimpossibleeithersotoelevatethemandmaketheminteresting,ortolightenthembytheuseofmachinery,soastomakethelabourofthemtrifling,thatshouldbetakenasatokenthatthesupposedadvantagesgainedbythemwerenotworththetroubleandhadbetterbegivenup。AllthistomymindwouldbetheoutcomeofmenthrowingofftheburdenofArtificialFamine,supposing,asIcannothelpsupposing,thattheimpulseswhichhavefromthefirstglimmeringsofhistoryurgedmenontothepracticeofArtwerestillatworkinthem。
ThusandthusonlyCANcomeaboutthenewbirthofArt,andIthinkitWILLcomeaboutthus。Youmaysayitisalongprocess,andsoitis;butIcanconceiveofalonger。IhavegivenyoutheSocialistorOptimistviewofthematter。NowforthePessimistview。
IcanconceivethattherevoltagainstArtificialFamineorCapitalism,whichisnowonfoot,maybevanquished。Theresultwillbethattheworkingclass——theslavesofsociety——willbecomemoreandmoredegraded;thattheywillnotstriveagainstoverwhelmingforce,but,stimulatedbythatloveoflifewhichNature,alwaysanxiousabouttheperpetuationoftherace,hasimplantedinus,willlearntobeareverything——starvation,overwork,dirt,ignorance,brutality。Allthesethingstheywillbear,as,alas!theybearthemtoowellevennow;allthisratherthanrisksweetlifeandbitterlivelihood,andallsparksofhopeandmanlinesswilldieoutofthem。
Norwilltheirmastersbemuchbetteroff:theearth’ssurfacewillbehideouseverywhere,saveintheuninhabitabledesert;Artwillutterlyperish,asinthemanualartssoinliterature,whichwillbecome,asitisindeedspeedilybecoming,amerestringoforderlyandcalculatedineptitudesandpassionlessingenuities;Sciencewillgrowmoreandmoreone—sided,moreincomplete,morewordyanduseless,tillatlastshewillpileherselfupintosuchamassofsuperstition,thatbesideitthetheologiesofoldtimewillseemmerereasonandenlightenment。Allwillgetlowerandlower,tilltheheroicstrugglesofthepasttorealizehopefromyeartoyear,fromcenturytocentury,willbeutterlyforgotten,andmanwillbeanindescribablebeing——hopeless,desireless,lifeless。
Andwilltherebedeliverancefromthiseven?Maybe:manmay,aftersometerriblecataclysm,learntostrivetowardsahealthyanimalism,maygrowfromatolerableanimalintoasavage,fromasavageintoabarbarian,andsoon;andsomethousandsofyearshencehemaybebeginningoncemorethoseartswhichwehavenowlost,andbecarvinginterlacementsliketheNewZealanders,orscratchingformsofanimalsontheircleanedblade—bones,likethepre—historicmenofthedrift。
Butinanycase,accordingtothepessimistview,whichlooksuponrevoltagainstArtificialFamineasimpossibletosucceed,weshallwearilytrudgethecircleagain,untilsomeaccident,someunforeseenconsequenceofarrangement,makesanendofusaltogether。
ThatpessimismIdonotbelievein,nor,ontheotherhand,doI
supposethatitisaltogetheramatterofourwillsastowhetherweshallfurtherhumanprogressorhumandegradation;yet,sincetherearethosewhoareimpelledtowardstheSocialistorOptimisticsideofthings,Imustconcludethatthereissomehopeofitsprevailing,thatthestrenuouseffortsofmanyindividualsimplyaforcewhichisthrustingthemon。SothatIbelievethatthe"AimsofArt"willberealized,thoughIknowthattheycannotbe,solongaswegroanunderthetyrannyofArtificialFamine。OnceagainIwarnyouagainstsupposing,youwhomayspeciallyloveart,thatyouwilldoanygoodbyattemptingtorevivifyartbydealingwithitsdeadexterior。IsayitistheAIMSOFARTthatyoumustseekratherthantheARTITSELF;andinthatsearchwemayfindourselvesinaworldblankandbare,astheresultofourcaringatleastthismuchforart,thatwewillnotenduretheshamsofit。
