The Road to Wigan Pier

George Orwell narrates his experiences as an observer of working-class existence. Does his presence influence the environment he describes? How does he relate to the world around him?

How does the physical landscape Orwell describes reflect the negative effects of industrialization? How do the slag heaps reflect the human misery Orwell witnesses?

Mr. and Mrs. Brooker run the lodging house where Orwell stays. They are examples of working-class people, but they are not sympathetic. What does their portrayal say about Orwell’s political beliefs?