Our book choice for February 2012 is Hard Times by Charles Dickens. The novel is set in Coketown, a northern industrial city. Thomas Gradgrind rules his family and his school according to Utilitarianism, the philosophy of the time, which has as its aim the greatest possible happiness for the greatest possible number of people. However, the form of Utilitarianism which Dickens attacks in the novel is plain materialism that denies all other values than material ones, or “Facts” as they are called.
Thomas Gradgrind has two children Louisa and Tom. They are caught by their father when they try to see Sleary’s Circus, where the clown Jupe works. Jupe has a daughter Sissy, and when Jupe leaves the circus and his daughter, Gradgrind invites her to come and live with his family.
Josiah Bounderby is the rich owner of the Coketown factories. He is a proud self-made man; but once and again his house is observed by a strange old woman. Stephen Blackpool is one of Bounderby’s workers. Blackpool has a troubled life. He has an alcoholic wife, who has left him, but he cannot be divorced from her. He is in love with Rachel, a factory girl. When a strike breaks out and Blackpool is not willing to join the trade union his mates will not have anything to do with him. He is fired, and he has to leave town.
Tom Gradgrind starts to work in Bounderby’s bank, and Bounderby proposes to Louisa. Though she is 30 years younger than him, she accepts. Bounderby’s housekeeper Mrs. Sparsit is jealous. Louisa’s marriage is unhappy, and James Harthouse, a politician, attempts to seduce her.
Bounderby’s bank is robbed by Tom. However, it is Steven Blackpool who is suspected, and Bitzer, a clerk in the bank gives evidence against him. Mrs. Sparsit has discovered the relationship between Harthouse and Louisa and spies upon them. Louisa turns Harthouse down, and she goes home to her father to talk to him about her problems. He comes near to realizing that his upbringing of his children based on “Facts” has been a misunderstanding. Gradgrind now shelters Louisa from Bounderby, and the couple are permanently separated.
Stephen Blackpool is found dying in a disused mine shaft. He asks Gradgrind to clear his name.
Gradgrind now learns from Sissy and Louisa that it is Tom that is the bank robber. Tom is now hiding in Sleary’s Circus disguised as a clown. His escape abroad is nearly stopped by Bitzer, but Sleary, his horse and his trained dog effect Tom’s escape nevertheless.
Mrs. Sparsit finds out that the strange old woman outside Mr. Bounderby’s house is in fact his mother, and that he does not have a humble origin as he has claimed. He is not after all a self-made man. Tom dies abroad, and Gradgrind lives into old age rejecting his Facts and Figures, Faith, Hope and Charity having become his leading principles.
Discussion Questions
- The book is not set in London. How did this affect the telling of the story?
- Comment on the themes in the book: biblical, humanist, abstraction, big social ideas vs individuals.
- Does the book feature any dramatic tension?
- Are the characters convincing?
- Is Mrs. Sparsit real, or just a device? What about Bitzer?
- Did characters change? Tom, Sissy, Mr. Gradgrind, Bounderby, Harthouse?
- How was Dickens’ world view shared? Did it affect yours?
- What was your favourite moment? Least favourite?
- Would you recommend the book?
Individual Ratings
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