Stephen Blackpool wrote:
March 8, 2007
Is Home Depot shafting shoppers?
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com....aspx?GT1=9215


[...]

Is your name really "Stephen Blackpool?" Or did you read the novel and said:
"This is my life?"

"Blackpool provides a stark contrast to these earlier characters. One of the
Hands in Bounderby's factory, Stephen lives a life of drudgery and
poverty...

"Stephen is an important character ... because he finds himself in the midst
of a labor dispute that illustrates the strained relations between rich and
poor. Stephen is the only Hand who refuses to join a workers' union: he
believes that striking is not the best way to improve relations between
factory owners and employees, and he also wants to earn an honest living. As
a result, he is cast out of the workers' group. However, he also refuses to
spy on his fellow workers for Bounderby, who consequently sends him
away...."