Name : Nidhi P. Jethava
Paper :
Roll No – 14
Enrollment no. -306920200009
Email id – jethavanidhi8@gmail.com
Batch – 2020-22 ( MA SEM-1)
Submitted to – S.B. Gardi Department
of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
About Charles Dickens :-
(Dickens was
born near Portsea, where his father was a clerk in the Navy Pay Office,
Charles, the second of eight children, was a delicate child, and much of his
boyhood was spent at home, where he read the novels of Smollett, Fielding, and
Le Sage.) The works of these writers were to influence his own novels very
deeply. At an early age also he became very fond of the theatre, a fondness
that remained with him all his life, and affected his novels to a great extent.
In 1823 the Dickens family removed to London, where the father, an improvident
man of the Micawber type, soon drew them into money difficulties. The schooling
of Charles, which had all along been desultory enough, was temporarily
suspended. The boy for a time worked in a blacking factory while his father was
an inmate of the debtors' prison of the Marshalsea. After a year or so
financial matters improved; the education of Charles was resumed; then in 1827
he entered the office of an attorney, and in time became an expert
shorthand-writer. This proficiency led (1832) to an appointment as reporter on
the evening paper the True Sun, and later (1834) on The Morning Chronicle. In
this capacity he did much travelling by stage-coach, during which a keen eye
and a retentive memory stored material to exploit a greatness yet undreamed of.
Previously, in 1833, some articles which he called Sketches by Boz had appeared
in The Monthly Magazine. They were brightly written, and attracted some notice.
In 1836 they were collected and published in two volumes. In 1836 Messrs
Chapman and Hall, a firm of publishers, had agreed to produce in periodical
form a series of sketches by Seymour, a popular black-and-white artist. The
subjects were of a sporting and convivial kind, and to give them more general
interest some story was needed to accompany them. Dickens was requested to
supply the 'book,' and thus originated The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick
Club (1836-37). Before the issue of the second number of the prints Seymour
committed suicide, and Hablot K. Browne, who adopted the name of' Phiz,'
carried on the work. His illustrations are still commonly adopted for Dickens's
books.
The Pickwick
Papers was a great success; Dickens's fame was secure, and the rest of his life
was that of a busy and successful novelist. He lived to enjoy a reputation that
was unexampled, surpassing even that of Scott; for the appeal of Dickens was
wider and more searching than that of the Scottish novelist. He varied his work
with much travelling--among other places to America (1842), to Italy (1844), to
Switzerland (1846), and again to America (1867). His popularity was exploited
in journalism, for he edited The Daily News (1846), and founded Household Words
(1849) and All the Year Round (1859). In 1858 Dickens commenced his famous
series of public readings. These were actings rather than readings, for he
chose some of the most violent or affecting scenes from his novels and
presented them with full-blown histrionic effect. The readings brought him much
money, but they wore him down physically. They were also given in America, with
the greatest success. He died in. his favourite house, Gad's Hill Place, near
Rochester, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
About
the novel ‘Hard Times’ :-
Hard Times was Dickens’s tenth novel.
It first appeared in Dickens’s weekly periodical, Household Words.
It was published in installments that began in April of 1854 and ran through
August of that year.
Hard Times is unlike the rest of his
novels in several ways.
Hard Times is the shortest published novel
by Charles Dickens. Only Hard
Times and Great
Expectations were originally issued without illustrations. Hard Times is
the only novel by Dickens not to have scenes set in London. Instead, it
takes place in the fictional Coketown.
Hard
Times – Dickens’s Life At The Time
·
In 1852 – The publication of Bleak House begins.
His son, Edward or “Plorn”, is
born.
·
During 1853 – Dickens gives his first public
reading of one of his works.
·
Hard Times is published in 1854.
·
Dickens has a disappointing reunion with
Maria Winter (Maria Beadnell) in
1855. Publication of Little Dorrit begins.
·
In 1856 Dickens works with Wilkie Collins on The Frozen Deep. Dickens purchases Gad’s Hill Place.
·
Hans Christian Anderson is entertained at Gad’s Hill Place in
1857. Dickens meets Ellen Ternan.
Household Words
Hard Times was originally published in the
weekly magazine, Household Words. The magazine was edited by
Dickens from March of 1850 until May of 1859.
The original format for Household
Words did not include serialized fiction. However, Dickens
reconsidered his plan after the magazine’s circulation dropped. Hoping for
increased magazine sales, he serialized Hard Times in Household
Words. His new plan worked. The circulation of Household
Words more than doubled.
Just as the novel had an effect on the
magazine, the magazine had an effect on the novel.
Household Words was a magazine with limited
space. Dickens wrote to his friend Forster, “The difficulty of space is
CRUSHING.”
In order to make Hard Times fit
within the magazine, Dickens made Hard Times his shortest
novel. It does not feature the prolonged humorous or sentimental scenes
that are in many of his novels.
