Analysis of page 1 'Hard Times'
Analysis of page 1 'Hard Times' Chapter 1 'One thing needful' starts the book off by introducing Mr Gradgrind's character. The Chapter is set in the local school of Coketown; a small mining town. Set in the 1800's this book was first published in 1854. Some say this book reflected dickens own childhood more than fiction, much like 'David Copperfield'. Charles Dickens was born in 1812 and was the second of 8 children. He led an unprivileged childhood as his father was sent to jail for debt, this meant that Dickens briefly had to work at a blacking warehouse at the age of only twelve because of this. Dickens opens the chapter with speech; however he does not tell the reader who says this, thus creating suspense. In his first paragraph he includes the word 'facts' five times. Dickens uses this device, repetition, to emphasize a specific point. The speaker says; 'Facts alone are wanted in life'. This implies his opinions and views are very fixed and he is not open minded. This also connotes he is not open to new concepts and change. He highlights this point by saying; 'Stick to facts, sir'. He says this to the schoolmaster, advising him and almost to instruct him to do as he says. Dickens describes the school room as; 'plain', 'bare' and 'monotonous'. This gives the connotations of boredom and a stereotypical lecture theatre in a school. The word 'monotonous' would imply the
Charles Dickens wrote the novel 'Hard Times' in 1854. This novel expresses the extremity to which the children where under valued, especially women who were abused and used to attend to men's needs
Charles Dickens wrote the novel 'Hard Times' in 1854. This novel expresses the extremity to which the children where under valued, especially women who were abused and used to attend to men's needs. Children at this time were addressed by numbers not names and where not allowed to have an imagination. Everything taught to them was by fact. When a child was asked a question, a number would address them and an example from the novel is when Sissy was asked what a horse is and couldn't answer. Thomas Gradgrind asked Bitzer who answered, "Quadruped. Gramnivorous. Forty teeth, namely, twenty-four grinders, four eye-teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the spring; in marshy countries, shed hoof, too. Hoof hard but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth." This is how all knowledge was known and taught. In this novel there is a lot of lying and deceit, they use this only to benefit them selves and not others. The people of this time are selfish especially the men who treat women as lower class citizens. Hard Times is an example of Dickens's concern for social issues, but also his feelings in regard to the soul of the nation and how it was being affected by the industrial age. In the social theory of Utilitarianism, Dickens, who had a deep Christian faith, felt that a purely pragmatic view of human relations robbed humanity of its soul and overlooked the
Select 2 or 3 episodes involving the circus, and show by what means Dickens uses them to develop a contrast between opposing values in Hard Times.
Select 2 or 3 episodes involving the circus, and show by what means Dickens uses them to develop a contrast between opposing values in Hard Times. The first incident that involves the circus and circus people that I would like to talk about, and that clearly demonstrates the contrast between opposing values is on page 34 onwards. Mr Gradgrind, the absolute pinnacle of fact in the book, goes to visit the Circus people to tell them that the fanciful Sissy Jupe can no longer attend the school. I have chosen this incident as it involves more of the circus characters than really at any other time, secondly the description of the circus shows just how far from the world and values of fact it is. The circus is the best symbol for representing the alternative to all that is fact in the book; the circus is seen as a world of mystery and wonder almost of magic and idea that completely goes against the idea of facts. Gradgrind and Bounderby go to see Sissy's father only to find out he has abandoned his daughter, it is then that Mr Gradgrind decides on the possibility of taking Sissy to his own home, and educating her in the ways of fact from there. Mr Bounderby and Mr Gradgrind get together during this time and have a conference of opinions based upon the fact and laws they have always followed, Gradgrind being softer at heart but still the fact machine at this point wants to take
Hard Times: Stephen Blackpool has been described by Dickens as "A man of great integrity" Discuss this factor with reference to the text.
Stephen Blackpool has been described by Dickens as "A man of great integrity" Discuss this factor with reference to the text. The book Hard Times is a book written by Charles Dickens a man that Dickens described as a man with great integrity, is introduced in this book his name is Stephen Blackpool. Stephen Blackpool lives in the town of Coketown Dickens describes this town: "In the innermost fortification of that ugly citadel where nature was as strongly bricked out as killing airs and gases were bricked in". I think most people would agree that this is not a nice place to live in and it does not bring a nice town were the glissading sun rays were shining over every house, also the grass nourished and bright green as if it was just cut. No this is not the picture that comes to mind what this town looks like is a dark and damp place to live in were nobody would love to live only tramps living on the sidewalk and the air thick and poisons and pitch black as coal this was not a good place to live in not a place Dickens liked. Dickens hates the industrial revolution as it created a bad habitat also his father used to work in a factory which he died because of toxic fumes so you can tell that Dickens does not like this town. Stephen Blackpool is not a young man he is about in his forties and gray hair, he was not a clever person they would not call him smart he even had problems
In Bounderby Dickens portrays the New Gentleman of Victorian Society that was mercenary, self-serving and proud.
IN BOUNDERBY DICKENS PORTRAYS THE NEW GENTLEMAN OF VICTORIAN SOCIETY THAT WAS MERCENARY, SELF-SERVING AND PROUD A 19th century university once described a Victorian Gentleman as - "a person of nature and one who never inflicts pain". Dickens uses Bounderby in the novel "Hard Times" to make a mockery of the "Victorian Gentleman". Bounderby is seen as a Victorian gentleman, but it does not take too much analysis to appreciate that Bounderby is a fraud. Bounderby is a very proud man. He tells the story or his own raising from the gutter many times throughout the novel, this is a short extract from a conversation that he had with Mrs Sparsit in Book 1 Chapter 3 - "I passed the day in a ditch, and the night in a pigsty. That's the way I spent my twelfth birthday. Not that a ditch was new for me, as I was born in one." "I was so ragged and dirty, that you wouldn't have touched me with a pair of tongs." It is relevant that this is the first time we meet Bounderby he is telling of his hardships as a juvenile as first impressions are important. Dickens obviously wanted to give us the impression that Bounderby was inconsiderate and self-praising. This may have been Dickens way of suggesting that the social hierarchy in Victorian times was unreasonable. Not only does Bounderby constantly remind people of his bad childhood, but also he claims to have made it on his own - "Nobody to
What was Dickens’ view of Grangrinds’ School?
