Paper : 104 Assignment :
Male Characters in the Novel 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens
Name - Hina Parmar
Batch - M.A. Sem 1 (2022-2024)
Enrollment no - 40692064202221
Roll no - 11
Subject code - 22395
Paper no - 104
Paper - Literature of the Victorians
Email address - hinaparmar612@gmail.com
Submitted to - Smt.S.B. Gardi Department of English M.K.B.U.
Date of submission - 7 th November, 2022
I am going to write this blog as an assignment given by Dr.Dilip Barad sir H.O.D of English Department M.K.B.U. In this blog I write about Charles Dickens and evaluate male characters in his novel "Hard Times".
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens was one of the most important novelists of the Victorian age. He was also a significant author of the nineteenth century, which was considered the Victorian age. He wrote literary works in all genres in his time. He was born near portsea in 1812, where his father was a clerk in the Navy Pay Office. He was the second child of eight, he was a delicate child. Much of childhood was spent at home., where he read the novels of Smollett, Fielding, and Le saga. These writers influence him most to write novels. At a very early age he spent his attention in theater which affected his novel deeply. He was also the
“most beloved and distinctive novelist”
In many of his works he considered as-
“His genius style in creating stories makes his novels among the most known writings in England”
In 1823 his family removed to London and soon they faced many difficulties because they didn't have enough money. After some time when his financial status improved, he started his education and in 1827 he entered the office of an attorney. That time he became an expert shorthanded writer. In 1833, some articles appeared in 'The Monthly Magazine' which he called 'Sketches by Boz '. They were collected in 1836 and published in two volumes.
One of his great successes was 'Pickwick Papers' because of this his fame was secured and the rest of his life was successful as a novelist. Wordsworth applied his hand in journalism, for he edited The Daily News in 1846 , and founded 'Household Works' in 1849 and another one was 'All the year Round' in 1859.
Dickens was one of the novelists who knows the hearts of most people of his age. He was a writer who can find a capable place in the hearts of people, because he raised important issues of that time. He was considered a reformer who is familiar with the demanding issues of his age. and the ways of tackling those issues. He respects every character which he creates, as well as his letters seem necessary. Dickens was aware about all important issues of his time because he participated in every social activity and he noticed everything that was happening around him. He raises his voice for many social things like education, public health, and aso for crime. He wanted to reform society, that's why he was called a Reformer.
Cunningham's thoughts about him were , "both in his lifetime and afterwards, Dickens had a reputation as a reformer. Many have credited him with creating the climate of opinion that facilitated the reforms in education, public health, and criminal law that helped to make Britain a safer and less strife-ridden society"
His Novels
He wrote many novels, in his novels he usually represents the society of that time, like religion, the education system of society, and their beliefs on several things.
His novels include are below in table
In these novels the readers may see
“the social history of nineteenth century England”
Male Characters in the novel 'Hard Times'
'Hard Times' novel was written by Charls Dickens. This novel was published in 1854. This was Charles Dickens' shortest novel. In this novel Dickens describes hardship and struggle of common people of that time. He shows their social and ecological condition that man and woman individuals face many struggles, they have to work hard for minimum wages. That was the time of industrialism, the industrial revolution happened in that time, and in this time workers worked in factories like their hands. In this novel mr. Bounderby called his workers "hand". Charles Dickens recalled the story of mr. Gradgrind, mr. Bounderby and other characters in this novel.
In this novel there were many male characters who usually thought everything in a practical way, they didn't think about their emotions. They mostly believe that money and power can bring happiness. In this novel most of womens are controlled by men except the character Cecelia Jupe. In this novel mr. Thomas Gradgrind strongly believes in facts, he believes that fact is more important than emotions and imagination, and he applies this in the marriage of his daughter Louisa, his daughter never thinks for herself because his father never allows her. He made every decision of her life according to her father.
In this novel male characters mostly believe in realistic words, they never think about others emotions.
Male characters of this Novel-
Mr. Thomas Gradgrind
Mr. Gradgrind is an intellectual person . He was a person who strongly believed in facts, all the time he put lessons of facts in his students' respective minds. He was the founder of the Gradgrind educational system, and he is also a member of Parliament. He represents the rigor of "hard facts" and statistics. He also applied this thought in his daughter's marriage. But she breaks down because of her marriage and cried in his lap,because of this he has a change of heart and becomes more intellectually accepting of enterprises that are not exclusively dedicated to profit and fact.
His character was characterized as a very realistic oriented man who greatly discourages the use of imagination and dreams for living human life. He thought that reality was a thing that doesn’t need imagination as it only makes it hard and results in failure. His interests are mainly to receive money and power which he thinks will bring him success and comfort more than anything. “Mr. Gradgrind keeps telling Louisa to“never wonder”. He taught his children they are machines that have to learn all things everytime, memorize everything, and analyze figures, numbers and facts.
