The Octopus essays

The Octopus essays One of the most significant inventions to come of age in America in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was the railroad. It developed new forms of communication and transportation, which in turn revolutionized the ideologies of the nation in relation to the economy and social values. Railroads not only created a rush to get to the West, but also modernized the American way of life. Along with many positive aspects of this modern marvel there were those who used it to their advantage and to the disadvantage of others. As the years went by, the railroad industry became monopolized by a few individuals, who exploited individuals such as farmers and laborers. This heavy struggle became Frank Norris inspiration for writing the muckraking novel, The Octopus. The Octopus, depicts the conflict between farmers and the Powers associated with the railroads, but it all didnt come about so quickly. The origins for the conflict go back to the earlier settlers of California. The vast expanse of land, beautiful scenery, and unique climate made California a farmers heaven. The settlers made use of their land wisely, but were overtaken by the next set of settlers, the gold miners. A lot of the money that was made during the Gold Rush, was in turn used to buy out some of the farmers or even buy large parcels of land for themselves for farming. Norris uses Magnus Derrick and his family to support the idea of miners turning into farmers, and in this case, a wheat farmer. Norris also depicts farmers who had recently come to California with Annixter, Broderson, and Osterman. The railroad began its grasp on California with the idea of the Transcontinental Railroad. Leland Stanford and the Big Four took complete control of the state as their new idea spread instantly around the west like an octopus, which is the title of Norris novel. As they complete mile after mile...