...Hard Times |Theme Analysis | | | | | | | |[pic][pic][pic][pic][pic] | | | |Head versus Heart | |Hard Times shows the inadequacy of an approach to life that emphasizes only the human intellect at | |the expense of the imagination and the heart. The character who most embodies the false approach is | |Thomas Gradgrind. Gradgrind worships facts and figures and prides himself on being very practical. He| |thinks that the only things valuable in life are those that can be objectively measured. He believes | |that human behavior can be shaped for the better by the rational application of practical knowledge. | |Gradgrind refuses to accept the validity of "fancy" or imagination; only practical things matter, and| |he puts his faith in abstract theories rather than direct observation of how real people behave, and | |what their real needs...
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...Wednesday 24th march 2010 Essay Of ‘Hard times’ By Charles dickens In the novel Hard Times Dickens writes about a utilitarian education system. Dickens dislikes this form of education through his use of language and his characters. The title ’Hard Times’ shows us that dickens view of the utilitarian education system. “The one thing needful” and “Murdering the innocent” His dislike for this system is also shown through the novels characters names. ‘Mr Gradgrind’ and ‘Mr M’Choakumchild’. These names portray the system as it is choking the child and gradually grinding the children from their imagination. The chapter names ‘the one thing needful’’ we learn that that all Gradgrind cares about are facts so dickens title suggests that all facts are the only thing needed. While the title ‘murdering the innocent’ tells us that dickens feels the education system is killing the children minds and their childhoods and in turn being replaced by facts. I think dickens invented these names because emphasize his dislike for the utilitarian education system. The name 'Mr. Gradgrind' make the reader think of two words, gradually and grinding. It makes the reader think that 'Mr. Gradgrind' gradually grinds the childhoods out of the children. Further more the name 'Mr. M’Choakumchild' makes the reader automatically thinks the name is for choking the child. Dickens is again emphasizing his dislike for the education system, saying it is choking the child. The name also portrays him as a man...
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...TOPIC:-What is Moral Fable? How can you say that Hard Times is a Moral Fable? BY: CHETAN ANKUR Moral fable combines the left (logical) & right (creative) side of the brain, so it both entertains creatively and validates certain types of behaviour, morally. The creative part is the fairy tale which often involves animals rather than humans. It speaks to our hearts as it entertains us; the ending is the logical, moral conclusion that satisfies our logical brains and seems "right". The problem with all moral fables is that there are often 2 sides to the same story ... things are rarely so black and white in reality ... so there could be more than one ending ... e.g. there are times when speed is necessary over steadiness - of course, there also has to be good judgement. Although it is not appropriate to describe a work of art, which Hard Times undoubtedly is, as a moral fable or a morality play, yet the fact remains that there is a strong moral intention behind this novel. Hard Times is a satirical attack on some of the evils and vices of Victorian society. Satire has always corrective purpose and is therefore basically moral in its approach to the subjects it deals with. Apart from that, there are passages of direct moralising in this novel. Hard Times is a novel which from the moment of its publication aroused very different sentiments in the reading public. Dickens's reasons for writing Hard Times were mostly monetary. Sales of his weekly...
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... mechanically operated version of a regular loom, an invention that combined threads to make cloth], which had been patented in 1785, rapidly became more widespread. This had a deleterious [injurious to health] effect on the hand loom weavers, who could not compete with the power loom and could no longer find sufficient work. By the time Dickens wrote Hard Times, power looms were the norm and hand weaving was almost extinct. Because of this development, weavers were gradually driven from their home-based weaving to the factories in the towns, which grew rapidly in population. The new factory workers put in ten-hour days. Conditions were often dangerous, and industrial accidents were common. This subject gave rise to a heated article written by Henry Morley and published in Dickens's own magazine, Household Words, in April 1854. Morley claimed that over the previous three years, there had been a hundred deaths and nearly twelve thousand accidents in factories in England. These figures were disputed by other contemporary commentators, but there is no doubt that many serious accidents did occur, often caused by unguarded machinery. In Hard Times, there is a reference to people being "chopped up" by machinery (Book 2, chapter 1). Factory workers sought to protect their own interests by joining trade unions, which were growing in power in the 1850s. But the unions often faced fierce opposition from employers. A notorious example of industrial conflict took place in Preston, a textile-manufacturing...
