The Road to Wigan Pier

The impact of industrialization becomes increasingly apparent as Orwell travels further north. Towns which were once picturesque now feature mountains of mining waste and columns of black smoke. Cities such as Wigan and Sheffield are, in Orwell’s opinion, now incredibly ugly, though he doesn’t believe this is a necessary result of industrialization; rather, these cities reflect the way people prioritize making money above making the world a nicer place. People may even be thankful that the factories and mines are so ugly, Orwell suggests, because this reminds them how damaging industrialization is to society.

Orwell next examines the cultural differences between people from the North of England and the South. In his experience, people from the North view the North as being more authentic than the South, which they believe is populated by lazy, snobbish, effeminate people. At the same time, people from the South view the North as being brutish and uncivilized. This difference in opinion seems absurd to Orwell, but he remembers that the idea of the tough, hardworking northern businessman is something he learned at school. Orwell’s experience in the North has shown him that these stereotypes are utterly without merit; however, he does believe it’s easier to become friendly and intimate with working-class people in the North, where families offer better support to one another and place an increased importance on education.