Industrialisation in "Hard Times". The characters of Hard Times are all affected by Coketown and what it represents.
Richmond
Mary Richmond
John Lowery
ENG 460
May 6, 2012
Hard Times
Industrialization impacts everyone. The effects of industrialization can be felt on many levels; socially, financially, educationally, and health. The characters of Hard Times are all affected by Coketown and what it represents. Many of the characters learn something of themselves or what the effects of their actions have on the citizens of Coketown. Some of the characters are better off and some characters have chosen to ignore the life lessons presented to them.
One of the first characters the reader is introduced to is Sissy Jupe. Sissy is considered a poor girl, no education, and no prospects except to work in the factories. Sissy is in the school endorsed by Mr. Gradgrind. Mr. Gradgrind teaches facts and that all things can be explained by facts and reason, not emotions. One day in the school Sissy is called upon to answer a question. Mr. Gradgrind asks her name and decides she is too common and should be called Cecilia. He then proceeds to continue to call her by a number instead of her name. This further degrades Sissy. (pg. 12) Mr. Gradgrind decides that Sissy is no longer welcome at the school because she refuses to learn by fact and reason. On a visit to her house he find her father has run away and abandoned her. He decides to be charitable and takes her home to learn with his son and daughter. Sissy is distraught about the loss of her father but knows that her father was overjoyed at the fact she was accepted into the school. Sissy has the chance to work with a circus but goes with Mr. Gradgrind. Sissy’s father was a clown and was getting old. He could not work like he did before. His body was wearing down and he knew he would not be able to find work as anything else. His decision to abandon Sissy is an act of kindness and he believes Sissy will be better off without him. (pg. 52) Sissy’s position in society has greatly improved with this tragedy. While Sissy has lost her father she has improved her environment. She is introduced to two children (Mr. Gradgrind’s) that are higher in the society chain and is given a very comfortable living. Mr. Gradgrind decides to oversee Sissy’s education himself but soon sees it is a lost cause. Sissy is then assigned to Mrs. Gradgrind as a companion. Sissy’s life has improved because she will now not have to work in the dirty factories or traveling with a circus. While it is a shame she lost her father, her father was correct when he thought she would be better off without him.