Charles Dickens, Hard Times
General questions
Explain the title or indicate the link between the title and the story.
The title of Hard Times is significant because it shows exactly that: that the majority of the people in
England, particularly those in the working classes, really were having a hard time. Take Gradgrind, for
example, the businessman and superintendent who believes that the pursuit of profit is the most
important thing in life. Through his character, Dickens demonstrates that life for many children was
made miserable due to a lack of creative and emotional opportunities.
Similarly, through Josiah Bounderby and his "Hands," Dickens presents the harsh realities of life for
people in industrial towns, like Coketown. These people really did experience "hard times" since they
were exploited by factory bosses, like Bounderby, through low pay and long hours.
In this novel, even characters belonging to higher social classes experience hard times. Louisa, for
instance, ends up marrying Bounderby and becoming trapped in a loveless marriage.
Identify the major motifs or themes addressed in the portrayal of the
central character/characters or groups in the novel.
Industrialization
Humanity gets lost in industrial Coketown as business owners ignore poor working conditions.
Industrialization is shown in the working class – for example in (Slackridge and) Blackpool – as well as
in the upper-class of business owners – which would be in Bounderby and Gradgrind.
Blackpool and Rachael live a virtuous life, but other workers seek escape from daily toil. The worst
result of this need to escape is visible in Blackpool’s wife, whose original personality is lost because of
her alcoholism.
The contrast between Bounderby and Blackpool illustrates how industrial society is structured to
limit economic opportunities. If a man is born with a little bit of wealth, he may be able to grow that
wealth, but if a man has nothing, he is likely to remain with nothing. Blackpool works in a factory and
has little in his life beyond his work. He lacks the funds to divorce his alcoholic wife. He is subject as
well to exploitation and scorn because he refuses to join the union, but in his courageous refusal to
sell out his co-workers who do join, he is fired. He dies because the industrial system denies him the
financial resources to defend himself against accusations of a crime he did not commit.
Reason and Imagination
The teachers and masters at Mr. Gradgrind's school present factual knowledge and adherence to
pure reason as the keys to a successful and satisfying life. Characters such as Mr. Gradgrind and Mr.
Bounderby aim not only to teach their students the value of facts but to eliminate any sign of
imagination because in their narrow worldview these ideas have no value.
However, Louisa Gradgrind's emotional collapse and the dissolution of her marriage illustrate the
flaws in such an unbalanced approach to living. She is unable to cope with her emotions because she
has never been exposed to the art, literature, or creative thought that might have helped her
develop and live with feelings. Sissy’s experience illustrates the importance of imagination as well.
Her education in reason does provide her with economic opportunities that give her a stable and
happy life, but her early years in the circus give her an emotional grounding that prepares her for
adulthood. She has gained strength and balance because her education in facts has been tempered
General questions
Explain the title or indicate the link between the title and the story.
The title of Hard Times is significant because it shows exactly that: that the majority of the people in
England, particularly those in the working classes, really were having a hard time. Take Gradgrind, for
example, the businessman and superintendent who believes that the pursuit of profit is the most
important thing in life. Through his character, Dickens demonstrates that life for many children was
made miserable due to a lack of creative and emotional opportunities.
Similarly, through Josiah Bounderby and his "Hands," Dickens presents the harsh realities of life for
people in industrial towns, like Coketown. These people really did experience "hard times" since they
were exploited by factory bosses, like Bounderby, through low pay and long hours.
In this novel, even characters belonging to higher social classes experience hard times. Louisa, for
instance, ends up marrying Bounderby and becoming trapped in a loveless marriage.
Identify the major motifs or themes addressed in the portrayal of the
central character/characters or groups in the novel.
Industrialization
Humanity gets lost in industrial Coketown as business owners ignore poor working conditions.
Industrialization is shown in the working class – for example in (Slackridge and) Blackpool – as well as
in the upper-class of business owners – which would be in Bounderby and Gradgrind.
Blackpool and Rachael live a virtuous life, but other workers seek escape from daily toil. The worst
result of this need to escape is visible in Blackpool’s wife, whose original personality is lost because of
her alcoholism.
The contrast between Bounderby and Blackpool illustrates how industrial society is structured to
limit economic opportunities. If a man is born with a little bit of wealth, he may be able to grow that
wealth, but if a man has nothing, he is likely to remain with nothing. Blackpool works in a factory and
has little in his life beyond his work. He lacks the funds to divorce his alcoholic wife. He is subject as
well to exploitation and scorn because he refuses to join the union, but in his courageous refusal to
sell out his co-workers who do join, he is fired. He dies because the industrial system denies him the
financial resources to defend himself against accusations of a crime he did not commit.
Reason and Imagination
The teachers and masters at Mr. Gradgrind's school present factual knowledge and adherence to
pure reason as the keys to a successful and satisfying life. Characters such as Mr. Gradgrind and Mr.
Bounderby aim not only to teach their students the value of facts but to eliminate any sign of
imagination because in their narrow worldview these ideas have no value.
However, Louisa Gradgrind's emotional collapse and the dissolution of her marriage illustrate the
flaws in such an unbalanced approach to living. She is unable to cope with her emotions because she
has never been exposed to the art, literature, or creative thought that might have helped her
develop and live with feelings. Sissy’s experience illustrates the importance of imagination as well.
Her education in reason does provide her with economic opportunities that give her a stable and
happy life, but her early years in the circus give her an emotional grounding that prepares her for
adulthood. She has gained strength and balance because her education in facts has been tempered
