Analysis of the Credibility of Characters in Charles Dickens' Hard Times

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Analysis of the Credibility of Characters in Charles Dickens' Hard Times

Hard times was written in 1854 by Charles Dickens. Dickens was a

prominent Victorian novelist who wrote about the society that

surrounded him. He was educated and middle-class but had some sympathy

with the way poor people were treated. He was critical of

utilitarianism and felt that those in power showed little

understanding of the poor. His sympathy with the poor stemmed from his

childhood and his father's inability to stay out of debt. Hard Times

is Dickens' shortest novel and is considered by many to be a satire,

the story revolves around the hard-headed disciplinarian Mr Thomas

Gradgrind. Through the thinking of this character, Dickens examines

the utilitarian philosophy of the time and exposes some of the

hypocrisy of those in positions of power.

The novel is set in the fictional city of Coketown. The city may be

based on Dickens' own experiences of Preston where the industries and

factories are similar to those of Coketown.

''A town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the

smoke and ashes had allowed it.''

In the very first paragraph of the first chapter we are introduced to

the principles of Thomas Gradgrind

"Now what I want is facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but

facts. Facts alone are wanted in life."

These principles not just forced upon the reader from the very start

but we are told they are forced upon Gradgrind's children and all the

children of the school. Right away, the reader is given an insight

into the workings of Coketown and to Dickens excessive use of

hyperbole. The word "emphasis" is repeated six...

... middle of paper ...

...town in order to clear his

name, he fell down a disused mine which is symbolically named 'Old

Hell Shaft,' this is another reference by Dickens to the evils of

those in positions of power especially in large corporations and

industry.

Dickens, using certain characters to represent different philosophical

beliefs has raised in status the altruistic school of thought. He has

also used his exaggerated style, wit and irony to indirectly attack

the utilitarian beliefs and the lack of understanding shown by those

in positions of power. The characters have not been developed through

the book. They are artificial, merely representing philosophical

ideas; they are never given any depth or humanity. They appear thin

and are merely ciphers in a social tract. The wheel has turned a

complete revolution by the end of the book.

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