Hard Times
an Analysis in 9 Literary Elements
Charles Dickens' novel "Hard Times," published in 1854, stands as a powerful critique of the industrial society and educational system of Victorian England. This work, though shorter than many of Dickens' other novels, packs a punch with its stark portrayal of a world where facts and figures are valued above imagination and empathy.
Title Explanation
The title "Hard Times" is both literal and metaphorical. It refers to the difficult living and working conditions during the Industrial Revolution, as well as the emotional and spiritual hardships faced by the characters. The "hardness" also alludes to the rigid, fact-based educational system and the lack of compassion in the society Dickens portrays. Originally, the novel was serialized under the title "Hard Times: For These Times," emphasizing its relevance to the contemporary social issues.
Sources of Inspiration
Dickens drew inspiration from several sources for "Hard Times":
1. His visits to the industrial town of Preston during a workers' strike in 1854.
2. The utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham, which he critiques through the character of Thomas Gradgrind.
3. His own experiences as a child worker, which informed his portrayal of the working class.
4. The growing tension between industrialists and workers in Victorian England.
Circumstances of Composition
"Hard Times" was initially published in weekly instalments in Dickens' magazine "Household Words" from April to August 1854. This serialized format influenced the novel's structure, with each instalment needing to maintain reader interest. Dickens wrote "Hard Times" during a difficult time in his life, which may have influenced its darker mood compared to his earlier books. He faced problems in his marriage to Catherine, feeling unhappy and overwhelmed by their many children. Additionally, he was under pressure from managing his magazine, "Household Words". These personal struggles likely shaped the serious themes and tone found in the novel. The themes of disillusionment and the struggle between fact and fancy may reflect some of his personal struggles during this time.
Genre
"Hard Times" fits into three important types of novels.
First, it is a Victorian Novel, specifically an Early Victorian Novel (1837-1850s). It shows both romantic ideals and growing concerns about society's problems - unlike Late Victorian novels (1860s-1901) which focused more heavily on social issues. Dickens reflected the social and political climate of his time and addressed the pressing issues of the Industrial Revolution.
Second, it is a Realistic Novel, which means Dickens wrote about life exactly as it was: he described real factories, real working conditions, and characters dealing with real problems like money troubles and unhappy marriages. Dickens employed realism to highlight the harsh living conditions of the industrial society and to evoke empathy in his readers.
Finally, "Hard Times" is what we call a Social Novel or Novel of Purpose*, a special type of realistic novel that tries to show and fix society's problems. In this case, Dickens specifically writes about poor working conditions, unfair treatment of factory workers, and the big differences between rich factory owners and their poor workers. Dickens chose this genre to highlight the social injustices of his time and to advocate for social reform.
*addresses societal issues such as poverty, class disparity, and gender inequality, often aiming to critique and inspire reform
Structure and Plot
The novel is divided into three books, each representing a stage in the philosophical journey of the main characters:
1. "Sowing" - Introduces the characters and their worldviews.
2. "Reaping" - Shows the consequences of their actions and beliefs.
3. "Garnering" - Presents the resolution and lessons learned.
These titles are biblical allusions, drawn from the New Testament, specifically Paul's Epistle to the Galatians: "A man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7). This agricultural metaphor underscores the novel's moral message about the consequences of one's actions and beliefs.
The plot revolves around Thomas Gradgrind, his family, and the people of Coketown, a fictional industrial town. Gradgrind is a school superintendent who strongly believes in a philosophy based only on facts and numbers. This philosophy is called Utilitarianism, which focuses on doing what's best for the most people, often ignoring individual feelings or creativity.
Gradgrind raises his children, Louisa and Tom, following this strict system of thinking. As a result:
- Louisa marries Josiah Bounderby, a rich factory owner, even though she doesn't love him. She does this because it seems logical, not because of any emotional reasons.
- Tom becomes selfish and struggles to deal with his emotions properly.
Into this very factual world comes Sissy Jupe, a girl from the circus. Sissy brings warmth, imagination, and a different way of thinking to the Gradgrind household. Sissy is originally part of a traveling circus. Her father, a circus performer, abandons her, leaving Sissy alone and in need of care. Thomas Gradgrind, despite his usual strict adherence to facts and figures, decides to take Sissy into his home. He does this partly out of a sense of duty and partly because he sees an opportunity to educate Sissy in his fact-based system.
