Hard Times Essay
How does dickens show his dislike for the education system in 'Hard Times'?
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 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 interpret the name 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 of discipline, enforcing independence in children.
Sissy Jupe is portrayed as a kind, innocent, ‘misguided’ girl. She’s has a misguided due to the fact the she hasn’t been effected by the utilitarian education system, Sissy Jupe at the moment still has imagination and thoughts. Sissy Jupe also be seen as a shy girl, when talking to Mr. Gradgrind she appears to be scared, for example: ‘returned the young...
View Full Essay