Hard Times

                           " Thinking Activity "

   " Charles Dickens's Hard Times " 

 Welcome readers! Here, I am going to write down an another blog about Charles Dickens's Novel - "Hard Times" This blog is inspired by Dr. Dilip sir barad - Department of English, MKBU. This blog is a part of our thinking activity. 

   But, Before going further firstly, it is very much important to know about the original novel and a brief introduction about the Author. 

  Charles Dickens :-

 Charles Dickens, in full ' Charles John Huffam Dickens ' ( born on 7th February, 1812 ) in United Kingdom. He was an English Writer & Social Critic. He created some of the World's best Known Fictional Characters and is regarded by many as the Greatest Novelist of the Victorian era. 

   He was one of  ' Britain's most famous Authors. ' He wrote about the things that many people before him had avoided writing about like the lives of Poorer people. He died on 9th June in 1870. But, Even his novels and short - stories are widely read in today's times. 

   About the Novel:- 

" Hard times " : ' For These times' . But, Commonly Known as " Hard Times " is the tenth novel written by Charles Dickens. First Published on 12th August in 1854. The book surveys English Society and Satirises the Social & Economic Conditions of the era. 

   The novel is a bitter indictment of Industrialization with its Dehumanizing effects on Workers and Communities in mid 19th Century, England. 

    The Structure of the Novel:-

    The novel is divided into three Sections. 

•  1st Book is Entitled as " Sowing "
•  2nd Book is Entitled as  " Reaping " 
•  3rd  Book is Entitled  as " Garnering " 

  These are agriculture titles that are ironic alongside the industrial Focus of the novel.

  Setting ( Time) :- The middle of the 19th century. 

  Setting ( Place) :- Coketown - mythical place, a manufacturing town in the South of England. 

  Genre :- Victorian novel, Satire, Realist novel, dystopia. 

  Here I am placing one video about the summary of this novel. Watch this video for your better understanding. And also it will help you further to understand my question - answer. 

   Here are some Important Characters of the novel. 

• Thomas Gradgrind - Important Figure
•  Mrs. Gradgrind
• Louisa ( Loo) Gradgrind
• Tom Gradgrind
• Jane Gradgrind
• Josiah Bounderby
• Mrs. Pegler - Mother of Mr. Bounderby
• Mrs. Sparsit - Aristocratic  Lady
• Cecelia Jupe as - " Sissy "
• Stephan Blackpool
• Rachael 
• James Harthouse
• Mr. Sleary - Owner of  the Circus
• Bitzer - A Student, An important figure in the novel. 
• Mr. Mcchokumchild - Teacher
• Slackbridge.

Question :- 1 Review of the hindi play based on " Hard Times. " 

 Answer :- On the day of 25th September, Saturday we had a hindi play Screening based on Charles Dickens's novel Hard times. It was organized by Dr. Dilip sir barad as a part of our Classroom activity & Studies. 

   The hindi play of " Hard Times" Started with one beautiful song where all the Characters came on the stage and they sang one song together that; 

 

  " कमाल की कहानी है ये  हे तो बड़ी पुरानी जी|"

  As we all know that the song has given the theme of the entire novel. 

         Musical hindi play based on Dickens famous Novel - Hard times. 

 The novel starts with the scene of school and dialogue came that; 

 "Now, what I want is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts. 

   Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. " 

 " Students are like empty vessels & they said together that Facts, Facts and Facts."

  

   Charles Dickens used satire on reality. Where students are taught in the school that;

            " जो चीज असल में  नहीं है वो आप लोग नहीं करेंगे|" 

   They only want nothing else, but the Factful language. 

  In the hindi play of Hard times we can see that there was a Conversation between Sutradhaar & Nut. That is how we can observe the dramatic technique used in the play. Also, Marriage happened of Louisa and Josiah Bounderby according to the wish of Mr. Thomas Gradgrind. Louisa was not happy with these marriage but, still she said yes for the sake of his brother's career. In the play we all can understand the famous dialogue of Mrs. Gradgrind by saying that;

  " काश मैने तो शादी ही नहीं की होती | "

  This dialogue of Mrs. Gradgrind create humor also. All this things shows the unhappiness of marriage of the characters in the novel. We can also understand that the theme of Marriage and Divorce is important in this play & novel. Charles Dickens also used his satire on the machines. How all this machines worked and he said that; 

                                " Entire life of people eaten by Machines. " He used satire on

Industrialist. 