He never taught his children about morality, he did his daughter's marriage with a rich man. Who is older than his daughter but he had bank balance and wealth. He also thought about his son's guarantee that mr. Bounderby gave him a job in his bank. In all this, Louisa, who is his daughter, suffers a lot, because she doesn't love mr.Bounderby, she marries him because of her father.
Mr. Bounderby
He was an important character in this novel. In this novel he was a notable character and he was a ruthless person towards his employees. He did many things with his money, he employs people, destroys people's families and marries a girl who is much younger than him. He exploits other people to gain his personal needs like he knows that father wants to be a member of parliament that's why he is trying to be a companion to fulfill.his desire to marry his daughter louisa. He marries her but he fails to give her love and he can't be a suitable husband. He thinks that he bought her with his financial power, not because of her charm.
Bitzer
Another male character of this novel is Bitzer. He is a classmate of Tom, Louisa and Sissy. He was a very clever student and he memorized all the facts which were taught by mr. Gradgrind. He was a clever student in his school life but as a young adult he worked as a clerk in Bounderby's bank, and he unsuccessfully apprehends Tom as the thief.
Stephen Blackpool
Stephen Blackpool is poor labor. He work in Josiah Bounderby's factories. He was unhappy with his marriage because he married a woman who was always drunken and wandered in and out of his life. He always have to handle her by himself. Nobody there for support him. In this novel he ask for help to mr.Bounderby, but he refused him and he says that dont ask me for any help. That was the time if person was rich he can devorce his wife, but poor man could not afford that amount. He losing his job at the factory, Stephen is forced to leave Coketown and find work elsewhere. In his absence, Stephen is accused of committing a crime that he did not actually commit.
When he returns to Coketown he has to defend for his honor, Stephen falls into a pit and injures himself. He is rescued but he dies.
Tom Gradgrind
In this novel Tom is a referred to as "the whelp." He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gradgrind. He got a job at mr. Bounderby's factory because of his sister Louisa. He was worked as employee of Mr. Bounderby. He is resentful towards his sister, Louisa, his sister married to mr. Bounderby because his brother could be financially independent. She was kinds toward him. He steals money from his safe in the bank and then announces the loss as a true theft. He wanted to run aways with all the money but in the end, he was caught by police, they came to know that he was the real thief. He is forced to hide somewhere, and Mr.sleary helps him to run away. At the end of this novel he dies overseas and full of regrets. He has many regrets in his entire life.
James "Jem" Harthouse
James Harthous was the younger brother of a member of Parliament, He has agreed to spend some time teaching in the Gradgrind's school. He is a lazy and immodest person and he fell in love with Louisa. She also has feelings towards him, but she didn't marry him.
Signor Jupe
Signor Jupe was the trainer of horse. He gave performance in circus. He is the father of Cecilia. He sends her daughter on an errand to "fetch the nine oils" as an ointment for his aching muscles. When she returns to their lodging, he is gone, he left his daughter. He had one dream that his daughter went to school, and she studied there, but he left his daughter. When mr. Gradgrind visited the circus; he brought cecelia jupe with him, and took all responsibility on himself.
Mr. Sleary
He was one of the life living character in this novel. He was the manager of a traveling circus. When mr. Gradgrind visited the circus and he came to know that Cecilia's father left her, he took all responsibility. Mr. Sleary provides Sissy to mr. Gradgrind. he also assists Tom's escape at the novel's end. He helped Tom to escape the country.
Conclusion
We can say that this novel by Charles Dickens represents the society of his time, and describes how people follow ruthless things that are not as important as the emotions of humans. In this novel mr. Gradgrind was a very strict person on facts but when he saw the sadness of his daughter he realized everything. He realized that emotions matter. In this novel male characters represent materialistic words, where only money and wealth is important.
Citation-
Albert, Edward. History of English Literature. 5th ed., vol. 5 5, George G. Harrap & Co.Ltd., 1923.
AŞCI, Yasemin. “Marxist Elements in Charles Dickens's Novel Hard Times.” Journal of International Social Research, vol. 12, no. 65, 2019, pp. 31–36., https://doi.org/10.17719/jisr.2019.3421.
Burton, John. "Hard Times Characters". GradeSaver, 9 September 2001 Web. 6 November 2022,
https://www.gradesaver.com/hard-times/study-guide/character-list
Keshavarzi, Addollah. “Charles Dickens: A Reformist or a Compromiser - Researchgate.nett.” Charles Dickens : A Reformisy or a Compromiser, Jan. 2012, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abdollah-Keshavarzi/publication/283562134_Charles_dickens_A_reformist_or_a_compromiser/links/564f4b4808aeafc2aab3c2fd/Charles-dickens-A-reformist-or-a-compromiser.pdf.
Yasin, Mohammed. “Family Struggles in Hard Times by Charles Dickens - Researchgate.” Family Struggles in Hard Times by Charles Dickens, Apr. 2022, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360156342_Family_Struggles_in_Hard_Times_by_Charles_Dickens.
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