Louisa comes out

After hearing Harthouse’s and Louisa conversation in the woods, Sparsit expected Louisa to go meet him in the city. As we read, Lousia proved Sparsit wrong. Instead of meeting Harthouse, she went to go visit her father where she had an emotional conversation with him. She told him how she really felt about the way he raised her. She admitted that being taught only facts, and not being able to use her imagination ruined her life. She also tells him that she married someone whom her heart doesn’t belong to; it belongs to Hearthouse. Do you think the tone set the mood of how Louisa felt when she was telling Gradgrind how she felt? Or do you believe it is implied by the choice of words used?

A crazy woman.

Ms. Sparsit continues to show how creepy and crazy she is when she follows Louisa into the woods. She suspects Louisa is up to something with Harthouse so she quietly follows behind her. When she approaches Louisa, she discovers that Harthouse is confessing his true feelings to her and says he wants to be her lover. Louisa then agrees to meet him in Coketown later and when Harthouse leaves crazy Ms.Sparsit continues to imagine Louisa falling down the stairwell into the abyss. Do you think Ms. Sparsit is stalking Louisa because she’s extremely jealous of her relationship or for some other unknown reason? Don’t you think she’s crazy and obsessed with Bounderby because of what continuously keeps doing regarding Louisa, his wife?

Slackbridge vs. Stephen

In Chapter 4 of Book Two, Slackbridge gives a powerful speech to a group of workers, expressing his strong feelings against the poor working conditions. He attempts to bring the workers together into a union that will fight for their rights to be treated better as workers. Although Slackbridge is described as an ill-made man who is considered sour and unfavorable compared to the honest workers, the crowd is moved by his speech and enthusiastically supports him. All but one of the workers are ready to form this union - all but Stephen Blackpool. This man cares more about keeping his job and sustaining a decent relationship between them and the employers rather than stand against them. As a result of this opposite opinion, he is then treated as invisible by the rest of the workers.

This simple picture of one man standing up for individual rights and another playing it safe holds a much deeper illustration behind it. Dickens displays the struggles of workers at the time, whether it be fighting for better working conditions or being so in need of work that it'd be best to side with the unfair employers. In terms of issues during the Industrial Revolution, what do Slackbridge and Stephen each represent to you? According to the portrayal in the novel, how do you think Dickens feels about working conditions of the time? What message do you feel he is attempting to convey through the characters of Slackbridge, Stephen, and the group of workers?

Is it fate?

In the last section of Hard Times called "Garnering", we see characters pick up the pieces the harvest/reap of seeds that were missed; in other words, characters make an attempt to restore peace back into their complicated and mend their past life in order to endure their continued journey in life with new, refined resources of a better person. We see in this section those who were true to themselves are rewarded with benefits to their life while those who were deceiving, arrogant were rewarded with the miserable consequences of karma (which is also death). Bounderby's true colors are exposed along with his "inspiring" life story of determination; that story was in fact a lie. That was just an excuse to cover up the true means of the abuse Bounderby faced from his mother. Mrs. Sparsit is sent off to Lady Scadgers, ruining her potential chances of marrying Mr. Bounderby. Tom in fact escapes the consequences of the law but isn't able to erase his guilt of his awful behavior/crime; this essentially brings him to his death. On a happy note, Sissy Jupe (the moral victor of the novel) ends up content with her life.
Oddly so, the only exception to these justices being served is the case of Stephen Blackpool and his beloved Rachael. Stephen Blackpool (who has been absent from Coketown for a while, trying to find work) tries to clear name from this accused fault that he in fact did not commit. He was essentially set up by Tom Gradgrind as a "cover up" for Tom's committed bank robbery on the bank he was apprenticing at. But, on walking back to Coketown, Blackpool falls down the Old Hell Shaft, completing his terminal bad luck and "fate" in life as a Hand in society. Upon his last words spoken to Rachael, Stephen Blackpool dies.
Do you believe that the end result of Stephen Blackpool's life was fair? Do you think this incident was just a mere accident or a matter of fate that resulted in his death? What was Dickens trying to arouse in his audience with the fact of these unfortunate tragedies on this innocent man? How do you feel?

