"He was..a man of perfect integrity. What more he was, or what else
he had in him, if anything, let him show for himself".
Stephen, though kind and giving, does not seem happy in his life. He, like Harthouse, seems to have little motivation. However, in contrast to Harthouse, who has no morals and thus no motivation, Stephen has been continuously ground down by life; physically and mentally worn by the constraints of a working-class existence. He seems to have subconsciously given up even trying to pursue his right for a better life, accepting his situation with a kind of quiet submission. In a way, Stephen's kindness is partly to blame for his unhappiness. It could be argued that he hasn't fought hard enough for the things he wants; for example, he is not actually a member of the worker's union. Stephen has a tendency to seem meek and quite passive. He seems gentle but is often depicted with too much sentimentality. It is almost frustrating the way that Stephen simply accepts that he cannot be with Rachael, and must remain in a loveless marriage, when it is clear that he is unhappy (though of course, moral conventions differed in Victorian times, meaning people had a different view of marriage and its connotations). Stephen's unhappiness is reflected in his sometimes confused tone; "'Tis a muddle, and that's aw",
and his angst often manifests itself physically in his strange mannerisms;
"..he was biting the long ends of his loose neckerchief as he walked along".
His confusion is also obvious in the sequence describing his strange dream, in which Coketown is a representation of hell. Stephen sees his life as a kind of hell.
In comparison to Stephen Blackpool, Sissy Jupe is an important character because she is 'good' but does not seem perfect. She somehow has a real depth of character which makes her believable, and we admire her for this. Sissy grew up with the circus people, who could be described as characters who do not seem entirely convincing. They are somewhat idealised; it is difficult to believe that a group of people who work in a circus, and were, in Victorian times, considered outside the bounds of
ordinary society, could be so kind, welcoming and forth-coming:
"...there was a remarkable gentleness and childishness
about these people, a special inaptitude for any kind
of sharp practice, and an untiring readiness to help and pity
one another...."
They may not be completely realistic, but the circus people do provide an important comparison to Gradrind, in that their lives contradict all Gradgrind believes in; they are a representation of frivolity, spontaneity and unity. The kindness of Sleary's character has helped Sissy to develop into a
generous character, and as she grows, it becomes clear that she has many of the same values as the circus people. Sissy's background is important as it has provided her with a knowledge of life, and growing up surrounded by the circus characters has given her a sense of integrity.
In the novel there are those who are admirable and good, and those who are deceiving, cruel and tyrannical, and the stark contrast between them provides the novel with interest. The good characters are used to provide a useful contrast. The comparison between Rachael, a saintly women, venerated
to the point of holiness, and his almost beastial wife highlights the desperation of Stephen's situation, while the contrast between the relationship of Louisa and Bounderby with that of Stephen and Rachael
promotes the idea of a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding over convenience. It is sadly ironic in the way that the two people who are truly in love are prevented from being together by the rules of the social system, while Louisa, who is clearly reluctant, has been forced into a marriage by the expectations of the same society.
Some characters in the novel are often sentimentalized and therefore sometimes do not seem believable. However, the novel is ultimately a satirical one, which is meant to make a point, and it is perhaps therefore more fitting that the 'good' characters are slightly exaggerated, in order to emphasize the dishonourable characteristics of people such as Harthouse. They are a kind of rebellion against the monotony of the utilitarian system, and Dickens uses them as an example. He uses Stephen in particular to promote character and integrity over learning. The good characters are not necessarily meant to be a naturalistic rendition of human personalities, but are instead use to provide the novel with interest in the form of contrasting attitudes and beliefs.