Anyhow,Iaskyoutothinkwithmethattheworstwhichcanhappentousistoenduretamelytheevilsthatwesee;thatnotroubleorturmoilissobadasthat;thatthenecessarydestructionwhichreconstructionbearswithitmustbetakencalmly;thateverywhere——
inState,inChurch,inthehousehold——wemustberesolutetoendurenotyranny,acceptnolie,quailbeforenofear,althoughtheymaycomebeforeusdisguisedaspiety,duty,oraffection,asusefulopportunityandgood—nature,asprudenceorkindness。Theworld’sroughness,falseness,andinjusticewillbringabouttheirnaturalconsequences,andweandourlivesarepartofthoseconsequences;
butsinceweinheritalsotheconsequencesofoldresistancetothosecurses,letuseachlooktoittohaveourfairshareofthatinheritancealso,which,ifnothingelsecomeofit,willatleastbringtouscourageandhope;thatis,eagerlifewhilewelive,whichisaboveallthingstheAimofArt。
USEFULWORKVERSUSUSELESSTOIL
Theabovetitlemaystrikesomeofmyreadersasstrange。Itisassumedbymostpeoplenowadaysthatallworkisuseful,andbymostwell—to—topeoplethatallworkisdesirable。Mostpeople,well—to—
doornot,believethat,evenwhenamanisdoingworkwhichappearstobeuseless,heisearninghislivelihoodbyit——heis"employed,"
asthephrasegoes;andmostofthosewhoarewell—to—docheeronthehappyworkerwithcongratulationsandpraises,ifheisonly"industrious"enoughanddepriveshimselfofallpleasureandholidaysinthesacredcauseoflabour。Inshort,ithasbecomeanarticleofthecreedofmodernmoralitythatalllabourisgoodinitself——aconvenientbelieftothosewholiveonthelabourofothers。Butastothoseonwhomtheylive,Irecommendthemnottotakeitontrust,buttolookintothematteralittledeeper。
Letusgrant,first,thattheraceofmanmusteitherlabourorperish。Naturedoesnotgiveusourlivelihoodgratis;wemustwinitbytoilofsomesortordegree。Letussee,then,ifshedoesnotgiveussomecompensationforthiscompulsiontolabour,sincecertainlyinothermattersshetakescaretomaketheactsnecessarytothecontinuanceoflifeintheindividualandtheracenotonlyendurable,butevenpleasurable。
Youmaybesurethatshedoesso,thatitisofthenatureofman,whenheisnotdiseased,totakepleasureinhisworkundercertainconditions。And,yet,wemustsayintheteethofthehypocriticalpraiseofalllabour,whatsoeveritmaybe,ofwhichIhavemademention,thatthereissomelabourwhichissofarfrombeingablessingthatitisacurse;thatitwouldbebetterforthecommunityandfortheworkerifthelatterweretofoldhishandsandrefusetowork,andeitherdieorletuspackhimofftotheworkhouseorprison——whichyouwill。
Here,yousee,aretwokindsofwork——onegood,theotherbad;onenotfarremovedfromablessing,alighteningoflife;theotheramerecurse,aburdentolife。
Whatisthedifferencebetweenthem,then?This:onehashopeinit,theotherhasnot。Itismanlytodotheonekindofwork,andmanlyalsotorefusetodotheother。
Whatisthenatureofthehopewhich,whenitispresentinwork,makesitworthdoing?
