Also the novel was separated further because it was serialised into weekly parts for a Victorian magazine. Consequently, each chapter was written to end on a cliff-hanger because this would have given the novel impact for a weekly reader. It also meant had to speed up the storyline to make the book more dramatic and make the reader ponder over what is to happen next.
The first chapter is significantly titled “the one needful thing”. Dickens employed this title to firstly summarise the chapter and secondly show his attitude towards education. He believed that the “one needful thing” in the teaching of children is creativity. Also the title has a biblical theme which again, would have instantly been noticed by a Victorian reader.
Throughout the first chapter there is strong repetition of various nouns. “Emphasis” and “facts” have been used a number of times to reinforce what Dickens is saying. The word “facts” was repeated each time with a capital letter to emphasise how important the educating of facts is to the teacher (Mr Grandgrind). However this over-emphasis makes it obvious to the reader that Dickens is satirically mocking the method of factual teaching.
Also the classroom is described as very dull and dreary by the use of adjectives like “monotonous” and “bare”. These words encapsulate the bad conditions in which the young children had to learn in. It also emphasises to the reader how impossible it was to learn to be imaginative and creative in such a dull scene.
What’s more is that Dickens typically describes characters in a vivid and thorough way. The adjectives “inflexible”, “dry” and “dictatorial” illustrates the monotonous tone of Mr Gradgrind to the reader. Also his “square legs” and “square shoulders” add to the harsh description and therefore makes the reader oppose to him. The repetition of adjectives to describe him reinforces a description of him and also reflects Mr Grandgrind as repetitive too. It is therefore clear that Dickens wants a bad impression of the teacher to be displayed.
The title “murdering the innocents” for chapter two has a double meaning. Firstly by using the title, Dickens is introducing his own opinion and stating Victorian education is “murdering” the imagination of “innocent” children. Secondly, it refers to the biblical story of innocent children being murdered. Both these meanings would have been significant to the reader. The biblical allusion would have been immediately been spotted by a religious, Victorian reader and this would have therefore gained there attention as they solely agreed with the bible.
During the first paragraph of chapter two, Mr Gradgrind introduces himself in a highly arrogant way. The short and snappy sentences like “A man of realities” display how direct he is; even to people he has never met before. Also the quote “always ready with a pair of scales” shows how narrow minded he is because he feels he can value everything and anything. Furthermore, it is clear he has no imagination when he quotes “two and two are four and nothing over”.
Dickens expects the reader to understand the detachment of Victorian teachers and understand how these types of people must affect a child’s creativity.
Dickens then progresses to describe Bitzer as “so light-haired” and “so light-eyed”. He also uses the metaphor “if he were cut he’d bleed white” to reinforce how repetitive lecturing of facts have somewhat drained life out of the boy. However this greatly contrasts with the description of Sissy Jupe. Her “dark eyes” and “lustrous” appearance show to the reader that she has not yet been altered by the unimaginative teaching. References to the sun with quotes like “the sun irradiated Sissy” reflects a feeling of warmth. Dickens used this contrast to display the benefits of creativity and that without it children will turn out to be cold and detached like Bitzer.
Later in the chapter, Dickens inserts his typical style of sarcasm into his writing. When asked to define a horse, Sissy could not reply using facts but with her imagination. However when asked, Bitzer replied with “Quadruped. Graminivorous. Sheds coat in the spring.” This detailed description indicates to the reader that the child’s only mental image of a horse consisted of facts. This contrasted with Sissy’s which would have been a vivid and creative one. This leads the reader to admire her because she is more original and imaginative.
Finally a satirical caricature; Mr M’Choakumchild enters the Novel towards the end of the chapter. Firstly his name reflects how his style of teaching is literally choking the life out of a child. Secondly Dickens mocks him metaphorically by stating he was produced in a “factory”. This implies to the reader that he is detached and similar to a machine which has been made repetitively without imagination. Dickens then pokes fun at him by directly stating his opinion in the quote “If he had only learnt a little less, how infinitely better he might have taught”. This also mocks and contradicts Mr M’Choakumchild’s views by stating that if he wasn’t so obsessed with facts he could teach much better.
Dickens had a very strong attitude towards education. He believed children should be taught less harshly with facts but with more creativity and imagination. He had sympathy towards them and he displayed this through the vibrant description of Sissy. The particularly warm description of her in chapter two shows his admiration for children with wilfulness and originality. He referred to her as “girl number twenty” to emphasise her innocence and to show to readers that it is wrong to treat and label children in such a way.
Throughout the two chapters Dickens includes very witty humour and sarcasm to entertain and amuse the reader. This was important as this would have gained peoples’ interest in his opinions. I believe Dickens’ ideas were very progressive for his time because his ideas and beliefs of what he thought was a good education are similar to the current style of education today.