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...19th Century Life Criticized Hard Times is a novel written by Charles Dickens in the mid 1800’s. Hard Times criticizes the philosophy of Utilitarianism (Hard Times, 2013). “Dickens believed that Utilitarianism reduced social relations to cold self-interest.”(Hard Times, 2013) This reduced social relation can be seen throughout the novel. Dickens criticizes several aspects of 19th-century life. Dickens criticizes the treatment of children, the life of factory workers, the relationship between employer and employee, and the city they live in. Dickens shows how little respect there is for the children of the time. The children in the school are numbered. They are called by their number and not by their names. Mr. Gradgrind points out Sissy Jupe and calls her “Girl number twenty.” (Dickens, 1854, pg. 10) Gradgrind showed no respect for her name or who she said she was. He insisted that “Sissy” was not a name and that she should only refer to herself as “Cecilia” (Dickens, 1854). Sissy attempted to answer Gradgrind’s questions and he interrupted her every time. Gradgrind’s idea of teaching is to only feed children facts. Children are not allowed to imagine or fancy things. “You are never to fancy,” said a gentleman and Gradgrind confirmed his statement (Dickens, 1854, pg. 14). The only thing the children are to be taught and to repeat is fact. The children are not allowed to have a mind of their own. Dickens raises many contemporary issues in his treatment...
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...Coketown - Charles Dickens The industrial revolution was a brilliant time for The Great Britain. To make England one of the greatest nations, people heading to work every day. It was their target, but it didn’t go that well. Death, illness and horrible working hours, was the price the inhabitants must pay for their success. In Charles Dickens “Coketown” from 1854, Dickens focuses on describing the realism behind the not so gorgeous England. There are a lot of stylistic features in this text. There are a lot of long sentences and a lot of adjectives that describes his view of the Coketown. Mainly, the adjectives are negative, unnatural and ill smelling. By the end, he repeats the word “fact” again and again; “Fact, fact, fact, everywhere in the immaterial…”Here we feel his negative view on the town. Through the text, Dickens builds suspense by describing the place, where we are and the environment, before he actually tell us the exactly place. With that, the suspense and setting sets the mood for the overall text. We see that by the atmosphere, which is very dark, gloomy and monotonous. With all that, Dickens conveys his opinion by the adjectives that are negatively charged. He doesn’t seem to like the place at all. He is very realism, which we also see because he doesn’t make the city to something beautiful, but tells how it really are. One of the most noticeable traits is Dickens use of syntax and the repetitive use of words. He describes the industrial town as a giant...
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...‘Hard times’ is a dawdling but captivating novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854. The book is a state-of-the-nation novel, which aimed to highlight the social and economic pressures that some people were experiencing. Unlike other such writings at the time, the novel is unusual in that it is not set in London (as was also Dickens' usual wont), but in the fictitious Victorian industrial town of Coke town, often claimed to be based on Preston. In ‘Hard Times’ Dickens shows his dislike for education in the Victorian age. He shows his dislike in many different ways through out the novel. Some examples of these are through Mr. M Gradgrind, the Schoolroom and also through the meaning of names. Dickens describes Mr. Gradgrind as a cold, machine like character. The only thing he taught was “Facts, facts and more facts”. Dickens uses Mr. M Gradgrind in this way to put across his message of how Young children are treated in the Victorian education system. In Hard times Dickens uses the meaning of names to describe how the Characters act and to get his point across. The name “Mr. M Choakumchild” Suggests that If the child does not do what do what they are told them he would Garrote them. Also the Name of the other Hard, Mean teacher “Mr. Gradgrind” Implies to the reader that the teacher will crush the student in to the ground if they do not do what they are told. Also, Dickens uses the setting of the School room to portray a certain message. He describes the Classroom as...
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...TOPIC:-What is Moral Fable? How can you say that Hard Times is a Moral Fable? BY: CHETAN ANKUR Moral fable combines the left (logical) & right (creative) side of the brain, so it both entertains creatively and validates certain types of behaviour, morally. The creative part is the fairy tale which often involves animals rather than humans. It speaks to our hearts as it entertains us; the ending is the logical, moral conclusion that satisfies our logical brains and seems "right". The problem with all moral fables is that there are often 2 sides to the same story ... things are rarely so black and white in reality ... so there could be more than one ending ... e.g. there are times when speed is necessary over steadiness - of course, there also has to be good judgement. Although it is not appropriate to describe a work of art, which Hard Times undoubtedly is, as a moral fable or a morality play, yet the fact remains that there is a strong moral intention behind this novel. Hard Times is a satirical attack on some of the evils and vices of Victorian society. Satire has always corrective purpose and is therefore basically moral in its approach to the subjects it deals with. Apart from that, there are passages of direct moralising in this novel. Hard Times is a novel which from the moment of its publication aroused very different sentiments in the reading public. Dickens's reasons for writing Hard Times were mostly monetary. Sales of his weekly...
