Essay on 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens
In the book Hard Times, Dickens portrays his philosophical values, namely the opposition between Fact and Fancy and his support for the latter and the need for religious values in humanity, itself attached to the importance of femininity. He also writes in parallel to the literary context of the times, for example criticising capitalism and portraying the negative effects of industrialisation. The novel is one of many critiques written at the time and suggests numerous social developments and ideas.
In effect, Hard Times is one of Dickens’ strong social critiques. It is almost a satire in itself because of the use of humour and sentimental melodrama. The use of humour is apparent when Dickens describes Mr Bounderby: “A man made out of a coarse material, which seemed to have stretched to make so much of him”. He does this to show his opinion on the rising, greedy middle class, Mr. Bounderby is very large, which indicates greed, and very loud, which Dickens then mocks strongly. He also satirises Mrs. Sparsit with her description: “she was now, in her elderly days, with the Coriolanian style of nose and the dense black eyebrows” because she represents the snobbish, pretentious rich higher class who look down on everyone.
The sentimental melodrama is portrayed through Harthouse’s plight after Louisa leaves him: “He was positively agitated. He several times spoke with an emphasis, similar to the vulgar manner.” This man, to whom the only pleasure in life is overcoming a new challenge, seems to be completely disorientated by the fact that he did not get his own way with Louisa. Dickens is criticising here the opportunistic and selfish values of the higher class using the melodramatic cover of “lost love” which Harthouse is now feeling for the first time.
Dickens criticises all social classes very strongly through satire except for the working class, which the author holds in higher esteem, he believes in them.
In effect, the literary context at the time
In effect, Hard Times is one of Dickens’ strong social critiques. It is almost a satire in itself because of the use of humour and sentimental melodrama. The use of humour is apparent when Dickens describes Mr Bounderby: “A man made out of a coarse material, which seemed to have stretched to make so much of him”. He does this to show his opinion on the rising, greedy middle class, Mr. Bounderby is very large, which indicates greed, and very loud, which Dickens then mocks strongly. He also satirises Mrs. Sparsit with her description: “she was now, in her elderly days, with the Coriolanian style of nose and the dense black eyebrows” because she represents the snobbish, pretentious rich higher class who look down on everyone.
The sentimental melodrama is portrayed through Harthouse’s plight after Louisa leaves him: “He was positively agitated. He several times spoke with an emphasis, similar to the vulgar manner.” This man, to whom the only pleasure in life is overcoming a new challenge, seems to be completely disorientated by the fact that he did not get his own way with Louisa. Dickens is criticising here the opportunistic and selfish values of the higher class using the melodramatic cover of “lost love” which Harthouse is now feeling for the first time.
Dickens criticises all social classes very strongly through satire except for the working class, which the author holds in higher esteem, he believes in them.
In effect, the literary context at the time