Her presence starts to show the problems with Gradgrind's fact-only approach to life.
Gradgrind's decision to bring Sissy into his household is significant because:
- It shows a hint of compassion in Gradgrind's otherwise rigid character.
- It introduces a character (Sissy) who represents imagination and emotion into the fact-focused Gradgrind home.
- It sets up a contrast between Sissy's more intuitive, emotional approach to life and the Gradgrind family's fact-based lifestyle.
The story also follows Stephen Blackpool, a factory worker who faces many difficulties in both his work and personal life. Through Stephen, we see the harsh realities of working-class life in an industrial town.
As the novel goes on, we start to see the flaws in Gradgrind's philosophy. His children face personal crises because they weren't taught how to handle emotions or use their imagination. This leads Gradgrind to rethink his beliefs about education and life in general.
Characters
The names of the characters in Hard Times by Charles Dickens are very symbolic and relevant to the novel. Dickens often used names to reflect the personalities or roles of his characters.
1. Thomas Gradgrind: A school board head teacher who believes in pure facts and rational thinking. His name suggests a focus on "grinding" facts into his students' heads. Gradgrind is obsessed with facts and statistics, and he teaches in a strict, factual way, with no room for imagination or emotion.
2. Louisa Gradgrind: Thomas's daughter, struggling with emotional repression.
3. Tom Gradgrind: Louisa's brother, who becomes selfish and deceitful.
4. Josiah Bounderby: A wealthy factory owner who boasts of his self-made success. His name reflects that he is "bound" to material wealth and self-interest. Bounderby is a wealthy factory owner who boasts about his success, showing no compassion for the poor.
5. Sissy Jupe: A circus girl who brings imagination and compassion to the Gradgrind household. Sissy's real name is Cecilia, but she is referred to as "Sissy," a name that sounds soft and kind. Her last name, Jupe, hints at her connection to the circus and a life of imagination and emotion, which contrasts with the cold world of facts.The word jupe comes from French, meaning "skirt" or "petticoat," which can be linked to costumes worn by circus performers, especially those in roles like acrobats or dancers. This subtle link to performance and costume hints at her background in the circus, a world associated with creativity, entertainment, and emotional expression—very different from the rigid, fact-based life promoted by characters like Thomas Gradgrind.
6. Stephen Blackpool: An honest factory worker facing personal and professional hardships.
7. Rachael: Stephen's friend and moral support, representing the dignity of the working class.
Settings
The novel is set in the mid-19th century, during the height of the Industrial Revolution in England. Dickens doesn't specify exact dates, but he describes the world of the 1850s.
The story primarily takes place in the fictional industrial town of Coketown, described as a place of "machinery and tall chimneys." Dickens paints a vivid picture of Coketown's oppressive atmosphere:
"It was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it; but as matters stood, it was a town of unnatural red and black like the painted face of a savage." (Ch V, p 19)
This setting symbolizes the dehumanizing effects of industrialization.
"It contained several large streets all very like one another, and many small streets still more like one another, inhabited by people equally like one another, who all went in and out at the same hours, with the same sound upon the same pavements, to do the same work, and to whom every day was the same as yesterday and tomorrow, and every year the counterpart of the last and next." (Ch V, p 19)
Contrasting with Coketown is the colorful world of Sleary's circus. Unlike the monotonous, smoke-filled Coketown, the circus is described as a place of vibrant colours, laughter, and wonder. It represents imagination, joy, and the human spirit that the utilitarian philosophy of Coketown seeks to suppress. The circus performers, with their bright costumes and daring acts, serve as a reminder of the importance of fancy and creativity in a world dominated by facts and figures.
Narrative Techniques
Dickens employs a third-person omniscient narrator in "Hard Times." This narrative choice allows him to provide deep insights into various characters' thoughts, motivations, and inner conflicts. The narrator can seamlessly move from one character's perspective to another, giving readers a comprehensive view of the story's events and their impact on different individuals.
