Hard Times

Interesting Facts

• The book was written as a critique of industrialization and its impact on human lives.
• The main character, Thomas Gradgrind, symbolizes the rationalism and utilitarianism that Dickens condemns.
• The novel addresses themes of class inequality and worker exploitation.
• Dickens used the fictional town of Coketown to depict the harsh living conditions in industrial cities of England.
• The character Stephen Blackpool represents the typical worker suffering from injustice and harsh working conditions.
• The book also explores the theme of education and its role in shaping character, criticizing a system based on facts and figures without regard for human emotions.