Hard Times Group

Question:

adome1
adome1
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In the novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens, what direct comment does the narrator permit himself about the teacher M'Choakumchild?

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Posted by adome1 on Tuesday October 13, 2009 at 9:54 AM and tagged with characters, hard times, m'choakumchild, narrator.

Answers:

  1. angelcann
    angelcann Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    The character's name, "M'Chaukumchild," indicates that he is essentially strangling his students with his Utilitarian system of education. He "chokes" them with fact after fact, and does not allow them to use their imaginations, therefore stunting their intellectual growth.

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    Posted by angelcann on Tuesday October 13, 2009 at 12:45 PM

  2. sistereva
    sistereva Teacher
    Middle School

    I would add that the very nature of children is to use imagination and to play and enjoy such things as a circus. However these things are "choked" out of them, to leave nothing but the facts.

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    Posted by sistereva on Wednesday December 9, 2009 at 1:10 PM