Dickens' Attitude Toward Education in Hard Times

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Dickens' Attitude Toward Education in Hard Times

Dickens wrote Hard Times in 1854, when the industrial revolution was

active. This influenced the way the book was written. In the first two

chapters of Hard Times, Dickens' attitudes to education are presented.

He uses two characters, Gradgrind and M'Choakumchild to show the bad

views of education and the opposition to Dickens' views. There is an

immediate tension between Dickens' way of thinking and Gradgrind's and

M'Choakumchild's. Gradgrind and M'Choakumchild call the children

vessels and do not use names but numbers. The children are allowed no

independent thought. While Bitzer is how he is "supposed" to be, Sissy

Jupe is free spirited and rebellious and exposes the contrast between

the two characters. Dickens' wrote Hard Times when society was

changing and opinion was frowned on and fact only was needed.

Gradgrind and M'Choakumchild are both introduced in the first two

chapters and are alike in some ways, e.g. they both believe facts are

all the children need, although the descriptions of the men are very

different. The second paragraph of the first chapter is the

introduction to Gradgrind and where he is described thoroughly and it

is detailed. He is first introduced and described as 'the speaker'.

Dickens' builds up the picture of Gradgrind by using repetition, he

keeps repeating "the emphasis". Dickens' way of building up the

picture is like using building blocks which are very square and plain

and Gradgrind is described as very square and plain. It could be

recognized as a simile. Dickens adds a climax and builds tension to

the portraying of Gradgrind. However there is a ba...

... middle of paper ...

... by and by, dost thou think that thou

wilt always kill outright the robber Fancy lurking within - or

sometimes only maim him and distort him!" this means you can fill the

children with knowledge but it will not matter.

On looking at the first two chapters of Hard Times, the ways of

education Dickens displayed is very different to school life today and

would not be acceptable in today's society. Children should be able to

show their capability and their imagination freely and to continue to

express this throughout not only their education but also their life.

Dickens uses Hard Times to criticise how the education system was and

how it could be made better. Dickens puts forth his real feelings.

Luckily, the education system has changed since the book was written

and children can have freedom, individuality and opinion.

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