Past and Present Thomas Carlyle's Collected Works, Vol. XIII.

"Past and Present" by Thomas Carlyle is a critical look at 19th-century England. It highlights the sharp contrast between the rich and poor, questioning how people treat each other. Carlyle examines what society values, wanting a comeback of real relationships and smart leaders. The beginning shows a sad picture of England, where people are poor even though there's plenty to go around. He uses strong images, like the tale of Midas, to show how the search for riches has made people unhappy. Carlyle asks big questions about fairness and work, pushing people to find their own truth and be good, which he thinks will fix society. This start grabs readers, making them think and want to do something about the problems of the time.