The novel Hard Times ( 1854 ) shows the Victorian society of materialism , rapid growth of industrialization , influences of Marxism, Utilitarianism and class consciousness.
Materialistic Mindset– The materialistic mindset is the attitude of the Victorian society. Thomas Gradgrind and Josiah Bounderby is a perfect example of materialistic mindset who are wealthy and rich. They also believe in the idea of facts and rationality. Thomas Gradgrind is a man of facts who even tries to build his house with a precise and calculated design reflecting the practical nature of materialistic mindset. This type of attitude clearly projects the behaviour of the Victorian society and it is clearly projected in the characterization of various characters.
Industrialization – The Victorian society was growing rapidly with the development of railways , roads and factories. Many of the people have their own companies and works in a bank. Josiah Bounderby belongs to the upper class since he works in the bank. Coketown is a city depicted in the novel which is blackened by the fumes and smoke of the industries reflecting on the temperament of industrialization of the Victorian era. There are also the employees represented in the novel which also reflects the various workers working under certain factories and Stephen Blackpool is one of them. It is also evident in his novel Bleak House.
Influences of Marxism – Marx published his book The Communist Manifesto in 1848 which influenced the society and Dickens writing also showed a lot of influences of Marxism. The novel projects Marxist analysis of the capitalism and labourers. Marxist believed that the labourers will unite together and overthrow the capitalists one day and Dickens also projects the unity of labourers and fighting for equal wages and distribution of money. Mr. Slackbridge is one of the workers uniting the labourers against the capitalist which reflects the influences of Marxist attitude and beliefs.
Utilitarianism– The theme of utilitarianism is significant in the novel where the development of facts is merely a system of practicality. Thomas Gradgrind imbues such belief of utilitarianism and influenced the development of his children Louisa and Tom with rationality and facts. His children were not grown and developed with fanciful world for he considers it as impractical in life. Dickens satirizes the utilitarianism in his novel where Louisa is unable to understand the idea of feelings and emotions which was later confronted with Thomas Gradgrind making him to realize his mistake on growing and developing a child without a fanciful world. The failure of utilitarianism is reflected in the character of Tom who robbed Bounderby’s bank but he was saved with the help of Sissy Jupe’s circus community.
Class Consciousness – The class consciousness is another element of Victorian society where the class structure is divided based on middle class and lower class of society. Mr. Stephen Blackpool lives a hard and devastating lifestyle where her wife disappears for months and years and is unable to divorce her because he cannot afford the money. Bounderby clearly stated that a poor pauper like Blackpool cannot afford to file a divorce against his wife. This reflects class consciousness and it becomes more clearer where the lower class are treated indifferently including Sissy Jupe . She was treated poorly for her class position and engagement with fanciful world. The upper class has a notion that poor pauper can even steal the money from the upper class society and it is evident where Blackpool is accused of robbing Bounderby’s bank but Dickens gives a twist in an ironical overview where it was Tom who robbed Bounderby’s bank sympathising the state of Blackpool position.
Dickens Bleak House as a Victorian Novel
