As threshing continues, Eric tries to follow the workflow, measure productivity as well as leisure time. As meaningful conversations take place, questions come out about how human moods can make the work seem harder or easier, concept that can be applied to any work situation. As the heat becomes unbearable, work and conversation began taking a conscious effort.
Upon measuring a total of about nine and a half hours for a full day’s work, Eric recognizes that some of the workload could actually be reduced without losing profits. The Menonites were a profitable, debt-free community because of the very fact they didn’t use costly laborsaving equipment. Nevertheless, considering that threshing didn’t even pay what ended up happening is it was used for feeding the horses that were utilized in the process of threshing. In a way, horses replaced technology and they added costs that could be eliminated. After sharing with Wilbur his finding that there was no need for threshing or horses, Eric almost convinces him of reducing operations. However, this uncovers another belief of working for the sake of working, or for its intrinsic benefits. Furthermore, the fact that there is a resistance to think of ideas not related with the daily reality seems a little close-minded to me.
The chapter ends with a slightly disturbing accident where Eric finds out that a needle from Wilbur’s machine ran through Edward’s finger; although it doesn't seem clear from the text, I hope that was a just an accident and not a deliberate attempt to physically hurt someone.
2 comments:
This chapter was pretty interesting. They didn't want to mimnimize the workload - when Eric suggested that they responded with "what would we do then?" Much like in our society, when you are in the workplace you are expected to work. If you finish one project, it isn't time for a break until the next one comes up. You get up, and find the next project. If they didn't have threshing, they could grow more of something else and sell it, or spend quality time with the family!
Even more so, earlier in the book the author mentioned they would go out of their way to create opportunities for work and rebuilding when nature wouldn’t provide them so they woul have a reason to get together.
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