Matewan and Norma Rae Essay -- Capitalism Feudalism Economics Essays

Matewan and Norma RaeTheoretically, the characters of both Matewan, and Norma Rae take part in a capitalistic society. In both situations the people are partaking in a stratum of labor market, where they are selling their time and energy. However, the town of Matewan, governed by the St cardinal Mountain Coal Companies monopoly on the land and businesses, and isolated by distance and confine technology, as fallen into a feudalistic condition. Despite the fact that Norma Raes small hometown of Alabama bears a great resemblance to the town of Matewan, their economic situation remains a form of capitalism. Though the Henely poor boy is a dominating force in the small town, with a strong financial hold over the citizens, it is non as dictatorial of the society as the Stone Mountain Coal Company is over Matewan.In signing the Stone Mountain Coal Companys take in charge the coal miners did not simply agree to sell the company their time and labor they signed away their lives. In a ca pitalistic society one goes to work in an industry of their choosing, is compensated with a fair wage. In such a society the business one works for has no business office over where their workers eat, sleep, or spend their leisure hours. However, the town of Matewan is trapped under the hegemonic power of the coal company. The coal company has a monopoly over the predominant internal resources in the area. Their ownership is not only limited to the coalmines, but to the general store, and the much of the towns housing. Within the bonding contract of the mine workers are forbidden to subvert their supplies from anywhere other than the general store, and are forced to reside in the coal companys housing. The coal company enforces this by paying their workers in company script... ... were not only forced to reside in company housing and buy for the company store, but were also forbidden to launch a union. Norma Rae, and her fellow workers, were not under a binding contract to the H enely Mill and were tied to the organization only when working on the grounds. Due to their contractual agreement, or lack thereof, the Henely Mill workers held the legal rights to form a union, where the coal miners were banned from us and undertaking. A union formation was possible in Norma Raes town due to one internal element the legal rights, and government support. This was made possible by the time frame, and the geographical location of the small Alabama town. Ruperts odyssey to begin a union was fully supported by the U.S. government he held the rights to inspect the mill, put up notices, and converse with the workers on their off hours and breaks.