A novel by Charles Dickens espouses most of my predilections about the Novel; be it the plot, the characterization, an underlying philosophy, a love of humanity, the triumph of good over evil, the victory of the underdog, the rewarding of the morally strong and the general feeling of happiness and well being. So no wonder I keep returning to the novels of Charles Dickens.
Hard Times is an example of the dissatisfaction and unhappiness of Charles Dickens about 19th century England. In the novel he portrays the reigning virtues of the day like self-interest, utilitarianism, commercialism, lovelessness and cold adherence to facts through the characters of Gradgrind, Bounderby, Bitzer, Ms. Sparsit and Harthouse. Gradgrind and Bounderby think, live and talk only facts. There is nothing in their vocabulary that would hint at fancy or imagination. They have a supreme faith in the power of reason. Whatever is not accessible to calculation or reason is soundly dismissed by them. There is no place for emotions, passions or feelings here. Mr. Gradgrind models his two elder children, Louisa and Tom Gradgrind on this particular philosophy. Their childhood is submerged in figures, facts and various ologies. They have a childhood of the body but not a childhood of the mind says Louisa later in the novel. This extreme caution and nurturing of a perverse kind, destroys the warmth and pleasure of childhood for Louisa and Tom. They are denied the education of Nature, the joys of learning and the discovery of knowledge which are the wonderful gifts of Nature. They are not left careless to hop, jump and tremble, in short to partake in the wonderful experience of play. They are cared for extremely. In fact they are over cared for. The author remarks that facts and figures are subservient to faith, hope and charity.
Mr. Bounderby is the bully of humility. He brags about his rise from the coal pits to an esteemed position in Coke town. He has no trust in humanity and is ever suspicious of the motives of the working class. Louisa is married to Bounderby who is more than twice her age. She sees justice only in reason. She lives with him in the most disciplined manner possible. Her brother, out from the clutches of care and protection falls to such attractions as young men do who have been shielded from the ways of the world. Louisa is introduced to Mr. Harthouse who casually starts the process of seducing her. Tom Gradgrind who has borrowed money from his sister for his gaming and betting robs the bank of Bounderby for an urgent sum of 100 pounds. The destruction and downfall of the Gradgrind philosophy is complete with respect to Mr.Gradgrind who sees his daughter returning to him and Tom being sent away to other countries to escape indictment. He is crushed but chastened and realizes the brutality and absurdity of facts and figures when accompanied by denial of love, faith and charity.
Dickens creates other characters like Sissy Jupe, Rachel and Stephen Blackpool; simple people, who build their relationships on the edifice of hope, love and trust. The plot follows a triangular method. The action rises to a point leading to the descent of the plot together with the consequences of the unfolding. Hard Times reminded me of other Victorian novels which have a theme similar; A critique of Industrial society. D.H.Lawrence’s The Rainbow has similar tones; our natural state of mind of being one with the rhythms and vibes of Nature being overwhelmed by commerce, reason, science and logic. Hard Times is not the classic Dickens novel in the mould of David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby or Great Expectations. However as in the other novels, it deals with the themes of childhood and the need for love and laughter in a dreary world. ( To be continued)