Hard Times: For These TimesThe 'terrible mistake' was the contemporary utilitarian philosophy, expounded in Hard Times (1854) as the Philosophy of Fact by the hard-headed disciplinarian Thomas Gradgrind. But the novel, Dickens's shortest, is more than a polemical tract for the times; the tragic story of Louisa Gradgrind and her father is one of Dickens's triumphs. When Louisa, trapped in a loveless marriage, falls prey to an idle seducer, the crisis forces her father to reconsider his cherished system. Yet even as the development of the story reflects Dickens's growing pessimism about human nature and society, Hard Times marks his return to the theme which had made his early works so popular: the amusements of the people. Sleary's circus represents Dickens's most considered defence of the necessity of entertainment, and infuses the novel with the good humour which has ensured its appeal to generations of readers. |
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agen asked Bank believe better Bitzer Bounderby of Coketown Bounderby's brother canna Childers considered coom cried curtsey dark daughter dear door eyes face fact father fellow fugleman gentleman girl gone hand head hear heard heart honour hope horthe hour James Harthouse Josiah Bounderby Jupe knew lady light porter looked Lord Harry Louisa M'Choakumchild ma'am manner marriage married mean mind Miss Gradgrind morning muddle never nine oils observed old Bounderby old woman Pegler poor Rachael returned round seemed seen Sissy sister Slackbridge Sleary Sparsit Stephen Blackpool Stone Lodge stood stopped street sure tears tell thee there's things Thomas Gradgrind thou thought Thquire Tom Gradgrind Tom waited took town turned voice wait walked wath Westminster School whelp windlass window wonder word young