"Reap the seeds."

"What have you done with the garden that should have bloomed once, in this great wilderness here?" She struck herself with both her hands upon her bosom.

In the first book "Sowing", the "seeds" (or conflicts/events) are planted to direct the novel in its plot structure of the story. Some of these seeds include Sissy coming to live in the Gradgrind residence, Louisa is forcefully married to Mr. Josiah Bounderby, the introduction of the "Hands" (as told from Stephen Blackpool's perspective), Tom is apprenticed at the new bank of Bounderby,etc. As the story progresses, we witness (at the end of book two) Louisa's mental collapse in front of her father in Chapter XII ("Down"). After the great build up of this much anticipated scene, this scene depicts a climactic moment in time in Louisa Gradgrind's life. How and what does this scene of this collapse allow Dickens to portray? Was there specific, previous happenings that may have been shown before in the novel (through irony) to result in this consequence? How does this context in this scene relate to the title of the second section of the novel, "Reaping"?

Mrs. Sparsit ...

Mrs. Sparsit seems to be extremely jealous of Louisa’s relationship with Bounderby. In Chapter 9 she continues lurking around Bounderby’s house to try and win him over from Louisa. While doing so she also briefly notices how Louisa seems to be around Harthouse more. And in Chapter 10, she daydreams about Louisa heading down a deep staircase into a dark abyss. She begins to be pleased by these thoughts she’s having about Louisa falling into an abyss. I think Mrs. Sparsit is becoming rather obsessive with Bounderby and might rat Louisa out because she’s hanging out with Harthouse too much in order so she can get her shot at Bounderby.

Tom's Trouble

After Stephen accepts 2 pounds form Louisa in Chapter 6 of the second book, Tom summons him to loiter outside of the bank late at night for a few nights. After he did this, he left for Coketown. A few mornings later Bounderby charges in on James Harthouse and Louisa announcing that the bank had been robbed of 150 pounds and the last person to be seen there was Stephen Blackpool. Louisa confronts Tom and asks him if he had stolen the money, but Tom slyly protects his innocence. But after this he stuffs his face in his pillow and starts sobbing tears of guilt. What does this tell you about his character? Can Tom be trusted? If he was receiving money from Louisa, why did he use Stephen to steal more money from another source? If Stephen was tried in a case against Tom, who would most likely be ruled innocent? Would their social class have an affect on the ruling? Explain.

Realization

In chapter 7 and 8 of the second book, Louisa encounters Stephen. Being of a lower working class, complete opposite of Louisa, she sees the way that he lives and what he goes through everyday. She’s shocked to see the way he lives and feels compassion for him. What does this tell you about Louisa? Is she considered as a Realist or a Romanticist? Explain.

Manipulation?

Through out book 2, of chapter 3 Harthouse puts his best effort into trying to win over Tom, so he can have a relationship with his sister Louisa. He believes that if he is capable of receiving acceptance from his very close "friend" Tom, then his sister Louisa will accept him as well, due to how close they are. As Harthouse butters up Tom, with his cravings (alcohol & tobacco) he begins to question him on the relationship that Bounderby and Louisa have. After many drinks, Tom eventually reveals how he begged Louisa into marring him for an easier lifestyle. So, as Harthouse finds out this information, he strategizes on how he can be with Louisa. He figures that if he can convince Tom into talking to his sister about being with him, then he'd have a more successful advantage. Why do you think I quoted the word "friend"? What is it's meaning behind the word?

Recognizing Environmental Issues

"You only knew the town was there, because you knew there could have been no such sulky blotch upon a prospect without a town. A blur of soot and smoke, now confusedly tending this way, now that way, ... a dense formless jumble, with sheets of cross light in it, that showed nothing but masses of darkness:..."
These quotes are found at the very beginning of Book Two Chapter 1. I found it interesting that Dickens decided to open up this new Book with such a negative description of the setting. During the Industrial Revolution, factories became major contributers to environmental issues such as air pollution. Dickens is strongly recognizing the smoke and pollution of this time, so he obviously acknowledges it. Why do you think Dickens made it a point to address this? What feelings of this issue does he convey through his writings? In other words, what do you believe he is trying to say to his audience at this time by simply describing the matter in his novel?

