Question

what is competition from the point of view of the workman? it is work put up to auction. a contractor wants a workman: three present themselves.—how much for your work?—half-a-crown; i have a wife and children.—well; and how much for yours?—two shillings: i have no children, but i have a wife.—very well; and now how much for you?—one and eightpence are enough for me; i am single.—then you shall have the work. it is done; the bargain is struck. and what are the other two workmen to do? it is to be hoped they will die quietly of hunger.... according to the political economists of the school of adam smith and leon say, cheapness is the word in which may be summed up the advantages of unlimited
\it is to be hoped they will die quietly of hunger.\
how does blanc use this sentence to help develop his overall theme?
by starting with the phrase \it is to be hoped,\ blanc draws attention to future possibilities.
by saying the opposite of what he means, blanc highlights the evils of the current system.
by taking the point of view of the employer, blanc shows the complexity of the issue.
by using the word \quietly,\ blanc implies that riots and violence may erupt instead.

Explanation:

To determine how Blanc uses the sentence "It is to be hoped they will die quietly of hunger" to develop his theme, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The phrase "It is to be hoped" here is ironic, not about future possibilities in a positive sense. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Blanc is being sarcastic (saying the opposite of what is morally right) to highlight the cruelty of the system where workers are pitted against each other, and the unemployed are left to starve. This fits with critiquing the current system's evils.
• Option 3: The sentence is from the perspective of the employer's callousness, not to show complexity, but to show the system's immorality. Eliminate.
• Option 4: "Quietly" is used to describe the hoped - for (but immoral) end of starvation, not to imply riots. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. By saying the opposite of what he means, Blanc highlights the evils of the current system.