"capitalism with a human face" (262).
             In Hard Times, Dickens criticizes the conditions of the industrial revolution, but not the concept of capitalism itself. Throughout the novel, Dickens stresses the importance of individuality. The characters who lack individuality and embrace bare rationalism and fact – for instance, Grandgrind, Tom and Louisa – are portrayed as missing out on something in life. Grangrind brings up his children to know "nothing but Facts" (1) for "Facts alone are wanted in life" (1), and sternly weeds out any drives towards "idle imagination" (19) such as looking at the circus (19), reading poetry (19) or even "wondering" (54). Consequently, Tom grows up having no regard for anyone but himself, and Louisa cannot form emotional attachments to others even though she wishes she could. In addition, Dickens clearly disapproves of the depersonalization of factory workers by continuously referring to them as "Hands", thus depicting them merely through the part of their body that performs the factory work.
             The element of individualism in the novel is depicted through the personas of circus workers, and most notably Sissy, who was raised in the circus. Because the circus is an entertainment geared towards escaping everyday realities, Dickens portrays it as embodying fantasy, creativity and thus individuality. Unlike Tom and Louisa, Sissy is presented as a more complete person and is able to positively influence Louisa to recognize that the emotional dimension matters.
             While Dickens values individualism, he also criticizes it when it is pushed to the extreme. This is illustrated through the character of Bounderby, who embodies the ultimate value of capitalism by proclaiming himself to be a "self-made man" (for example Dickens 84). As we discover later, he is not a self-made man after all. This calls into question the capitalist val...