Louisa loves her brother

In chapter 3 of book the second, after Tom and Harthouse have dinner, they go back to Harthouse's apartment where he rewards Tom with Wine and Cigarettes. He then persuades Tom to reveal the story about Louisa's marriage; Tom then tells Harthouse that she supposedly only married Bounderby for his money. Louisa wanted Bounderby's money in order to help Tom with money problems he faces. Do you think what Louisa did was acceptible during that time period, or was it considered "gold digging" like we do in today's society?

Romanticism Vs. Realism

This passed week our World History class talks about the Revolution of the Arts which indicated two different types of groups; The Romanticism and The Realists. This related a lot to the way the author Charles Dickens writes his books. They're similar because The romanticism believed that imagination and emotion was a great strategy to their working skills. As for the Realists they believed that work should not be interfered with 'unrealistic' subjects; because imagination will take you no where. This is also relevant to the way Charles Dickens writes because through his first couple chapters he's talking about how Gradgrind wants to root nothing but facts in his students education. Therefore, do you think Charles Dickens would be a Romanticist or Realist? Explain your reasoning.

Virtue Limited to Lower Class?

Do you think it is fair of Charles Dickens to represent those with money as greedy and mean, while those who are poor are virtuous and kind? Is this "reality" or what is Dickens saying with these portraits of class differences? Do you think virtue is limited to lower income groups or can wealthy people be generous and kind?

Greed and Ambition

Various characters exhibiting extremely different attitudes are introduced throughout Hard Times. A majority of the personalities shown are a part of the wealthy class citizens, while only a hand-full of the characters are a part of the working class. Characters such as Mr. Bounderby seem to be very ambitious, taking a large amount of pride in their belongings. Although he may be seen as a successful man by some readers, his greed takes over positive emotions he could possibly display. As he and Louisa are united by marriage, they travel to Lyons on a honeymoon to observe operations at a factory. In my opinion, this shows Mr. Bounderby as a man that lacks romanticism in his life. I feel a sense of a superficial husband who only looks out for himself. You may believe that this problem of greed only arises in the wealthy class, yet it comes upon characters in the working class too. Mrs. Sparsit is the maid of Mr. Bounderby, who also has determination to marry her him. She attempts to impede the marriage between Bounderby and Louisa, due to her ambitions to become his wife and share his wealth. Although she may have a valid reason to have a desire for money, her attempts seem desperate. Do you believe that all humans are naturally greedy and ambitious for themselves?

Men & Brothers.

"Oh my friends, the down-trodden pperatives of Coketown! Oh my friends and fellow-countrymen... I tell you that the hour is come, when we must rally round one another as One united power, and crumble into dust the oppressors that too long have battened upon the plunder of our families, upon the sweat of our brows, upon the labor of our hands, upon the strength of our sinews, upon the God-created glorious rights of Humanity..."
In Book Two Chapter 4, we are introduced to, what I find, a rather ironic situation between the working class. Like learned in our Humanities class, the lower working class found it difficult to fight for their rights as individual human beings so the factory Hands decided to hold a meeting to discuss plans to improve their horrific living and working conditions. As the head orator at this meeting, Slackbridge (who is said to be "...not so honest, not so manly, not so good-humored) gives a rather drab performance of a speech to try and convince the congregation of workers of the importance of labor unions and its sense of fellowship and brotherhood within it. All but one seem to be convinced: Stephen Blackpool. He believes that this change in unionizing against the factory overseers will continue to exasperate the already tense relationship of the workers and overseers. What is Dickens trying to portray in his portrayl of Slackbridge compared to Stephen? Does Dickens use these characters to represent differentiating sides of the working class?

