Hard Times - The Theme of Education Essay -- English Literature

Hard Times - The Theme of EducationIn this wear round I intend to explain how Dickens is trying to representeducation in the mincing era and how he feels about the style ofteaching that is widely used during his times. I excessively intend to makereferences to how the representation of Victorian schools by Dickenscompares, historically to the actual conditions in a school from theVictorian era. As soon as the book begins we are introduced to a style of teachingthat is dependent only on facts. One of the main characters of thenovel is doubting Thomas Gradgrind and he is the enforcer of this utilitarianstyle of education and is described as a man who is very strict.Dickens introduces us to this character with a translation of his mostcentral feature his monotone appearance and attitude. Stick tofacts, sir This exclamation suggests that the character likes toshout and sound firm. The short, punchy sentence suggests an assertiveand strong character.Dickens also makes Gradgrind seem boring and grating by the gravellyand rough sound of his name and how it is pronounced. Grind, inparticular suggests the grindstone, and flogging away at nameconstantly and is associated with the mechanical, repetitive drudgeryof the factory system.Dickens also employs the outer appearance of Gradgrind to parallel theinner personality of Gradgrind, Square coat, square shoulders andsquare legs. This seems to spotlight Gradgrinds nature ofunrelenting rigidity. Dickens also uses tricolons to really exaggeratethe impression of this character being dull, boring and old fashioned.As a result, his educational ideas are seen to be dull and boring too.We get the overall impression from Dickens that he doesnt... ...stressed by the factory style approach to the children and theireducation. He exaggerates this to show the production line attitudeto education is wrong and does not help the child. He believes thatthe school in Hard Times treats all children the akin and there is noexception t o the rule. He sees it as a rather utilitarian styleapproach, a one size fits all kind of regime and believes that thissystem has obviously failed. His distress seem to turn to the kind ofanger a activist would show in a protest and in a way his writing ofthe book is his form of a protest which is made through humour. Hestrongly believes that children at such an early stage in theirchildhood are too young to be exposed to such a formal and rigorousstyle of education and should instead be allowed to chatter theiremotions and have their youthful imaginations nurtured.