Hard Times is a novel, written to reflect the Victorian era, through its realism. The novel comments on contemporary crisis and captures the essence of the industrial era, presenting ways in which it brought about change to the working class. The chapter, from which the passage I will be analysing is taken, is the introduction of the character Stephen Blackpool, one of the few ‘Hands’ whom is introduced. The chapter evokes the readers’ sympathy for the character as Dickens describes his conversation with Rachel, expressing his frustration in his marital situation.
Dickens uses the metonym ‘Hands’ to identify Blackpool and the working class people like him; the use of this colloquial term demoralises and dehumanises the people it describes, talking of them as machines more than humans who breath and feel. This mechanisation of people is a main theme within Hard Times. Dickens seems to suggest that the industrialisation of England in the 19th century, take away the natural traits of humans such as emotions and ideas, and turn them into machines. This idea is particularly displayed by Gradgrind and his school. Therefore Dickens uses the term ‘Hands’ to describe the effect that the industrialisation has had on these people, showing, through characters like Louisa, that a life without these human qualities would be insufferable and making the reader sympathise with the ‘Hands’, particularly Blackpool.
A theme that is drawn upon in the chapter from which this passage is taken from is femininity. Dickens suggests that because females are supplemented with traits like empathy, morals, and emotional sensitivity, women can act to oppose the way that industrialisation is trying to turn characters into machines. Rachael’s strength inspires Blackpool to continue his job at the factory and Rachael is described as a guiding angel to Blackpool. This would therefore suggest that Louisa’s harsh upbringing meant she was unable to develop these natural feminine traits.
In the novel Dickens uses a mixture of direct and indirect characterisation in the novel to describe characters within the novel. In this passage he uses direct characterisation; he reveals Blackpool’s traits through description rather than implied meaning. This makes Blackpool the easiest character to relate to as he demonstrates the most worthy qualities; it is easy to become involved in his isolation and therefore to sympathise with him. Dickens use of believable characters helps with the realism he is trying to create, therefore making the novel more effective.
All the characters in Hard Times have one-dimensional characteristics yet also have sophisticated qualities of "real" people. This means that these characters have the same thoughts and ideas as we have, therefore adding verisimilitude allowing the audience to relate to their thoughts and emotions. One character described in this passage, Stephen Blackpool, does not follow this pattern, however, as he is singled out to be the only ‘Hand’ that is described in detail therefore Dickens seems to have chosen his character to be a representative for his social division.
“The hardest working part of Coketown” is described in reference to the industrialisation of the town. The description is a negative one, “where nature was as strongly bricked out as killing airs and gases were bricked in”. It is clear that Dickens is trying to point out the negative impact that industrialisation has had on the people and their personalities, but this paragraph goes beyond that, looking at the way this era has change the appearance of the town. I believe the change of the natural beauty being taken away and replaced with man-made substances is metaphoric of the change that the industry and individuals, such as Gradgrind, are trying to make upon the people of Coketown; they are having their natural qualities taken away from them and replaced with the cardboard personalities that Gradgrind wishes everyone to have.
The narrator in Hard Times limited omniscience. This is clear as he persistently has an overview of everything that is going on yet on occasions he incorrectly ventures into characters thoughts and feelings, which suggests he is not always clear about what is going on. The narrator sometime makes moral judgements of the characters; this shows the reader he puts his own judgements into the text suggesting that his descriptions cannot always be taken as fact as he may be putting his own opinion in.
The narrative voice seems to contrast when talking about different characters, such as in this passage when talking about Blackpool, his tone appears to be sympathetic, conjuring sympathy from the reader, however when talking about Gradgrind, he appears to be almost mocking, creating a character that we do not care for.
This essay clearly demonstrates its place in the 19th century, at a time of industrial revolution. The narrative gives off the impression that Dickens was not a great believer in the time and what it was doing to people, through the imagery created of Coketown before and after the change, through the theme of the mechanisation of people and through the narrative voice which clearly favours Blackpool who does not follow the follow the conventions of the model worker.
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