Marriage in the 1800's

While reading chapter 15 and 16, I was perplexed upon reading what was happening. But then I realized what was happening as I kept reading on. It appears that Louisa marries Bounderby because she wanted to please her father by marrying this 50 year old man. It seems as if in this time period (The Industrial Revolution) people do not marry each other based the principal of LOVE. Louisa agreed to marry Bounderby even though she was sure she didn’t love this man. Could it be that marriage wasn’t as sacred back then as it is today? Did they believe love wasn’t an important key role in marriage and other relationships? We’ve seen this happen twice so far in the book: Stephen and his wife; and Louisa and Bounderby. Do you think this is just a coincidence or did love have no meaning in marriage?

Sowing.

Sowing is the title for Book One of Hard Times. According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, sowing has two distinct definitions: to plant seed for growth (especially scattering)and to set something in motion. Through my understanding and application of these definitions, I believe that sowing can be said to be a representation of all the introduced events/happenings in this first portion of the novel. We are introduced to the theme of Realism vs. Romanticism (as learned through our activities performed in our Humanities class). Mr. Gradgrind symbolizes this motive "FACTS, facts, facts" into his students' minds while the sweet, innocent Sissy Jupe can be said to depict fancy and imagination. Readers are introduced to the living and working conditions of the working class with a particular individual named Stephen Blackpool, who is categorized as "The Hands," the lowest of the working class and the upper class including the rather deprived,bland children of Gradgrind, Louisa and Tom. We are brought to know Mr. Josiah Bounderby--a wealthy, arrogant industrialist who owns several factories and a bank--along with his past of a youth and his determination to wealth. Along with this particular section, two marriages are depicted where they are very unhappy because it seems like the couples are badly matched. For example, Stephen knows that his heart will always and forever be for his beloved friend Rachael but, he must stay with his bedridden, alcoholic wife (who tries to commit suicide but fails to do so because of Rachael) because simply of his class/authority/money. On the other hand, Louisa is yet again deprived of her exposure to what true love actually is when her father composes a "business proposal" between her and Mr. Bounderby (who is 30 years older than she). At the end of Book One, we see Louisa and Mr. Bounderby's marry and travel to Lyons, an area of operating factories.
Think of Hard Times as an English pasture of openland. In the first book, we are simply shown all the information, characters, and conflicts by the "sowing" of Dickens' portrayl of these aspects to the reader. At the start of the new book, Book Two is titled Reaping. Reaping, in other words, is harveting of these "crops" of information. What do you believe will become of Book Two? Will we be introduced to a climatic point in the novel, due to the mixture of all this information/characters/events? Predict what will come about of these marriages described above. Will Louisa and Stephen be able to find a way out of their deprivation to their true emotions or will they be trapped from the demands of the Industrial Revolution?

Out Of Reach

"Now, you know, we have never had any difficulty with you, and you have never been one of the unreasonable ones. You don't expect to be set up in a coach and six, and to be fed on turtle soup and venison, with a gold spoon, as a good many of 'em do!", said Mr. Bounderby when he was talking to Stephen about Stephen's wanting to have a divorce. Bounderby is clearly an inconsiderate person because Bounderby treats Stephen unfairly because Stephen isn't high-class like Bounderby. Bounderby sees Stephen as being inferior to himself and he is superior. I am sympathetic for Stephen because he loves Rachel but he is stuck with his wife, who he does not love anymore. Stephen cannot divorce just because Bounderby won't allow it. Do you think Bounderby is being unfair for not letting Stephen divorce? How does Bounderby's decisions make you feel?

Silent Dreamer

In chapter 13, Stephen has a dream that emhazises the 10 comandments. Stephen has committed adultrey and attempted murder to his wife. In the dream, Stephen starts out as a groom in a wedding and ends up becoming a corpse in a coffin with people surrounding him represtenting different regions of the world. As you may know, dreams all have meanings and hidden messages to them. What do you think that this dream was trying to tell Stephen? Why was it important to the plot and his actions? Do you have any examples of hidden messages in dreams that you've experienced?

Mr. Bounderby's Past

I was always curious about why Mr.Bounderby kept talking about how he made himself and why he was sort of a grouch at times, so i kept reading until i found the answer. In chapter IV he says to Gradgrind that he was born in a ditch and his mother had left him and he can can never forgive her. He also call her " the very worst woman that ever lived in the world", i believe he is saying that he hates her. He also says "there's no family pride about me, no imaginative sentimental humbug about me", could this be the reason why he is so strict about facts and doesn't agree with the use of imagination in teaching? Why do you think he doesn't agree with imagination?