Dickens uses vivid imagery, a key part of his writing style. He creates strong visual descriptions that make the industrial city of Coketown feel real and alive. For example:
"It was a town of machinery and tall chimneys, out of which interminable serpents of smoke trailed themselves for ever and ever, and never got uncoiled." (Ch V, p 19)
This imagery not only describes the physical appearance of the town but also conveys the oppressive, inescapable nature of industrialization.
Repetition is another technique Dickens employs to great effect. He often repeats phrases or ideas to emphasize the monotony and harshness of life in the industrial world. For instance, the repeated use of "Facts" in Mr. Gradgrind's speech in the opening chapter underscores the relentless focus on rationality at the expense of imagination.
" 'Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children. Stick to Facts, sir!' " (Ch I, p 4)
Dickens' use of satirical descriptions and character names is a key part of his social critique. Characters like Josiah Bounderby, whose name suggests boastfulness and insincerity, are described in exaggerated terms that highlight their flaws and the social issues they represent. This satirical approach allows Dickens to criticize societal problems while maintaining a level of humor and engagement for the reader.
"He was a rich man: banker, merchant, manufacturer, and what not. A big, loud man, with a stare, and a metallic laugh. A man made out of a coarse material, which seemed to have been stretched to make so much of him. A man with a great puffed head and forehead, swelled veins in his temples, and such a strained skin to his face that it seemed to hold his eyes open, and lift his eyebrows up. A man with a pervading appearance on him of being inflated like a balloon, and ready to start. A man who could never sufficiently vaunt himself a self-made man. A man who was always proclaiming, through that brassy speaking-trumpet of a voice of his, his old ignorance and his old poverty. A man who was the Bully of humility." (Ch IV, p 18)
Themes
1. Fact vs. Fancy: The novel critiques the overemphasis on facts at the expense of imagination and emotion.
> "Now, what I want is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else." - Mr. Gradgrind
2. Industrialization and Dehumanization: Dickens explores how industrial progress often comes at the cost of human welfare.
> "So many hundred Hands in this Mill; so many hundred horse Steam Power. It is known, to the force of a single pound weight, what the engine will do; but, not all the calculators of the National Debt can tell me the capacity for good or evil, for love or hatred, for patriotism or discontent, for the decomposition of virtue into vice, or the reverse, at any single moment in the soul of one of these its quiet servants, with the composed faces and the regulated actions."
The themes of industrialization and utilitarianism are inextricably linked in "Hard Times." The novel exposes the dehumanizing effects of industrialization, where human value is reduced to mere productivity. Utilitarianism, the philosophy that promotes the greatest good for the greatest number, is satirized as a cold and calculating system that prioritizes economic efficiency over human well-being. Dickens highlights the destructive consequences of this ideology, as it leads to social division, environmental degradation, and the suppression of individual creativity and compassion.
3. Education: The novel questions the effectiveness of a purely fact-based education system.
> "He had been for some years a shy and retiring Inmate in the house of his daughter and son-in-law; and in that state had derived every comfort from the unceasing care and kindness of his daughter Louisa."
This quote illustrates the failure of Gradgrind's educational philosophy, as his daughter Louisa, despite her fact-based upbringing, provides emotional comfort to her father in his later years.
4. Class Divide: The stark contrast between the lives of factory owners and workers is a central theme.
5. The Role of Women: Through characters like Louisa and Sissy, Dickens examines the limited options available to women in Victorian society.
6. Importance of Wonder and Imagination: The circus represents the vital role of creativity and wonder in human life.
> "There was an air of jaded sullenness in them both, and particularly in the girl: yet, struggling through the dissatisfaction of her face, there was a light with nothing to rest upon, a fire with nothing to burn, a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow, which brightened its expression." - Description of Louisa
7. Critique of Utilitarianism: Dickens criticizes the philosophy of utilitarianism, which emphasizes the greatest good for the greatest number, often at the expense of individual happiness and morality.
> "There was a library in Coketown, to which general access was easy. Mr. Gradgrind greatly tormented his mind about what the people read in this library: a point whereon little rivers of tabular statements periodically flowed into the howling ocean of tabular statements, which no diver ever got to any depth in and came up sane." (Ch VIII, p 43)
By exploring these themes, Dickens creates a powerful critique of his society while also offering hope for positive change through compassion and imagination.