Itisthreefold,Ithink——hopeofrest,hopeofproduct,hopeofpleasureintheworkitself;andhopeofthesealsoinsomeabundanceandofgoodquality;restenoughandgoodenoughtobeworthhaving;
productworthhavingbyonewhoisneitherafoolnoranascetic;
pleasureenoughforallforustobeconsciousofitwhileweareatwork;notamerehabit,thelossofwhichweshallfeelasafidgetymanfeelsthelossofthebitofstringhefidgetswith。
Ihaveputthehopeofrestfirstbecauseitisthesimplestandmostnaturalpartofourhope。Whateverpleasurethereisinsomework,thereiscertainlysomepaininallwork,thebeast—likepainofstirringupourslumberingenergiestoaction,thebeast—likedreadofchangewhenthingsareprettywellwithus;andthecompensationforthisanimalpainisanimalrest。Wemustfeelwhileweareworkingthatthetimewillcomewhenweshallnothavetowork。Alsotherest,whenitcomes,mustbelongenoughtoallowustoenjoyit;
itmustbelongerthanismerelynecessaryforustorecoverthestrengthwehaveexpendedinworking,anditmustbeanimalrestalsointhis,thatitmustnotbedisturbedbyanxiety,elseweshallnotbeabletoenjoyit。Ifwehavethisamountandkindofrestweshall,sofar,benoworseoffthanthebeasts。
Astothehopeofproduct,IhavesaidthatNaturecompelsustoworkforthat。ItremainsforUStolooktoitthatweDOreallyproducesomething,andnotnothing,oratleastnothingthatwewantorareallowedtouse。Ifwelooktothisanduseourwillsweshall,sofar,bebetterthanmachines。
Thehopeofpleasureintheworkitself:howstrangethathopemustseemtosomeofmyreaders——tomostofthem!YetIthinkthattoalllivingthingsthereisapleasureintheexerciseoftheirenergies,andthatevenbeastsrejoiceinbeinglitheandswiftandstrong。
Butamanatwork,makingsomethingwhichhefeelswillexistbecauseheisworkingatitandwillsit,isexercisingtheenergiesofhismindandsoulaswellasofhisbody。Memoryandimaginationhelphimasheworks。Notonlyhisownthoughts,butthethoughtsofthemenofpastagesguidehishands;and,asapartofthehumanrace,hecreates。Ifweworkthusweshallbemen,andourdayswillbehappyandeventful。
Thusworthyworkcarrieswithitthehopeofpleasureinrest,thehopeofthepleasureinourusingwhatitmakes,andthehopeofpleasureinourdailycreativeskill。
Allotherworkbutthisisworthless;itisslaves’work——meretoilingtolive,thatwemaylivetotoil。
Therefore,sincewehave,asitwere,apairofscalesinwhichtoweightheworknowdoneintheworld,letususethem。Letusestimatetheworthinessoftheworkwedo,aftersomanythousandyearsoftoil,somanypromisesofhopedeferred,suchboundlessexultationovertheprogressofcivilizationandthegainofliberty。
Now,thefirstthingastotheworkdoneincivilizationandtheeasiesttonoticeisthatitisportionedoutveryunequallyamongstthedifferentclassesofsociety。First,therearepeople——notafew——whodonowork,andmakenopretenceofdoingany。Next,therearepeople,andverymanyofthem,whoworkfairlyhard,thoughwithabundanteasementsandholidays,claimedandallowed;andlastly,therearepeoplewhoworksohardthattheymaybesaidtodonothingelsethanwork,andareaccordinglycalled"theworkingclasses,"asdistinguishedfromthemiddleclassesandtherich,oraristocracy,whomIhavementionedabove。
Itisclearthatthisinequalitypressesheavilyuponthe"working"
class,andmustvisiblytendtodestroytheirhopeofrestatleast,andso,inthatparticular,makethemworseoffthanmerebeastsofthefield;butthatisnotthesumandendofourfollyofturningusefulworkintouselesstoil,butonlythebeginningofit。
Forfirst,astotheclassofrichpeopledoingnowork,weallknowthattheyconsumeagreatdealwhiletheyproducenothing。
Therefore,clearly,theyhavetobekeptattheexpenseofthosewhodowork,justaspaupershave,andareamereburdenonthecommunity。Inthesedaystherearemanywhohavelearnedtoseethis,thoughtheycanseenofurtherintotheevilsofourpresentsystem,andhaveformednoideaofanyschemeforgettingridofthisburden;thoughperhapstheyhaveavaguehopethatchangesinthesystemofvotingformembersoftheHouseofCommonsmay,asifbymagic,tendinthatdirection。Withsuchhopesorsuperstitionsweneednottroubleourselves。Moreover,thisclass,thearistocracy,oncethoughtmostnecessarytotheState,isscantofnumbers,andhasnownopowerofitsown,butdependsonthesupportoftheclassnextbelowit——themiddleclass。Infact,itisreallycomposedeitherofthemostsuccessfulmenofthatclass,oroftheirimmediatedescendants。