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...How does Dickens expose the failings of utilitarianism in his novel Hard Times? Utilitarianism is a term quite unfamiliar among today’s generation, therefore let me start by defining what this word means. Utilitarianism says an action is morally right if it benefits the greatest number of people. You determine what is right by calculating the amount of pleasure or suffering your actions may cause. The opinion of the majority is more important than that of the minority. Book1 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 nothing else." These are the first sentences the reader will read. Pretty harsh words to say to a classroom full of children, whose minds are bubbling to the brim with imagination meaning the reader, will automatically be put into the utilitarian way of thinking as soon as he/she opens the book. When you get further into book1 the reader realises that this novel is based on a time when utilitarianism dominated the country. Children are known for their wide imagination, their vivid thoughts; yet throughout book 1 we see Mr Gradgrind trying to sap it all out of them. Dickens was trying to show the negative side of imagination and human emotions depriving people of enjoying the qualities they were supposedly carrying with them. Children had no names but numbers; there is no room from an imaginative answer. A good example of this is with Bitzer and Sissy- both children...
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...How does Dickens show his dislike for the education system in Hard Times? In Hard Times, Charles dickens is the Omniscient Narrator. This means he hears and see’s everything. He portrays the education system as an unfair, factual lifestyle where only fact is considered right. Dickens story is set in the industrial revolution (1854). The Lancastrian System. Dickens feels that teachers in the education system are draining the life out of children and making them 100% Factual like robots, he describres the children as ‘Automotrons’ to show how robotic and lifeless they are. Dickens shows the children as vulnerable. “Murder the innocents” this means he murder is cowardly. The use of strong connotations He uses biblical references to show sarcasm, the thing needful is ‘FACT’. Dickens uses names such as ‘Gradgrind’ and ‘M’Choakumchild’ to represent hatred towards the education system. The name Gradgrind connotates oppresion, anger, production noise (grind). M’Choakumchild also connotates anger, Strangulation, death. Mr Gradgrind is high up in the local council, he comes into the classroom uninvited and teaches the lesson, Dickens uses this to reprisent how bad the education system was. Everypoint he makes is to critisise the system. The pupils in the class are very unfairly treated, brainwashed to talk factual without opinion. Bitzer - a shy, quiet, light haired, possesed, pale and factual boy. The quote “ if he were cut, he would bleed white” supports this. Bitzer is treated...
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...How does Dickens present the education system in hard Times? Words: | Submitted: Thu Mar 24 2005 ... Not even a sense of fancy and imagination. They were educated to get the basics of life because they were going to be pushed into the outside world at a very young age of 12 and above or even below. At the end of the day, the education was worthless because most of the children died in the workhouse. Dickens used Hard Times to criticise the society for failing so many of its children. Dickens argues against a mode of factory style, grad-grinding production that exterminates the fun out of life. He believes that education should not be a thing of going through volumes of head-breaking questions and being put through an immense variety of paces. Hard Times not only suggests that fancy is as important as fact, but it continually calls into question the difference between fact and fancy. Dickens suggests that what constitutes so-called fact is a matter... How does Dickens present his views on education in ‘hard times’? Words: | Submitted: Mon Jun 06 2005. He is shown as lifeless and colorless, 'the boy was so light-eyed and light-haired that the self-same rays appeared to draw out of him what little color he ever possessed.' This gives the effect that he has been drained of life and everything else but facts. When asked, Blitzer describes a Horse as a 'Quadruped' and 'graminivorous' and gives endless facts about the animal. Although this description is very...
