Hard Times

Brief Overview

The novel «Hard Times» by Charles Dickens tells the story of life in the fictional industrial town of Coketown. The main characters are Thomas Gradgrind, a strict and rational man who raises his children, Louisa and Tom, in the spirit of utilitarianism and emotional suppression. Louisa marries the wealthy industrialist Josiah Bounderby, but their marriage is unhappy. Tom, the younger Gradgrind, becomes reckless and commits a crime, attempting to escape its consequences. The novel also features the story of Stephen Blackpool, an honest worker who suffers from the injustice and cruelty of society. Through the fates of his characters, Dickens critiques the heartlessness of industrial society and emphasizes the importance of human emotions and morality.