Astothemiddleclass,includingthetrading,manufacturing,andprofessionalpeopleofoursociety,theydo,asarule,seemtoworkquitehardenough,andsoatfirstsightmightbethoughttohelpthecommunity,andnotburdenit。Butbyfarthegreaterpartofthem,thoughtheywork,donotproduce,andevenwhentheydoproduce,asinthecaseofthoseengaged(wastefullyindeed)inthedistributionofgoods,ordoctors,or(genuine)artistsandliterarymen,theyconsumeoutofallproportiontotheirdueshare。Thecommercialandmanufacturingpartofthem,themostpowerfulpart,spendtheirlivesandenergiesinfightingamongstthemselvesfortheirrespectivesharesofthewealthwhichtheyFORCEthegenuineworkerstoprovideforthem;theothersarealmostwhollythehangers—onofthese;theydonotworkforthepublic,butaprivilegedclass:theyaretheparasitesofproperty,sometimes,asinthecaseoflawyers,undisguisedlyso;sometimes,asthedoctorsandothersabovementioned,professingtobeuseful,buttoooftenofnousesaveassupportersofthesystemoffolly,fraud,andtyrannyofwhichtheyformapart。Andallthesewemustrememberhave,asarule,oneaiminview;nottheproductionofutilities,butthegainingofapositioneitherforthemselvesortheirchildreninwhichtheywillnothavetoworkatall。Itistheirambitionandtheendoftheirwholelivestogain,ifnotforthemselvesyetatleastfortheirchildren,theproudpositionofbeingobviousburdensonthecommunity。Fortheirworkitselfinspiteoftheshamdignitywithwhichtheysurroundit,theycarenothing:saveafewenthusiasts,menofscience,artorletters,who,iftheyarenotthesaltoftheearth,areatleast(andoh,thepityofit!)thesaltofthemiserablesystemofwhichtheyaretheslaves,whichhindersandthwartsthemateveryturn,andevensometimescorruptsthem。
Herethenisanotherclass,thistimeverynumerousandall—powerful,whichproducesverylittleandconsumesenormously,andisthereforeinthemainsupported,aspaupersare,bytherealproducers。Theclassthatremainstobeconsideredproducesallthatisproduced,andsupportsbothitselfandtheotherclasses,thoughitisplacedinapositionofinferioritytothem;realinferiority,mindyou,involvingadegradationbothofmindandbody。Butitisanecessaryconsequenceofthistyrannyandfollythatagainmanyoftheseworkersarenotproducers。Avastnumberofthemoncemorearemerelyparasitesofproperty,someofthemopenlyso,asthesoldiersbylandandseawhoarekeptonfootfortheperpetuatingofnationalrivalriesandenmities,andforthepurposesofthenationalstrugglefortheshareoftheproductofunpaidlabour。Butbesidesthisobviousburdenontheproducersandthescarcelylessobviousoneofdomesticservants,thereisfirstthearmyofclerks,shop—
assistants,andsoforth,whoareengagedintheserviceoftheprivatewarforwealth,which,asabovesaid,istherealoccupationofthewell—to—domiddleclass。Thisisalargerbodyofworkersthanmightbesupposed,foritincludesamongstothersallthoseengagedinwhatIshouldcallcompetitivesalesmanship,or,tousealessdignifiedword,thepufferyofwares,whichhasnowgottosuchapitchthattherearemanythingswhichcostfarmoretosellthantheydotomake。
Nextthereisthemassofpeopleemployedinmakingallthosearticlesoffollyandluxury,thedemandforwhichistheoutcomeoftheexistenceoftherichnon—producingclasses;thingswhichpeopleleadingamanlyanduncorruptedlifewouldnotaskforordreamof。
Thesethings,whoevermaygainsayme,Iwillforeverrefusetocallwealth:theyarenotwealth,butwaste。WealthiswhatNaturegivesusandwhatareasonablemancanmakeoutofthegiftsofNatureforhisreasonableuse。Thesunlight,thefreshair,theunspoiledfaceoftheearth,food,raimentandhousingnecessaryanddecent;thestoringupofknowledgeofallkinds,andthepowerofdisseminatingit;meansoffreecommunicationbetweenmanandman;worksofart,thebeautywhichmancreateswhenheismostaman,mostaspiringandthoughtful——allthingswhichservethepleasureofpeople,free,manlyanduncorrupted。Thisiswealth。NorcanIthinkofanythingworthhavingwhichdoesnotcomeunderoneorotheroftheseheads。
Butthink,Ibeseechyou,oftheproductofEngland,theworkshopoftheworld,andwillyounotbebewildered,asIam,atthethoughtofthemassofthingswhichnosanemancoulddesire,butwhichouruselesstoilmakes——andsells?