Critical Analysis of ‘Hard Times’
Charles Dickens’ Hard Times focuses on the
numerous relationships and interactions between characters, and the impact that
people have on the behaviour of others. It is evident throughout the novel that
several of these relationships are one-sided, in the sense that they are merely
in the interest of one of the two parties. For instance, Tom’s influence over
Louisa allows him to manipulate her for his own good. Similarly, James Harthouse’s
pursuit of Louisa’s affection is not out of love, but simply out of
aristocratic boredom. Rachel’s influence on Stephen Blackpool allows him to
maintain his integrity and honour. Finally, Sissy Jupe’s impact on the
Gradgrind family is all give and no take, as her broad imagination allows the
family to finally realize that life is not merely about the theory of fact.
The most obvious example of a one-sided
relationship in Hard Times is the one between siblings Tom and Louisa. This
relationship is far from mutually beneficial, as Tom continually takes
advantage of his sister, solely for his own interests. The constant teachings
of fact have made Tom’s life empty and mundane. Although Tom is tempted by
creativity of the circus, he displays little emotion upon being disciplined by
his father: “Indeed, Thomas did not look at him, but gave himself up to be
taken home like a machine” (15). Due to the constant strict teachings of fact
by his father, Mr. Gradgrind, Tom begins to grow tired of this way of life. His
interest in the circus is symbolic of his desire to detach from his father and
his dull existence. By embracing a somewhat hedonistic lifestyle, frequently
drinking and gambling, Tom finds a sense of freedom. He wants to escape the
dull lifestyle and teachings of the Gradgrind household and experience a new
way of life. Tom and Louisa love each other deeply; however, Tom uses his
sister’s love for him in order to manipulate her to do as he desires. Louisa’s
strict upbringing prevents her from truly questioning Tom’s motives, allowing
for her brother to take advantage of Louisa’s love for him by manipulating her
into marrying Bounderby for his own gain. As Tom’s requests grow in number and
in nature, the two grow further apart. The relationship shared by the two is
filled with affection at the beginning of the novel, but Tom’s selfishness
tears the relationship apart. He keeps Louisa in the dark regarding the bank
robbery and, ultimately, his focus on materialism outweighs his feelings for
his sister. Tom’s boredom with his lifestyle leads to radical changes in his
attitude. A similar boredom leads James Harthouse to pursue Louisa’s love.
Dickens uses the character of James Harthouse
to poke fun at the aristocracy at the time. Harthouse comes to Coketown with
the intention of entering the world of politics and embracing Gradgrind’s
theory of fact, simply out of boredom with his current life. He is a refined
and wealthy gentleman from London, but as the old saying goes, ‘money doesn’t
buy happiness’, leaving Harthouse constantly searching for new ways to amuse
himself. Upon hearing about Louisa Gradgrind, he immediately makes it his
primary goal to seduce the young woman. Although Louisa is resistant, this
makes her even more attractive to him. She is so intriguing to him because of
her uniqueness. She represents a new blend of beauty and intelligence, and her
knowledge of economics is unparalleled. By discussing Tom’s gambling debts with
Louisa, he exploits one of her main weaknesses, her unconditional love for her
brother. He merely uses Tom’s predicament to exploit Louisa’s inexperience in
interpersonal relationships. Although Harthouse’s pursuit of her helps lead to
her eventual break-up with Bounderby, Sissy Jupe saves Louisa from the selfish,
controlling Harthouse, when she demands that he leaves Coketown: “He was
touched in the cavity where his heart should have been – in that nest of addled
eggs, where the birds of heaven would have lived if they had not been whistled
away – by the fervor of this reproach” (275). This passage exemplifies
Harthouse’s lack of purpose in life. His great wealth and position as an
aristocrat prevents him from every finding true love, as he will simply grow
tired of stability. His lack of reluctance in leaving Coketown demonstrates how
little Louisa truly means to Harthouse. Harthouse’s pursuit of Louisa is more
of a quest for him to pass the time than it is about finding true love. His
departure from Coketown reveals the little care he has for the feelings of
others, as well as his selfishness and immorality. This is completely contrary
to the relationship between Stephen Blackpool and Rachel.
Stephen Blackpool is the quintessential example
of a considerate and moral individual. Although he is forced to combat the
difficult working conditions and dehumanizing lifestyle of a factory worker
during the Industrial Revolution, Stephen maintains his morality and honesty,
with the help of Rachel. Stephen’s home, which originally serves as a safe
haven from the long working days, is taken over by his alcoholic wife, forcing
Blackpool to drift around Coketown. Blackpool’s inability to acquire a divorce
from his misery of a wife prevents him from moving away from his past troubles,
but Rachel provides him with glimmers of hope and happiness, leading to him
calling her his angel. She is the complete opposite of his current wife,
displaying qualities of compassion and sensitivity. The epiphanic moment in the
relationship between the two occurs when Rachel prevents Stephen’s wife from
killing herself. Stephen wakes up and sees his wife ready to drink poison;
however, he is psychologically unable to get up and prevent her from doing so:
“All this time, as if a spell were on him, he was motion-less and powerless,
except to watch her” (102). In that moment, Stephen’s frustration and sadness
with his life overrides his usual strong morals. The stress his wife places
upon him leaves him unable to control his desire to see her deceases or harmed.
