The Role of the Circus Folk in 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens

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The Role of the Circus Folk in 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens

The role of the circus is both complex and simple it is in itself a

contradiction; it has been placed within the novel to add another

dimension to the story of Coketown but also to show how fragile human

nature can be. The circus folks role are complicated in their

simplicity, they are of course there to carry out the role that they

are paid to perform as actors or performers as well as being there for

the second more complicated role of showing the notion of fancy within

the novel. It is this second role which this essay will strive to

discuss and discover.

There are many sides to the circus it is a multi talented organisation

all of the members perform more than one job they are multi skilled

workers who live and work together as a large extended family there is

affection and friendship in many ways and in many form. The idea of

the circus with its extended family and the multi job roles is a

contradiction to the ideas of Coketown and Gradgrind, within Coketown

all of the workers have singular job roles and job abilities, and they

are not multi talented instead they know only one job. It becomes

more and more apparent the role of the circus when the reader is faced

with this knowledge that Coketown and Gradgrind are interested only in

fact and that neither believes nor encourage emotion of any kind.

Indeed it is Gradgrind within the first line of the novel that tells

us as the reader the message he and Coketown carry “Facts alone are

wanted in life” (Charles Dickens: pg1, Hard Times, 1854). This is why

when the reader is first introduced to the concept of the circus i...

... middle of paper ...

...introducing the concept of the

circus Dickens has found a way of introducing love, affection and

fancy into a fact based town. It is the reappearance of the circus at

the end of the novel that finally brings the conclusion of Hard Times

when fact and fancy join together and ends the tale with a positive

ending.

Bibliography:

Barber, N, 2001 Dickens, Ticktock publishing ltd UK

ISBN 186007-2410

Delgado, A, 1971 Victorian Entertainment, Devon, WJ Holman Ltd/David

and Charles Publishers ltd

ISBN 071535163

Zipes, J, 1987, Victorian Fairytales; The revolt of the Fairies and

Elves, New York, Methuen and co Ltd

ISBN 041642080-x

Dickens Charles, 1854, Hard Times, New York, Oxford University Press

ISBN 01928336-7

Dickens, C and Rowland, P, 1988 My Early Times, London, The folio

Society

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