Who Stephen Blackpool is
Stephen Blackpool works at a power loom in Josiah Bounderby's mill. He is about forty, patient and honest, with a life marked by toil. His fellow workers call him Old Stephen, although he is not old.
Through Stephen, Dickens shows the private life behind the labor that keeps Coketown's mills running. His troubles reveal how little protection a poor worker has against rules made by others.
What Stephen Blackpool wants
Stephen wants an honest life and the comfort of being near Rachael. His wife has left him, but returns at times to disrupt his home and use his small savings. He asks Bounderby about escaping the marriage, but divorce costs more than he can afford.
Stephen Blackpool and the others in the story
Rachael works in the same mill, and her gentle, steady presence helps Stephen carry his burdens. They love each other quietly, without hope of marrying while his marriage binds him.
Stephen refuses to join the union, partly because he has promised Rachael to stay out of trouble. His fellow workers shun him, yet he still refuses to inform on them. When he asks for greater kindness toward workers, Bounderby dismisses him, forcing him to seek work elsewhere.
Questions
Who is Stephen Blackpool?
Stephen Blackpool is an honest power-loom weaver employed at Bounderby's mill in Coketown.
Why can't Stephen Blackpool marry Rachael?
Stephen is already married and cannot afford a divorce. He and Rachael love each other, but his existing marriage prevents them from marrying.
Why does Bounderby dismiss Stephen Blackpool?
Bounderby dismisses Stephen after he refuses to inform on other workers and says the owners should show them more kindness.