The Spoon.

Stephen Blackpool, an impoverished worker of the "Hands", is said to be a rather honest and genuine character, despite the conditions of his lifestyle and his collapsing marriage. In contrast, the wealth and high-class of Bounderby is amplified towards the readers in a way presented by his arrogant demeanor of a personality. Having heard that there is a law to divorce under certain circumstances, Stephen goes and acquires information from Bounderby of how to carry out this action. But, of course, Bounderby, along with his supercillious nose in the air, confirms that laws only pertain to the wealthy in society; all laws are made solely for the wealthy and never for the laborers of the working class. No exceptions! Along with Bounderby's utter lack of pity towards Stephen, Bounderby also bluntly accuses Stephen of expecting "to be fed turtle soup and venison, with a gold spoon, as good many of 'em do!" What message do you believe Bounderby is trying to deliver to the audience about the "Hands?" What do the symbols of turtle soup, venison, and a gold spoon have to do in the context of the time period of the Industrial Revolution? Do you believe Stephen or perhaps Bounderby is truly the person who expects to be fed from a gold spoon?

Clearly Unfair!

Stephen, a hand or a lower class worker, is married to a women, that is a drunk and is 'bed ridden', that he doesn’t really love. His love is for a woman named Rachel. Stephen works for Mr. Bounderby so Stephen talks to him about how he wants divorce his current wife to marry Rachel. Also, keep in mind that Rachel likes Stephen back. Bounderby says that Stephen cannot divorce his wife because of his class, which in Bounderby’s eyes, is too low. I believe this is wrong because Bounderby would feel if he was in Stephen’s shoes. Resulting from this, Stephen must live with a woman that he does not love anymore and he loves another woman that loves him back. I would not be able to live in Stephen’s situation. Do you think Bounderby is wrong for not letting Stephen divorce just because he isn’t highclass?

Progress.

Readers are introduced to the reoccurring character of Sissy Jupe. Already previously established, Gradgrind offers Sissy the chance to study at his school & to come and live at Stone Lodge, along with himself and his family (i.e. the Gradgrind children) In Chapter 9, readers are able to witness Sissy face "hard times" while living in this environment of Fact brought forth by the Gradgrinds. Sissy is simply unable to grasp/adopt to the rigor of the devotion/demand that is asked by her from these mere, meticulous facts. Instead, she continually stays true to her roots of "fancy" and demeanor of ridicule (as loathed by Mr.Gradgrind), believing that one day, her father will come back for her. One day, readers, along with Louisa, are awakened to the truths behind Sissy's abandonment from her father, sympathizing for her said to be "fanciful" notions/actions. We see that Louisa is rather moved by this heart felt situation, activating her deeper emotions of sympathy, hope, and possibly love that readers, as well as Louisa, may have not believed was possible (due from the facts that Louisa was brought up in a home where these natural rights of feelings were never enforced). In essence, this chapter is called "Sissy's Progress." In what way? Give specific examples of her supposed progress. Similarly, ponder on the facts of Louisa and her deprivation of feeling. Is she in fact involved in this progress as well?

Demonstration of Emotion

Charles Dickens shows more emotion within the poverty-stricken, yet does not provide emotion within the more wealthy population (although he provides more insight within higher classes). "…Rachael had taken great pity on him years ago, and to her alone he had opened his closed heart all this time, on the subject of his miseries." Emotion may be what is contributing to Stephen's loathing, yet it helps him be able to realize that Rachael is the one for him. With her moral stature and generosity, he is naturally attracted to her, rather than his drunk, bed-ridden wife. In the marriage of Mr. Bounderby and Louisa, Louisa feels as though she is obligated to marry Mr. Bounderby due to facts provided by her father, but not love. This shows that the robotic ways of the higher class controls their actions without emotion. Mr. Bounderby and Louisa marry, yet go on a honeymoon to visit a factory. This also contributes to the lack of emotions shown in wealthier populations, contrasted to the fancy actions of the less fortunate. Does this representation of love in social classes accurately represent modern times?

