Hard Times Group

Question:

esraasalim
esraasalim
Student
College - Sophomore

What different family relationships are described and developed in "Hard Times"? Give an account of any two contrasting types of relationships.

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Posted by esraasalim on Sunday May 31, 2009 at 10:39 AM and tagged with contrast, daughters, fathers, gradgrind, jupe, louisa, relationships, sissy.

Answers:


  1. podunc Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    Two primary relationships are explored in "Hard Times"--the father-daughter relationship and the husband-wife relationship. Two contrasting father-daughter relationships in the novel are between Mr. Gradgrind and his daughter Louisa and between Signor Jupe and his daughter Sissy. While Mr. Gradgrind is a committed and present father, he smothers Louisa with inflexible rules and theories that do not allow her to develop an identity of her own. As a result, she enters into an unfortunate marriage with Mr. Bounderby, which ends in disaster. Signor Jupe, on the other hand, is a circus clown who seems to be a negligent father because he deserts Sissy. Prior to his desertion, however, they have a close, intimate father-daughter bond which allows Sissy to develop her own imagination and to form trusting relationships. We learn at the end of the novel that Sissy becomes a loving mother of happy children, while Louisa remains childless.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hard-times
    http://www.enotes.com/hard-times/list-characters

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    Posted by podunc on Tuesday June 30, 2009 at 6:46 AM