Hard Times by Charles Dickens
1. The story is set in England like most dickens novels. Thomas Gradgrind is a rich retired merchant who lives in the industrial city of Coketown. You learn he has two children, Louisa and Tom. He doesnt really let them be children like they should when it comes to imagination. Later on when finding a school, Thomas takes in a student names Sissy Jupe when he hears her father passed. In this novel, you see all three children into adulthood with conflict at edge. This story does take place partly during the industrial revolution. It affects everyone. I believe the authors purpose was to convey how hard times were during the Industrial Revolution from different points of views. From the poor class to the wealthy class.
2. I think the theme of this novel is really just how to go about life without being selfish when going through obstacles that cause you to convey your options. Good or bad.
3. I think the tone of the story is being anxious and stressed in hard situations. In life everything will not be so easy. You go through obstacles.
- Thomas Grind takes in Sissy-Jupe knowing that he would be raising another child apart from his own
- Due to Louisa's confession of not loving her husband anymore, It causes Gradgrind to question his own philosophy
- Josiah Bounderby is reunited with Mrs. Pegler who turns out to be his mother whom he thought he lost as a child
Symbolism
- Workers who work in the industrial factories are referred to as "the hands".
- The book title itself is a symbolic mean of the story referring to the industrial revolution as being a tough time for most.
- When Louisa is first introduced in the story, the narrator explains that "fire with nothing to burn, a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow" simbolized the inner thoughts and fancies she created in her mind because of the loneliness.
- The fires in the factories just represent the destruction being done to the workers as they work many hours a day with little pay. How they suffer.
- The smoke that comes out of the fires represent the blindness factory owners have to the exhaustion and cruelty they put the workers through. Like Bounderby. He was so blinded by the money he was making that he didnt see how bad he was to the people.
- Thomas Gradgrind questions his own philosophy of rationalism, self interest, and fact. As problems with his children surface, he questions himself often through out the story.
- External conflict happens with Thomas as well. He gets himself into workers personal ordeals at the factory. This is ironic because he cant deal with himself quite yet or the kids.
- When the robber escapes and flees England, Josiah Bounderby is determined to finding him. His associate calls in Mrs. Pelger who we had already learned had relations with him through Mrs. Sparsit.She turns out to be his mother.
- Louisa and Josiah marry earlier in the book. He is a rich factory owner and accountant. Infers Louisas need for the wealthy life style in reflection of the man who raised her, Thomas. The marriage in the end turns into turmoil and eventually they split up.
- Before Louisa marries Josiah Bounderby, Thomas warns her as to what shes getting into. That does cause conflict between the two and Louisa was blinded by the money. But she later learns that true love is the foundation of a happy marriage.
Characterization
1. Direct characterization would be Thoman Gradgrind. Dickens is very descriptive on allowing you to see where this man came from and where he as now. For example, his philosophy on life. Indirect characterization would be Tom and Louisa. The author only shows what the two think internaly and how they not being able to express their imagination growing up affected them but they never really told Thomas.
2. I think the authors syntax changes. Each character represents a different piece of Thomas Gradgrind. He really emphasizes how thomas gradgrinds philosophy affected everyone who was involved directly in his life. In otherwords, he emphasized how man can get to caught up with the morals of society.
3. The protagonist, Thomas Gradgrind i believe is very static and flat in the beggining of the story. He is a man who cant be told his way of life or thinking or raising his children is wrong. Later on in the story i think he turns more dynamic and round due to him seeing how he affected the lives of the children he raised. Learning that he was wrong.
4. Reading the book i felt like i knew Louisa. As a child she was taught not to have an imagination and growing up that caused her to be lonley and bitter. Because of the lonleyness she married the first man who came her way. Later that marriage ends. She struggles with not knowing how to express her thoughts or "imagination" as an adult. But learning that Thomas was wrong was about his way of life she opens his eyes. And that allows her to finally open up.
