I read Hard Times by Charles Dickens. Hard Times by Charles Dickens was published in 1854. After reading A Christmas Carol I wanted to read more Charles Dickens. I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked Hard Times. I figured it would be good since Charles Dickens is considered a great English writer. After reading Hard Times I can see that Dickens has a way with words.
There was times when I was reading this novel that I literally laughed out loud. The characters in this book are very interesting. Thomas Gradgrind was one of the main characters in the book. He was a schooolmaster and father. He is a firm believer in the importance of facts. He believes that anything that is not strictly grounded in facts should be elliminated. I found myself lotst at times because of the hundreds of facts and details thrown in there.
I had to look up some plot synopses as well to follow where I was. I thought the problem was not much the educational syllabus, but that Gradgrind never seemed to allow his children to play, follow their own pursuits, or have any fun at all. Gradgrind lives his life by facts, runs his school by this philosophy, and raises his children by this philosophy. Throughout the story we see the consequences of this philosophy.
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Even though this book was written over a century and a half ago I really think that this story is irrevelant in our day and age. A fact vs fantasy was kind of a big thing a long time ago and if you think about it, it still is today. Schools hammer facts upon facts. We see Gradgrind sowing this philosophy into his children. The ending is not what you would really call a happy ending. At the end of the story there’s one character that turns out as a happy well adjusted human being. It was Sissy. Gradgrind had to reprimand her in the beginning of the book.
I really liked her character. The characters in this book are simple enough that we can relate to them. There are some great characters, from the intimidating Mr. Bounderby to the humble Stephen Blackpool. There are a couple of characters in this book that I did have a hard time following. This is still an excellent novel. I suggest you listen to it on Audiobook if you have a hard time understanding the book. This was the second Dickens book I’ve completed.
