The Road to Wigan Pier

George Orwell does not hide his political beliefs in The Road to Wigan Pier; he views socialism as the solution to the poverty and suffering he witnesses in the working-class industrial towns of North England. His political advocacy becomes a theme in the book, and he largely dedicates the second half of the text to how and why people should consider socialism a viable option.

To broaden his argument’s appeal, Orwell interprets socialism broadly. He does not delve into political theory beyond advocating for the idea that workers should own the means of production—for example, that miners own the mines in which they work. This socialist approach, Orwell believes, would limit the extent to which workers are exploited and made to suffer in the name of profit. Additionally, Orwell believes that the triumph of socialism would mean the elimination of the class system in Great Britain. Working and middle-class people would no longer be pitted against one another, which he blames for a great deal of strife in British society.

While Orwell advocates for socialism as a solution, he is aware of its limitations. He tries to empathize with anti-socialist viewpoints, acknowledging that such people will need to be convinced of the benefits of socialism, lest they join the side of fascism.