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Book Review
Feb. 28th, 2019 09:06 pmHard Times
by Charles Dickens
This shortest of Dickens novels revolves around the two Gradgrind children, Tom and Louisa, their father Mr. Gradgrind, and his associate Mr. Bounderby. If you've read any Dickens, you know that the character names indicate aspects of the personalities attached to them. Gradgrind is an adherent of a strict utilitarianism, caring only for facts and reason, with no room for fancy or sentiment. He brings up and educates his children accordingly, with disastrous results. Contrasted with the Gradgrinds are Stephen Blackpool and his friend Rachel, workers in the mills of Coketown, which are owned by Bounderby. Stephen and Rachel live lives of endless toil, yet hold on to their decency and ethics.
Hard Times is not only shorter but much less expansive than most other Dickens novels. The cast is much smaller and very little of the plot takes place outside the confines of Coketown. Yet all the hallmarks of Dickens are here: eccentric secondary characters, satire of Victorian mores, and a deep concern for the poor and working class. Dickens especially pokes fun at utilitarianism and obsessive allegiance to pragmatism. He also points up the hypocrisies of the self-made man and the politician. It's not Dickens' best, but still well worth reading for the critical light he sheds on nineteenth century light and thought.
by Charles Dickens
This shortest of Dickens novels revolves around the two Gradgrind children, Tom and Louisa, their father Mr. Gradgrind, and his associate Mr. Bounderby. If you've read any Dickens, you know that the character names indicate aspects of the personalities attached to them. Gradgrind is an adherent of a strict utilitarianism, caring only for facts and reason, with no room for fancy or sentiment. He brings up and educates his children accordingly, with disastrous results. Contrasted with the Gradgrinds are Stephen Blackpool and his friend Rachel, workers in the mills of Coketown, which are owned by Bounderby. Stephen and Rachel live lives of endless toil, yet hold on to their decency and ethics.
Hard Times is not only shorter but much less expansive than most other Dickens novels. The cast is much smaller and very little of the plot takes place outside the confines of Coketown. Yet all the hallmarks of Dickens are here: eccentric secondary characters, satire of Victorian mores, and a deep concern for the poor and working class. Dickens especially pokes fun at utilitarianism and obsessive allegiance to pragmatism. He also points up the hypocrisies of the self-made man and the politician. It's not Dickens' best, but still well worth reading for the critical light he sheds on nineteenth century light and thought.
