Hard times- Charles Dickens

             The Industrial Revolution was a time of great technological changes. It revolutionized everything from the way people lived to where they worked, but what people often overlook is how ordinary people went through their day-to-day lives. In the book "Hard Times," Charles Dickens has well-built characters to represent the complexity of each social class. From the arrogance of the aristocracy to the struggle of common workers to survive all the hardships they had to endure, Charles Dickens was able to personify the different social classes as they worked their way through the Industrial Revolution.
             Although the upper class was one of the smallest of classes, it was not forgotten. It was strongly portrayed by two characters: Mr. James Harthouse and Mrs. Sparsit. James Harthouse was so well off in life that he had no need at all to work. He was able to idle away all time without a care. "This gentleman...who had tried life as a Coronet of Dragoons, and found it a bore; and had afterwards tried it in the train of an English minister abroad, and found it a bore; and had then strolled to Jerusalem, and got bored there; and had then gone yachting about the world, and got bored everywhere." This boredom was a common thing for the aristocracy. Since Harthouse did not have to work a laboring ten hour work day he had no way to occupy himself, thus he went from place to place to satisfy his need for entertainment. When he came to Coketown for a visit he stayed only because of the opportunity to amuse himself with Louisa. Like many upper- classman, Harthouse toyed with people's feelings and emotions for his own personal enjoyment. He claimed to be completely obsessed with Louisa, but as soon as he found out that she had lost interest he detached himself with no care and went off on yet another adventure, as if he had just finished playing a game. This action is another perfect example of how
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Hard times- Charles Dickens. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 04:07, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/24000.html