1) Discuss the theme of Utilitarianism with illustrations from the novel.
Charles Dickens
He was born on 7 February 1812 Portsmouth on the southern coast of England . He was a British novelist journalist editor illustrator and social commentator . Hard Time published 12 August 1854.
Hard time for theses time is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens first published in 1854 . The book surveys English society and economic conditions of the era . Hard Times is ususal in several ways it is by far the shortest of Dickens novel barely a quarter of the length of those written immediately before and after it. Also unlike all but one of his other novels . Hard Times has neither a perface no r illustration moreover it is his only novel not to have scence set in London instead the story is set in the fictitious Victorian industrial coketown a generic Northern English mill Town in some ways similar to Manchester though smaller coketown may be particully based on 19th century Preston one of Dickens reasons for writing Hard Times was that sales of his weekly periodical household words were low and it was hoped the novel's publication in instalments would boost circulation as indeed proved to be the case since publication it has received a mixed response from critics.
Theme of Utilitarianism with illustrations :
In the novel Hard e Charles Dickens connived a theme of Utilitarianism along with education and industrialization Utilitarianism is the belief that something is morally right if it helps a majority of people . It is a Princy involving nothing but facts and leaves no room for ereativity or imagination . Dickens provide symbolic examples of this Utilitarianism in Hard Times by using mr Thomas gradgrind one of the main character in the book who has a Hard belief in Utilitarianism . Thomas Gradgrind is so into his philosophy of rationality and facts that he has forced this belief into children and as well as his young students Mr Josiah bounderby Thomas best friend also studies utilitarianism but he was more interested in power and money than in facts . Dickens uses Cecelia jupe daughter who is the complete opposite of Thomas Gradgrind to provide a great contrast of a Utilitarianism belief.
Dickens uses Thomas Gradgrind to demonstrate exactly how a basic philosophy of rationality self interest Thomas Gradgrind has faith that human nature can be restrained calculated and ruled completely by facts certainly his schooling attempt to turn young children into thing machines Dickens main goal in Hard Times was to exemplify the risk of letting human become nothing but machine singnifying that the lack of kindness and imagination in life whould be intolerable Louise balms her father for only teaching her lesson on facts and nothing on life she feeling that .