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...The industrial revolution was a time of great technological changes. It revolutionised everything, from the way people lived to where they worked, but what society often overlooked was how ordinary people went through their day to day lives. In the book ‘Hard Times’, Charles Dickens has produced some exceptional characters to represent the complexity of each social class. From the arrogance of aristocracy to the struggle of the common workers, and the way in which they cope with the many hardships they will endure. Charles Dickens was able to personify the different social classes. The real reason why Charles Dickens wrote Hard Times was because he was low on funds, this was due to his sales being low on his periodical magazine “Household words”. He hoped by writing this novel in instalments would bale him out by increasing his profits. However, Dickends wished to satirize radical utilitarians who dickens thought to be ‘those who see figures and averages, and nothing else’. He also wished to campaign for reform of working conditions. In as early as 1839, dickens visted factories in Manchester and was appalled by the conditions workers had to work in. Furthermore, Charles Dickens gives us a close up look into what appears to be the ivory tower of the bourgeoisie of his day, yet these middle-class characters are viewed from a singular perspective, the perspective of those at the bottom of the social and economic system. Though Dickens characters tend to be well developed and...
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...Coketown . Stephen is forty years old and is married to a drunk and distressed wife who is constantly drinking away her sorrows from being part of the lower echelon of society as well as wandering in and out of his life. Blackpool dreams of being free of their marriage and re-marrying another character, Rachel, however their love cannot be as for a person in his social status divorce does not come easily. Stephen works in one of Bounderby’s factories as a power loom weaver, and worked long hard hours for meager pay just to sustain himself. Despite all of these misfortunes that he had to endure during his daily life, Blackpool was a man of great faith and integrity. He was a firm Christian and believed that his trials were not in vain, proving so by living that philosophy every day. All of these traits together bring the reader a picture of a poor in money but rich in spirit middle-aged man who works hard for a living and is an overall admirable character in the storyline. The time in which Blackpool lived, the 19th century, was at the heart of the industrial revolution and Stephens’ character in the novel was the backbone of what drove the industrial revolution to such success. “Coketown” is a stereotypical industrial town with all levels of society packed into a small urban industrial space. We se these relationships portrayed in the novel with Stephens interactions with the Gradgrinds and other characters from different social levels and how closely knit their...
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...How does Charles Dickens show his dislike for the education system? In the novel, 'Hard Times' , Dickens uses characterisation to show his dislike for the education system, for example, When he compares young girl number 'twenty' Sissy Jupe and Bitzer, the pale boy whose mind has been filled with 'Facts' which is emphasized by how many times Mr Grandgrind repeats it, is seen as more healthy than the boy Bitzer '..But, whereas the girl was so dark-eyed and dark-haired, that she seemed to receive a deeper and more lustrous colour from the sun, when it shone upon her, the boy was so light-eyed and light-haired that the self-same rays appeared to draw out of him what little colour he ever possessed.' This characteristic is but one way in which he shows that the young girl is imaginative and healthy, as she has not yet had facts poured into her mind, like the young boy Blitzer. When Blitzer is asked to define a horse, you would imagine a normal child to describe a horse as say, big and brown. However, because of Mr Gradgrinds, rationalist teachings, he simply states fact 'Quadruped. Graminivorous. Forty teeth, namely twenty-four grinders, four eye-teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the spring; in marshy countries, sheds hoofs, too. Hoofs hard, but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth.' Thurthermore, when Dickens' describes gradgrine he makes him out to be dull, lifeless and overall boring. His dislike is emphasized through the...
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...Mishary Al Rashed 10AB November 14, 2015 Khaled Bushehri Yasmeen Al Muzaini Aysha Al Meer TIMELINE: Charles Dickens was born in the year 1817, Victorian Era Mid 19th century till to beginning of 20th century, Hard Times published on 1854, Schools become mandatory in 1889. _____________________________________________________________________ OUR TALK WILL BE DIVIDED INTO 4 PARTS: INTRODUCTION OF VICTORIAN ERA The Victorian era of British history: was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death, on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence for Britain, where during that time, the British Empire has existed for centuries and was able to maintain a world order which rarely threatened Britain’s wider strategic interests. By the end of Queen Victoria’s reign, The British empire extended over about one-fifth of the earth’s surface and at least a quarter of the world’s population. One of the ways they achieved such a thing is through the Industrial Revolution. What is the Industrial Revolution exactly? Prior to the Industrial Revolution, a working person would be lucky to have 1 or 2 shirts. To make fabric, these people had to spend their whole lives weaving this shirt and as demand for british goods increased, they needed a way to speed up things in a way without affecting it economically. As a result, they came up with the idea of factories where workers would repeat...
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