Lyddie By Katherine Paterson: An Analysis

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Lydia Worthen was only thirteen when she took on a job at the Lowell Mill as an attempt to bring her family back together. In the novel, Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson, Lyddie was first introduced as the mother figure of her large family. She grew up without a father but instead with her mother and many siblings. She grew up in 1843 in Vermont until her mother hired her as a Tavern worker. Eventually, Lyddie finds her job at the Tavern unpleasant and once she’s dismissed, Lyddie switches to the factory life as a female textile worker at the Lowell Mill in Lowell, Massachusetts. The factory is strict with their set of regulations but after working for some time, Lyddie makes a few companions. One of which, Diana Goss, presents Lyddie with a petition. If the petition holds …show more content…

Lyddie should sign the petition that Diana Gross is circulating because it could lower her long work hours and it could improve the unsafe working environment that began to affect Lyddie negatively. If noticed, the petition could change and improve the horrible working environment around the girls. Obviously the girls work at a factory and it may not be the cleanest, however, for girls around Lyddie’s age, it is completely unsafe and the petition has the potential to fix that. As Lyddie begins her first day at the mill, she is instantly struck by the environment around her. On page 62, Paterson states, “Creation! What a noise! Clatter and clack, great shuddering moans, groans, creaks, and rattles. The shrieks and whistles of huge leather belts on wheels. And when her brain cleared enough, Lyddie saw through the murky air

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