Also, In the novel and the hindi play we can see & understand that the themes of upper class & Lower class reflects. But, Dickens takes the side of lower class & poor people. When he talked about rich people, his tone became - " Mocking and Satirical. And when he talked about poor people at that time his tone became - " Pathetic and sympathetic. "

One of the Character - Stephen Blackpool was from working class. His life became terrrible. He was trying to become truthful and due to that, he was thrown out of the society. Actually, It was Tom who strategies everything. But, still the blame of theft came on Blackpool. In reality Tom was responsible for theft in the bank and Stephan was completely innocent. So, This is how we can understand that how Charles Dickens used satire on ' Industrialism. ' & Other Aristocratic society, upper class people. With that taking side and showing sympathy for working class and poor people. 

Conclusion :-  To Conclude I would like to say that everyone should watch this hindi musical play at least once based on Hard times. So, it will give better understanding about the novel and also about the problems that faces by poor people in our society that exactly what Dickens wants to tell us. Moreover, This play tries to explain us in a very simple way. 

Question :- 2 Write a detailed note on the Thematic study of the novel - " Hard times. " 

 Answer :- As we all know that Themes are very much important in any work of literature. Here, In particular answer of the question, I will discuss Some themes of Charles Dickens's novel Hard times. They are given as below.

1. Fact Vs. Fancy
2. Industrialism and it's Evil
3. Unhappy marriages
4. Feminity

Let's discuss these themes in detail :-

 1.Fact V/S Fancy :- Charles Dickens in his novel depicts a terrifying system of education where ' Facts, Facts and only Facts ' are pounded into the School children all day. Mr. Thomas Gradgrind Completely believed in this system. He makes sure one thing that all the children at the Schools should learn only facts. As a result of all this, things go very badla for Mr. Grangrind's own children. - Louisa & Tom Gradgrind. 

       As a children, they both were treated as if they had minds and not hearts. Their Adulthoods are Warped as they have no any other way to access their feelings or connect with others. 

      We can see in the novel that Louisa is unhappy when she follows  her mind, not her heart. She married to Mr. Bounderby her father's friend. As a result of this their marriage turned into an unhappy marriage and Louisa was very upset. 

  

     So, we can say that Fact v/s. Fancy is one of the important themes in the novel - Hard times. 

 2.Industrialist and its Evil :- 

    

      Dickens depicts the situation of Industrialization of England. Now, Coketown - manufacturing town of England focused on producing more and more, more dirty factories are built, and more smoke pollutes the air and water. and the Factory Owners only see their Workers as a part of the Machines that bring them Profit. In fact, the workers are only called as " Hands. "

     Stephen Blackpool - a poor worker at Bounderby's factory, is rejected by his fellow workers for his refusal to join the union. His factory union then treats him as ' An Outcast. ' His life became terrible. 

       In short, Industrialization creates an environment in which people cease to treate either others or themselves as people. That is why Dickens used satire on Industrialism. and take the side of working class and poor people. 

    3. Unhappy Marriages :-

             There are many Unhappy marriages in Hard times and none of them are resolved happily in the end. Mr. Gradgrind's  marriage to his Complaining wife and her Constant Comment that;

 "  काश मैने शादी ही नहीं की होती | "

   Neither are they or their children happy. 

    Another marriage happened of Louisa Gradgrind & Mr. Bounderby.  She married him not out of love but of a sense of duty towards her brother. She said yes for his brother. Because, she truly loves Tom. Tom works for Bounderby and wants to improve his chances at rising in the world. 

     Stephan Blackpool, too is involved in unhappiness of marriage. The girl who seemed so sweet when he married many years ago now becomes, by a gradual process a depraved drunk, who is the misery of his life. He was very depressed and his life bacame terrible. 

     So, we can understand that unhappy marriages - One of the important theme in Dickens novel - Hard times. 

  4. Feminity :- 

                              The best, most good characters of Hard times are women. Stephan Blackpool is a good man, but his love, Rachael is an " Angel. " Sissy jupe can overcome even the worst intentions of James Harthhouse with her firm and pure powerful gaze. 

          Louisa Gradgrind, lastly manages to get out of her crisis at the last minute by fleeing home to her father for shelter. Also we can understand that sissy - kind & helping nature girl. So, The role of Feminity potrays very well by Dickens in his novel. 

  For better understanding about the novel go through these videos. 

   I hope that this blog is useful to you... 

   Thank you for visiting... 

   

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