Hard Times

Historical Context and Significance

Published in 1854, Charles Dickens' novel «Hard Times» serves as an important social commentary on the Industrial Revolution in England. The book criticizes utilitarianism and the mechanistic approach to life that prevailed at the time, highlighting the negative consequences of industrialization on the human spirit and society as a whole. Dickens uses the town of Coketown as a symbol of the industrial city, where people become faceless machines. The novel had a significant impact on literature and culture, raising issues of social justice, education, and human values that remain relevant today.