What was Dickens' view of Grangrinds' School? In the first chapter of the book Gradgrind's school is described as a 'plain, bare, monotonous vault', and this is clearly Dickens' perception of every aspect of the school. The schoolroom itself, described as a vault, does indeed have an airless, imaginationless quality to it. It is not a place for young minds to grow and develop; more a place where imaginations can be caught in the bud before they have a chance to flower, and the minds to be planted with bare, airless facts instead. The image of Gradgrind himself is an imposing and threatening one. Dickens' portrays him as a cartoon-like caricature, with seemingly no averagely human qualities at all. Much like a machine, Mr Gradgrind is programmed to perform certain tasks - filling both his own children and those at his school with facts, for example - and does not stray from those tasks to indulge in any fruitless imagination or thinking. He is an exceedingly odd looking man, and one feels that his appearance, as well as his personality, has been blown up into cartoon form to emphasise those features of his personality that Dickens' wants to draw to our attention. The 'wide, thin, and hard set' mouth and 'inflexible, dry, and dictatorial' voice emphasise his inflexibility, straightness and dictatorial nature; his inflexibility and machine-like manufactured qualities are
Look carefully at the opening two chapters of Hard Times and explain some of the ways in which Dickens' attitudes to education are presented.
Look carefully at the opening two chapters of Hard Times and explain some of the ways in which Dickens' attitudes to education are presented. Look in particular at: * Presentation of Gradgrind and M'Choakumchild. * Write about Sissy Jupe and how she contrasts with Bitzer. * Comment on the use of language and the distinction between narrative and direct speech for effect. 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
With Detailed References to two Conversations or Incidents from 'Hard Times' Examine how Effectively Dickens Presents the Character of 'Louisa' in his novel.
Aaron Scott 10a With Detailed References to two Conversations or Incidents from 'Hard Times' Examine how Effectively Dickens Presents the Character of 'Louisa' in his novel. In the novel 'Hard Times' Louisa is represented as a mechanical child brought up in her fathers model school. She doesn't show many feelings and only shows love for her brother I am going to show this by using reference from to conversations in the book. The first conversation I am going to use is the one between Louisa and her father over the proposal of marriage from Mr. Bounderby. In this conversation she keeps cool and doesn't show any emotions for Mr. Bounderby and asks her father if he is asking her to love Mr. Bounderby 'do you ask me too love Mr. Bounderby' the reason I think that she asks this question is because I don't think she can love because she was brought up in the model school and it was all about fact and not fancy. And also because she doesn't like Mr. Bounderby and only seems him as a friend of his fathers and a businessman. I think that she agrees to marry Mr. Bounderby because she does it for her brother because Tom wants a job at his bank and will go a long way in the bank if she is married to Mr. Bounderby. Mr. Gradgrind when he tells Louisa about the proposal of marriage he tries to make it into just another fact for her to tackle ' I would advise you to consider this question,
What are the de-humanising effects of the doctrine of fact from page 131-133 in 'Hard Times'?
What are the de-humanising effects of the doctrine of fact from page 131-133 in 'Hard Times'? Mr Gradgrind says ' is it satisfactory to me... to know that you do not come to the consideration of that question with the previous habits of mind, and habits of life, that belongs to many young women' in reference to fancy and emotion when deciding whether to marry Mr Bounderby or not. Later on in the page we are told that Louisa was ' compelled to throw herself upon his breast and give him the pent-up confidences of her heart'. However this doesn't happen because Mr Gradgrind fails to see it. This is because of the 'artificial barriers' that have been set up between him and his daughter and these barriers are primarily fact and his utilitarian views. It is a utilitarian view because he believes the decision should not be made based on the individual happiness of Louisa but on what will be best for everyone and therefore looking past her. It also is criticising Utilitarians and Mr Gradgrind through the use of dramatic irony in the sense that we see that Loo yearns to talk to her father but he doesn't and we are criticising his inability to see it. The barriers being set up are metaphorical barriers he has put between himself and his daughter emotionally to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The barriers are themselves blocking out 'subtle essences of
How does Dickens present his negative views on education in Victorian society?
How does Dickens present his negative views on education in Victorian society? Hard times was published in the heart of the industrial revolution, in 1854, when anything mechanical was at the heart of Britain. Coketown has an uncanny resemblance to Manchester being a Northern town thriving through the industrial revolution; Manchester was once described as Cottonopolis because of the masses of cotton it produced for a world market. In many ways this is the same as Mr Bounderby's textile factory. In terms of the social aspect of the industrial revolution it was harsh; people worked for very little wages and lived in tight, cramped conditions often riddled with disease. But for the wealthy this period of time was exciting, innovating and most importantly prosperous. These are the two main binary oppositions in the novel, the division of the rich and the poor. During this revolution it was not just the industry that was changing but education as well. Predominantly education was the talking point of the Victorian people, with different people having varying views on how children should be taught. Dickens was one of these people; he did not conform to the ideologies of the time especially when it came to education. He believed that children should be taught fiction and reality, rather than just reality. Charles Dickens wrote this book in order to convey to the contrary his