Hard Times (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Charles Dickens
- First Published: 1854
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: Mid-nineteenth century
- Setting: England
- Principal Characters: Thomas Gradgrind, Louisa Gradgrind, Tom Gradgrind, Mr. Josiah Bounderby, Sissy Jupe, Mrs. Sparsit, James Harthouse, Stephen Blackpool, Mrs. Pegler
- Genres: Long fiction, Social realism
- Subjects: Teaching or teachers, Values, Nineteenth century, Social issues, Education or educators, Mistaken or secret identity, England or English people, Robbery or robbers, Politicians, Reformers, Labor unions, Satire, Victorian era or Victorianism
- Locales: England
The Story:
Thomas Gradgrind, proprietor of an experimental private school in Coketown, insisted that the children under him learn only facts. He believed that the world had no place for fancy or imagination. His own five children were models of a factual education. Never having been permitted to learn anything of the humanities, they were ignorant of literature and any conception of human beings as individuals. Even fairy tales and nursery rhymes had been excluded from their education.
One day, as he walked from the school to his home, Gradgrind was immensely displeased...
[The entire page is 2376 words long]
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