Now,further,thereisevenasadderindustryyet,whichisforcedonmany,verymany,ofourworkers——themakingofwareswhicharenecessarytothemandtheirbrethren,BECAUSETHEYAREANINFERIOR
CLASS。Forifmanymenlivewithoutproducing,nay,mustlivelivessoemptyandfoolishthattheyFORCEagreatpartoftheworkerstoproducewareswhichnooneneeds,noteventherich,itfollowsthatmostmenmustbepoor;and,livingastheydoonwagesfromthosewhomtheysupport,cannotgetfortheirusetheGOODSwhichmennaturallydesire,butmustputupwithmiserablemakeshiftsforthem,withcoarsefoodthatdoesnotnourish,withrottenraimentwhichdoesnotshelter,withwretchedhouseswhichmaywellmakeatown—
dwellerincivilizationlookbackwithregrettothetentofthenomadtribe,orthecaveofthepre—historicsavage。Nay,theworkersmustevenlendahandtothegreatindustrialinventionoftheage——adulteration,andbyitshelpproducefortheirownuseshamsandmockeriesoftheluxuryoftherich;forthewage—earnersmustalwaysliveasthewage—payersbidthem,andtheirveryhabitsoflifeareFORCEDonthembytheirmasters。
Butitiswasteoftimetotrytoexpressinwordsduecontemptoftheproductionsofthemuch—praisedcheapnessofourepoch。Itmustbeenoughtosaythatthischeapnessisnecessarytothesystemofexploitingonwhichmodernmanufacturerests。Inotherwords,oursocietyincludesagreatmassofslaves,whomustbefed,clothed,housedandamusedasslaves,andthattheirdailynecessitycompelsthemtomaketheslave—wareswhoseuseistheperpetuationoftheirslavery。
Tosumup,then,concerningthemannerofworkincivilizedStates,theseStatesarecomposedofthreeclasses——aclasswhichdoesnotevenpretendtowork,aclasswhichpretendstoworkbutwhichproducesnothing,andaclasswhichworks,butiscompelledbytheothertwoclassestodoworkwhichisoftenunproductive。
Civilizationthereforewastesitsownresources,andwilldosoaslongasthepresentsystemlasts。Thesearecoldwordswithwhichtodescribethetyrannyunderwhichwesuffer;trythentoconsiderwhattheymean。
Thereisacertainamountofnaturalmaterialandofnaturalforcesintheworld,andacertainamountoflabour—powerinherentinthepersonsofthementhatinhabitit。MenurgedbytheirnecessitiesanddesireshavelabouredformanythousandsofyearsatthetaskofsubjugatingtheforcesofNatureandofmakingthenaturalmaterialusefultothem。Tooureyes,sincewecannotseeintothefuture,thatstrugglewithNatureseemsnearlyover,andthevictoryofthehumanraceoverhernearlycomplete。And,lookingbackwardstothetimewhenhistoryfirstbegan,wenotethattheprogressofthatvictoryhasbeenfarswifterandmorestartlingwithinthelasttwohundredyearsthaneverbefore。Surely,therefore,wemodernsoughttobeinallwaysvastlybetteroffthananywhohavegonebeforeus。
Surelyweought,oneandallofus,tobewealthy,tobewellfurnishedwiththegoodthingswhichourvictoryoverNaturehaswonforus。
Butwhatistherealfact?Whowilldaretodenythatthegreatmassofcivilizedmenarepoor?Sopooraretheythatitismerechildishnesstroublingourselvestodiscusswhetherperhapstheyareinsomewaysalittlebetteroffthantheirforefathers。Theyarepoor;norcantheirpovertybemeasuredbythepovertyofaresourcelesssavage,forheknowsofnothingelsethanhispoverty;
thatheshouldbecold,hungry,houseless,dirty,ignorant,allthatistohimasnaturalasthatheshouldhaveaskin。Butforus,forthemostofus,civilizationhasbreddesireswhichsheforbidsustosatisfy,andsoisnotmerelyaniggardbutatortureralso。
ThusthenhavethefruitsofourvictoryoverNaturebeenstolenfromus,thushascompulsionbyNaturetolabourinhopeofrest,gain,andpleasurebeenturnedintocompulsionbymantolabourinhope——oflivingtolabour!
