Much of what Dickens shows us in Hard Times and other novels is being held up for criticism and even laughter: satire. What do you find Dickens is criticizing this way.
I believe that Charles Dickens is criticizing the routine of teaching schools in his era used. By creating the character of Mr. Gradgrind, Dickens is able to castigate the approach with the satire, or sarcasm, he displays. The caricature Dickens uses to describe the drab idea of school systems in his era expresses satire. "'We hope to have, before long, a board of fact, composed of commissioners of fact, who will force the people to be a people of fact, and of nothing but fact.'" This quotation enforces the thought of bleak methods with repetition. Gradgrind's ways of teaching are portrayed as a negative concept to readers, illustrating a sense of monotony and tediosity in the school system. The method Mr. Gradgrind uses does not include any creativity whatsoever. This seems to be looked down upon by Dickens, as it is depicted as dreary, using sarcasm.
At the start of Book Two, Dickens displays his knack for using characterization to depict his moral themes with the character of Mrs. Sparsit. Stephen represents the poor and Bounderby and Gradgrind represent the wealthy middle class, Mrs. Sparsit represents a satire of the aristocracy. Dependent on Bounderby for her well-being, Mrs. Sparsit is capable of influencing her circumstances around her belief that she is a great lady wronged by others. As seen in Chapter Four (Book One), Bounderby takes pride in his humble origins while Mrs. Sparsit frequently brings up the fact that she descends from one of the best families in the kingdom. Dickens often satirizes her by describing her control over her features, claiming that she makes her aristocratic Roman nose “more Roman” or characterizing herself as "Coriolanian" in a moment of outrage. All in all, I believe Dickens is trying to use his satire of irony, ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to criticize the fact that those who are or were once in the positions of the upper class in England's hieroarchy seem to want/naturally keep their mentality of high aristocracy. It seems like those whose life of luxury eventually collapsed (i.e. Mrs. Sparsit) want to stay at that high point, when they in fact know that due to life in "hard times", they may be looked down upon by others. Class tensions between the upper/middle and the working class were quite evident in the Industrial Revolution; anyone who was in the working class is automatically categorized as being "dirty". However, the working class has no problem in being "filthy" with emotion, imagination, and character while those in the upper seem to give off a drab, emotionless depiction of their general caricature of feeling.
I believe that Charles Dickens is criticizing the routine of teaching schools in his era used. By creating the character of Mr. Gradgrind, Dickens is able to castigate the approach with the satire, or sarcasm, he displays. The caricature Dickens uses to describe the drab idea of school systems in his era expresses satire. "'We hope to have, before long, a board of fact, composed of commissioners of fact, who will force the people to be a people of fact, and of nothing but fact.'" This quotation enforces the thought of bleak methods with repetition. Gradgrind's ways of teaching are portrayed as a negative concept to readers, illustrating a sense of monotony and tediosity in the school system. The method Mr. Gradgrind uses does not include any creativity whatsoever. This seems to be looked down upon by Dickens, as it is depicted as dreary, using sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how widespread this method was during Dickens's time.
ReplyDeleteAt the start of Book Two, Dickens displays his knack for using characterization to depict his moral themes with the character of Mrs. Sparsit. Stephen represents the poor and Bounderby and Gradgrind represent the wealthy middle class, Mrs. Sparsit represents a satire of the aristocracy. Dependent on Bounderby for her well-being, Mrs. Sparsit is capable of influencing her circumstances around her belief that she is a great lady wronged by others. As seen in Chapter Four (Book One), Bounderby takes pride in his humble origins while Mrs. Sparsit frequently brings up the fact that she descends from one of the best families in the kingdom. Dickens often satirizes her by describing her control over her features, claiming that she makes her aristocratic Roman nose “more Roman” or characterizing herself as "Coriolanian" in a moment of outrage.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, I believe Dickens is trying to use his satire of irony, ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to criticize the fact that those who are or were once in the positions of the upper class in England's hieroarchy seem to want/naturally keep their mentality of high aristocracy. It seems like those whose life of luxury eventually collapsed (i.e. Mrs. Sparsit) want to stay at that high point, when they in fact know that due to life in "hard times", they may be looked down upon by others. Class tensions between the upper/middle and the working class were quite evident in the Industrial Revolution; anyone who was in the working class is automatically categorized as being "dirty". However, the working class has no problem in being "filthy" with emotion, imagination, and character while those in the upper seem to give off a drab, emotionless depiction of their general caricature of feeling.