He is unable to bring himself to stop his wife from committing suicide, yet
Rachel is. In doing so, Rachel motivates Stephen to uphold his strong character
and honor, despite the hard times. Rachel cares for his wife and plays a vital
role in pushing Stephen to pursue his legitimate interests as both a worker and
a gentleman. While his fellow workers abandon Stephen due to his beliefs about
the union, Rachel supports him until the very end, when he dies essentially for
Tom’s crime. Although Stephen’s death allows him to escape from his dreadful
marriage, he leaves Rachel alone and saddened. Rachel is the driving force
behind Stephen’s actions in the novel and allows him to maintain his true
beliefs and morals about work and life. Much as Rachel encourages Stephen to
pursue his true beliefs, Sissy Jupe enlightens the Gradgrind family of imagination
and thinking.
Sissy Jupe’s impact on the Gradgrind family is the most important
relationship in the novel. The strict teachings of Thomas Gradgrind turn the
household into one giant machine of fact, whereas Sissy’s upbringing in the
circus has allowed for her constant indulgence in imagination. The contrast
between Louisa and Sissy in clear; Louisa has been forced to think with her
head, while Sissy thinks with her heart. Louisa hasn’t been allowed to be
passionate about anything, and her submergence in fact has contained her desire
for freedom. Sissy plays a vital role in enabling Louisa to reveal the warm and
passionate qualities she has inside of her, despite being brought up in such as
cold atmosphere. In fact, Sissy’s romantic way of thinking eventually allows
the entire Gradgrind household to realize that there is more to life than
merely fact. Thomas Gradgrind is initially disappointed by the circus
entertainers and they represent imagination and idealism. These entertainers
use their imaginations to find happiness, something that has always been
lacking in the Gradgrind household. Sissy’s vast imagination and optimism is
displayed by her belief that her father has abandoned her only to try and
improve Sissy’s life. She expresses these sentiments to herself, maintain the
belief that her father will one day return to her: “O my dear father, my good
kind father, where are you gone ? Tou are goue to try to do me some good, I
know! Tou are gone away for my sake, I am sure. And how miserable and helpless
you will be without me, poor, poor father, until you come back!” (44). Sissy’s
belief that he father has left the circus for her well-being starkly contrasts
with Gradgrind’s teaching of fact. That being said, this attitude epitomizes
Sissy’s hopeful way of thinking, which eventually brushes off on the Gradgrind
household. Not only does Sissy help Tom find refuge with her old circus
entertainers, but she also helps Mrs. Gradgrind recognize the void that has
existed forever within their family, the lack of imagination within the
household. While Mrs. Gradgrind is unable to clearly express this before her
death, she recognizes these qualities in Sissy. Mr. Gradgrind ultimately finds
out that his emphasis on fact has denied his family happiness for many years.
Gradgrind accepts the fact that his teachings did not produce happiness;
therefore, he appoints Sissy to aid in Louisa’s development as an individual.
With Sissy’s help, Louisa is on the road to developing the ideal balance of
fact and imagination.
Conclusion :-
To conclude, Dickens’ novel discusses the social impact of the
Industrial Revolution and the dehumanization of workers by machines. Much like
the repetitive actions involved in working in factories dull the lives of the
workers, the teachings of fact prevent characters from reaching their full
potential. Louisa’s inability to express herself prevents her from stopping
Tom’s exploitation of her love for him. Similarly, Louisa needs Sissy Jupe to
send James Harthouse away from Coketown, as her cold upbringing has limited her
ability to interact with others. Stephen Blackpool is the best example of an
individual who has been dehumanized by the stress and working conditions of
being a ‘hand’ during the Industrial Revolution. Only with the help of his
so-called angel, Rachel, is he able to maintain his morality and strong values.
Finally, Sissy Jupe is arguably the most important character in the novel. Her
impact on the Gradgrind family is extreme, as she allows Mr. and Mrs. Gradgrind
to recognize that imagination is the key to happiness, not fact. While the
relationships throughout the novel are often one-sided, the influence that each
character has over others is essential in the demise of fact and the rise of
critical thinking.
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Edward. History of English Literatutre. Ed. J.A.
Stone. New Delhi, 1997.
2."Charles Dickens Hard Times
Analysis." ukessays.com. 11 2018. UKEssays. 02 2021
3.Dickens, Charles, Jeff Nunokawa, and
Gage McWeeny. Charles Dickens' Hard Times. New York: Pearson Longman,
2004.
4.Kelly, Joh. "Do hard times
equal good art ?" BBC News (2010).
5.Schlicke, Paul. "Hard Times : fact and fancy ." British Library (2014).
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