Whatshallwedothen,canwemendit?
Well,rememberoncemorethatitisnotourremoteancestorswhoachievedthevictoryoverNature,butourfathers,nay,ourveryselves。Forustosithopelessandhelplessthenwouldbeastrangefollyindeed:besurethatwecanamendit。What,then,isthefirstthingtobedone?
Wehaveseenthatmodernsocietyisdividedintotwoclasses,oneofwhichisPRIVILEGEDtobekeptbythelabouroftheother——thatis,itforcestheothertoworkforitandtakesfromthisinferiorclasseverythingthatitCANtakefromit,andusesthewealthsotakentokeepitsownmembersinasuperiorposition,tomakethembeingsofahigherorderthantheothers:longerlived,morebeautiful,morehonoured,morerefinedthanthoseoftheotherclass。Idonotsaythatittroublesitselfaboutitsmembersbeingpositivelylonglived,beautifulorrefined,butmerelyinsiststhattheyshallbesorelativelytotheinferiorclass。Asalsoitcannotusethelabour—
poweroftheinferiorclassfairlyinproducingrealwealth,itwastesitwholesaleintheproductionofrubbish。
Itisthisrobberyandwasteonthepartoftheminoritywhichkeepsthemajoritypoor;ifitcouldbeshownthatitisnecessaryforthepreservationofsocietythatthisshouldbesubmittedto,littlemorecouldbesaidonthematter,savethatthedespairoftheoppressedmajoritywouldprobablyatsometimeorotherdestroySociety。Butithasbeenshown,onthecontrary,evenbysuchincompleteexperiments,forinstance,asCo—operation(socalled),thattheexistenceofaprivilegedclassisbynomeansnecessaryfortheproductionofwealth,butratherforthe"government"oftheproducersofwealth,or,inotherwords,fortheupholdingofprivilege。
Thefirststeptobetakenthenistoabolishaclassofmenprivilegedtoshirktheirdutiesasmen,thusforcingotherstodotheworkwhichtheyrefusetodo。Allmustworkaccordingtotheirability,andsoproducewhattheyconsume——thatis,eachmanshouldworkaswellashecanforhisownlivelihood,andhislivelihoodshouldbeassuredtohim;thatistosay,alltheadvantageswhichsocietywouldprovideforeachandallofitsmembers。
Thus,atlast,wouldtrueSocietybefounded。Itwouldrestonequalityofcondition。Nomanwouldbetormentedforthebenefitofanother——nay,noonemanwouldbetormentedforthebenefitofSociety。Nor,indeed,canthatorderbecalledSocietywhichisnotupheldforthebenefitofeveryoneofitsmembers。
Butsincemenlivenow,badlyastheylive,whensomanypeopledonotproduceatall,andwhensomuchworkiswasted,itisclearthat,underconditionswhereallproducedandnoworkwaswasted,notonlywouldeveryoneworkwiththecertainhopeofgainingadueshareofwealthbyhiswork,butalsohecouldnotmisshisdueshareofrest。Here,then,aretwooutofthethreekindsofhopementionedaboveasanessentialpartofworthyworkassuredtotheworker。Whenclassrobberyisabolished,everymanwillreapthefruitsofhislabour,everymanwillhaveduerest——leisure,thatis。
SomeSocialistsmightsayweneednotgoanyfurtherthanthis;itisenoughthattheworkershouldgetthefullproduceofhiswork,andthathisrestshouldbeabundant。Butthoughthecompulsionofman’styrannyisthusabolished,IyetdemandcompensationforthecompulsionofNature’snecessity。Aslongastheworkisrepulsiveitwillstillbeaburdenwhichmustbetakenupdaily,andevensowouldmarourlife,eventhoughthehoursoflabourwereshort。Whatwewanttodoistoaddtoourwealthwithoutdiminishingourpleasure。Naturewillnotbefinallyconqueredtillourworkbecomesapartofthepleasureofourlives。