There is Hope For Imagination, Yet.

She was a child now, of fifteen or sixteen; but at no distant day would seem to become a woman all at once. Her father thought so as he looked at her. She was pretty. Would have been self-willed (he thought in his eminently practical way) but for her bringing-up. When Thomas Gradgrind's daughter, Louisa, comes to greet him, there is an obvious air of spunk and boldness to her, that of which her brother Thomas does not have. Thomas Gradgrind could see in the woman that Louisa is slowly becoming, that she could've so easily been the type to be tenacious when it came to carrying out her dreams and desires, if it were not for her upbringing. A little before this excerpt it says, ...yet struggling through the dissatisfaction on her face, there was a light with nothing to rest upon, a fire with nothing to burn, a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow, which brightened its expression. Not with the brightness natural to cheerful youth, but with uncertain, eager, doubtful flashes, which had something painful in them, analogous to the changes on a blind face groping its way. From this quote, I could really feel the hollowness that probably resides in Louisa's chest. I could feel the constant burn of curiosity beginning to singe the edges of her tear ducts, making her want to cry, but won't let her. But aside from that, I really like this part of the chapter because it shows that there is some hope for a breakthrough. We can see some foreshadowing with the way Dickens is introducing Louisa that Thomas Gradgrind may be confronted about the negative points of knowing nothing and believing nothing but facts.

Guts or Facts?

Sissy Jupe isn't the brightest student but she has something the rest of her class does not have. She has been given the childhood that all children should be given. Does this give her an advantage over the other students or does it put her at a disadvantage? I cannot say whether she will choose her gut feelings or the facts but I believe that her life will be changed, noticeably, by whichever choice she makes. Are parents influencing these students, like Louisa's father?

Discipline

Imagining a life based purely on facts is a little horrifying. The line, “They had been lectured at, from their tenderest years; coursed, like little hares.”, shows how Mr. Gradgrind raises his children. Mr. Gradgrind teaches his children the facts, and only the facts. Gradgrind’s children are sheltered which keeps them from interacting with other people. The man loved facts and he based his whole life off of them. He loved them so much he is passing them down to his kids by not teaching them anything but the facts. I believe he deprived his children from having a normal childhood because he wanted a childhood of his own that he was never able to live. Imagining myself in this situation, I would not be able to withstand this denial and go mad. I think Gradgrind's method of discipline isn't the most effective even if he is teaching his children "the facts and only the facts."

The "Key" Note.

"Let's us strike the key-note again, before pursuing the tune." The title of Chapter 5 is titled "The Key Note." I was rather curious upon what this meant in the context of the current chapter and its effect on the upcoming chapters. So, I did some research and found out that according to the dictionary, a key note (in literature) is a main idea/principle that establishes underlying theme. With your individual knowledge and understanding of the pages and chapters that you have currently completed/read, what do you believe is the underlying theme that has been the basis of this story so far? What have the characters experienced through out these Hard Times? What is the "key-note" that keeps striking the story, providing the readers with a certain type of tune of mood?

Is Mr.Gradgrind being self-centered or caring?

Through out chapter 1, when Mr.Gradgrind says; "Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them... Stick to the facts sir!" Don't you think Gradgrind is being a bit too self-centered and only looking out for what he wants to be taught? Or do you believe he's only looking out for the benefits to his students education--- future-wise? If you think he's acting selfishly, please state why you feel that way. But if you believe Mr.Gradgrind is only trying to guide his students through the right path, because of his past experiences then please reason with why you feel that way.

Out for Himself.

It seems to me that Mr. Gradgrind wishes to carry on his legacy of facts through his children, and he's starting them off young. Sweet, it may seem, that a father is wanting his children to walk in his footsteps and be a model of facts, just like himself. But, isn't it a bit.. cruel? For "no little Gradgrind had ever learnt the silly jingle, Twinkle, twinkle, little star; how I wonder what you are!", and how they probably do wonder, but may never know. Does wanting his children to be this way seem realistic? Do you think it's selfish of him?