Industrialization in "Hard Times" by Charles Dickens

In the novel Dickens introduces many characters to readers, and many of those characters contrast each other greatly, creating character foils. These contrasts highlight the differences of the characters and the part of society they represent. This allows readers

Dickens reveals his true feelings of capitalism in this tale of giving and greed. Many feel that a capitalistic approach is best suited. Dickens feels

6. How in this chapter does Dickens reveal his advocating social reforms, as well as his hatred of social

Dickens uses the needs and wants for people to get an image in their head about what life was really like before the French revolution. "Cold, dirt,

The Industrial Revolution generated the perception that applying solely logic to everyday activities could maximize productivity and efficiency. Charles Dickens explores the dangers of neglecting emotions and imagination in his novel Hard Times. Dickens separates Hard Times into three books: Sowing, Reaping and Garnering in order to reveal the negative consequences of industrialization and forsaking imagination for facts through the events, settings, and characters in the novel.

Throughout history, a divide has always existed between the rich and poor in society. However, during the Industrial Revolution in Victorian England, this rift reached its peak. The working class labored for long hours and received miniscule wages, whereas the bourgeoisie grew abundantly wealthy through the labor of the working class. Published in 1848 and 1854 respectively, Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto and Charles Dickens’ Hard Times both comment on these troubles. While Hard Times is a novel which tells a story and The Communist Manifesto is a short publication which tries to bring about social change, both writings offer a sharp critique of the class antagonism brought about by capitalism at the height of the Industrial

The poor being grateful and happy shows, for example, “And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good,” (Dickens 4). This quote is used to prove the theme of social justice because it shows happiness doesn’t strive through money and wealth by showing that Fred is happy and finds the good in things life even without much money. This shows that you can live a happy life without lots of money and that everyone can be happy no matter the social justice. The indirect characterization of Fred is used to show that good can come from opportunities that don’t supply money. The difference of poor and rich is shown, for example, “This is and even-handed dealing of the world!” he said. “There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty; and there is nothing it professes to condemn with such severity as the pursuit of wealth!” (Dickens 27). This quote proves the theme of social justice because it uses a juxtaposition to the impact of poverty and the greatness of wealth. Using this quote the author was able to show that social class is a big part of everyone's life. He also able to show that the poor struggle with more and are more happy than the

This relates to the theme of social class because it shows how the lower class used some slang, and Dickens portrays this by letting his characters use slang throughout the book.

Dickens shows that the

Throughout Hard Times by Charles Dickens and Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, societies are conveyed to be significant factors in the development of their characters. Societies establish standards, moral beliefs, and opinions that greatly influence the decisions and learning of characters. Specifically, tragic events in both novels are not only major turning points, but also become defining moments for their characters’ understanding of other characters, conflicts, and of themselves. However, in both novels, societal influences tend to assert their dominance over characters in the novel. In order to reveal the predominant influence of societies on one’s moral beliefs, Dickens and Shakespeare directly attribute how their characters’

Chapter XII addresses this from the opposite side with the discussion of the working class. The “fruits of my brow” and “...but is it a sin for a labouring man that moistens every crust of bread he earns”. This chapter, along with Chapter XI and the Podsnaps and Chapter XIII and Lizzie and her father, is a main showcase of the great chapter organization and structure that Dickens provides to show opposing sides of the story. The chapters in the book thus far seem to reverse often from the wealthy to the working class or from one contract to another wherein Dickens’ audience is given the different insights into each faction of this English

Dickens begins the novel with a pro-revolutionary tone. His regard for the idea of the upcoming and inevitable revolution in a positive light is reflected by the atmosphere he sets for the reader. Dickens is able to make his readers pity the peasantry and sympathize with them. Through inclusion of detail, Dickens portrays the plight of the lower class writing, “gloom [gathers] on the scene that [appears] more natural to it than sunshine” (21). This allows the reader to imply that the suffering of the lower class has fallen into a continuous pattern, and they can understand the need for revolution. Additionally, Dickens uses anaphora with the phrase “Hunger [is]” (21). This gives the reader a sense of how much hunger dominates and defines their lives, effectively making their

Utilitarianism and Charles Dickens - The Analysis of Impact of Utilitarianism in Hard Times towards Humanity

In Hard Times, Dickens presents life philosophies of three men that directly contradict each other. James Harthouse sees one’s actions in life as meaningless since life is so short. Mr. Gradgrind emphasizes the importance of fact and discourages fantasy since life is exactly as it was designed to be. Mr. Slearly exhibits that “all work and no play” will make very dull people out of all of us. He also proclaims that one should never look back on one’s life and regret past actions. Dickens is certainly advocating Sleary’s life philosophy because the subjects of the other two philosophies led depressing and unhappy lives. This is made clear when Louisa realises her childhood of fact without fancy has ruined her, when Tom’s life falls apart after leaving his father’s home in rejection of his strict parenting, and when Mr. Gradgrind himself realises the faults in his own philosophy and devotes the rest of his life to virtue and charity.

By having Sissy represent a life of fancy and fact, and Bitzer represents a life solely of fact than comparing the two Dickens is able to show the reader that facts may be nice to know, but someone can not only have facts without fancy. This is seen