Thatfirststepoffreeingpeoplefromthecompulsiontolabourneedlesslywillatleastputusonthewaytowardsthishappyend;
forweshallthenhavetimeandopportunitiesforbringingitabout。
Asthingsarenow,betweenthewasteoflabour—powerinmereidlenessanditswasteinunproductivework,itisclearthattheworldofcivilizationissupportedbyasmallpartofitspeople;whenallwereworkingusefullyforitssupport,theshareofworkwhicheachwouldhavetodowouldbebutsmall,ifourstandardoflifewereaboutonthefootingofwhatwell—to—doandrefinedpeoplenowthinkdesirable。Weshallhavelabour—powertospare,andshall,inshort,beaswealthyasweplease。Itwillbeeasytolive。Ifweweretowakeupsomemorningnow,underourpresentsystem,andfindit"easytolive,"thatsystemwouldforceustosettoworkatonceandmakeithardtolive;weshouldcallthat"developingourresources,"orsomesuchfinename。Themultiplicationoflabourhasbecomeanecessityforus,andaslongasthatgoesonnoingenuityintheinventionofmachineswillbeofanyrealusetous。Eachnewmachinewillcauseacertainamountofmiseryamongtheworkerswhosespecialindustryitmaydisturb;somanyofthemwillbereducedfromskilledtounskilledworkmen,andthengraduallymatterswillslipintotheirduegrooves,andallwillworkapparentlysmoothlyagain;
andifitwerenotthatallthisispreparingrevolution,thingswouldbe,forthegreaterpartofmen,justastheywerebeforethenewwonderfulinvention。
Butwhenrevolutionhasmadeit"easytolive,"whenallareworkingharmoniouslytogetherandthereisnoonetorobtheworkerofhistime,thatistosay,hislife;inthosecomingdaystherewillbenocompulsiononustogoonproducingthingswedonotwant,nocompulsiononustolabourfornothing;weshallbeablecalmlyandthoughtfullytoconsiderwhatweshalldowithourwealthoflabour—
power。Now,formypart,Ithinkthefirstuseweoughttomakeofthatwealth,ofthatfreedom,shouldbetomakeallourlabour,eventhecommonestandmostnecessary,pleasanttoeverybody;forthinkingoverthemattercarefullyIcanseethattheonecoursewhichwillcertainlymakelifehappyinthefaceofallaccidentsandtroublesistotakeapleasurableinterestinallthedetailsoflife。Andlestperchanceyouthinkthatanassertiontoouniversallyacceptedtobeworthmaking,letmeremindyouhowentirelymoderncivilizationforbidsit;withwhatsordid,andeventerrible,detailsitsurroundsthelifeofthepoor,whatamechanicalandemptylifesheforcesontherich;andhowrareaholidayitisforanyofustofeelourselvesapartofNature,andunhurriedly,thoughtfully,andhappilytonotethecourseofourlivesamidstallthelittlelinksofeventswhichconnectthemwiththelivesofothers,andbuildupthegreatwholeofhumanity。
Butsuchaholidayourwholelivesmightbe,ifwewereresolutetomakeallourlabourreasonableandpleasant。Butwemustberesoluteindeed;fornohalfmeasureswillhelpushere。Ithasbeensaidalreadythatourpresentjoylesslabour,andourlivesscaredandanxiousasthelifeofahuntedbeast,areforceduponusbythepresentsystemofproducingfortheprofitoftheprivilegedclasses。
第4章