David Lodge, Nice Work.

TASK 2

Robyn

Robyn Penrose's opinion on the world of business and on the factory is quite negative. First of all the appearance immediately scares her: the factory is "noisy", "dirty" and even "helly" (Chapter 2, paragraph 3). Anyway her consideration goes beyond appearance but the final opinion is even worse. Robyn is really disappointed by the repetitive work in the factory and depicts it as the symbol of oppression (she says that it is the "archetype of exploited humanity"), a "prison" where there are no principles or rights but the one of money. She later defines the repetition of work as deathly ("repetition is death", chapter 6, paragraph 3). Robyn often complains about the workers' condition and their racist environment (Chapter 2, paragraph 3).

As far as the world of business in general, she immediately criticizes the annihilation of human happiness and creativity. She also does not agree with the key role of the customer/marketplace and with the possibility to make a man redundant anytime. (Chapter 2, paragraph 2, 3; chapter 4, paragraph 2; chapter 6, paragraph 2, 3). As a matter of fact, she comes from a very different world that teaches other principles and focuses on other values and seems exotic by the other side.

However Robyn's outlook changes after the Shadow Scheme: she realises that University is a conspicuous part of the State and needs the wealth created by industry in order to work.

Vic

Vic Wilcox's outlook is more functional to the profit. He does not care about principles or rights and draws his conclusion always referring to money. He also does not know much about University which is "alien", "inscrutable" and "vaguely threatening" (chapter 4, paragraph 2).

In his first conversation with Robyn he criticizes the University system proposed by her, showing the strict relationship between University and the world of business. Anyway he thinks that education should only be functional to industry, otherwise it is only a waste of money. He does not consider ideas or creativity useful since they do not worth in terms of money. He also considers the polished University buildings as unnecessary (Chapter 2, paragraph 2, 3).

As far as lecturers, Vic thinks they have lax habits, insinuating that they do not deserve any pay for such a small amount of not productive (in money terms) work. In addition he criticizes the equal power of the lecturers: he thinks that every system should have a hierarchical structure and suggests to "give management more muscle". Furthermore he states that the multiple and varied courses and the lecturers' power equality will lead University to its own bankrupt (Chapter 6, paragraph 2).

After the Shadow Scheme and his redundancy, Vic becomes more sensitive about human rights and finally seeks happiness in his dream work. He is also very influenced by Robyn's teaching about  English literature.