Sybil · Chapter
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The author addresses the reader, explaining that the novel's depiction of the Condition of the People is based on his own observations and authentic evidence from Royal Commissions and Parliamentary Committees, though he has suppressed some
What happens
The author addresses the reader, explaining that the novel's depiction of the Condition of the People is based on his own observations and authentic evidence from Royal Commissions and Parliamentary Committees, though he has suppressed some truths to avoid an air of improbability.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Resilience
The author's focus on the 'Condition of the People' and the need to suppress some truths highlights the widespread suffering and resilience of the working class.
Key passages
“The general reader whose attention has not been specially drawn to the subject which these volumes aim to illustrate, the Condition of the People, might suspect that the writer had been tempted to some exaggeration in the scenes which he has drawn and the impressions which he has wished to convey.”
Readers unfamiliar with the topic of the people's condition might think the author exaggerated the scenes and impressions in the book.
The author preemptively defends the realism of his depictions.
“He thinks it therefore due to himself to state that he believes there is not a trait in this work for which he has not the authority of his own observation, or the authentic evidence which has been received by Royal Commissions and Parliamentary Committees.”
The author asserts that every detail in the book is based on his personal observation or official evidence from government inquiries.
The author emphasizes the factual basis of his work.
“But while he hopes he has alleged nothing which is not true, he has found the absolute necessity of suppressing much that is genuine.”
Although he claims everything is true, he admits he had to leave out many genuine facts.
The author acknowledges self-censorship to maintain believability.
“For so little do we know of the state of our own country that the air of improbability that the whole truth would inevitably throw over these pages, might deter many from their perusal.”
Because people are so ignorant of the country's true state, the full truth would seem so unlikely that it would discourage readers.
The author criticizes public ignorance about social conditions.