Charles Dicken's " Hard Times"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Charles Dickens held to a social philosophy, which differed from the "invisible hand" theory proposed by Adam Smith that the self-interest of people ultimately leads to advancement of the common good. The author points out that the novel depicts the aristocracy, which is on the wane; the middle class, which is comprised of wealthy industrialists; the struggling working class and a fourth class, which is used for comic relief and as impetus to the plot, a circus group, who represents entertainers, whose role in society is to bring happiness and enjoyment.

From the Paper:

"The aristocracy is represented by Mrs. Sparsit and James Harthouse. Sparsit is motivated by her attempt to retain the aristocratic values of the upper class, even though her position is simply that of housekeeper to Bounderby. Her housekeeping duties consist of the outer trappings of the aristocratic lifestyle. But she inwardly despises Bounderby, whom she sees as a pretender. She is motivated by revenge against him. Harthouse is a bored aristocrat who is removed from the realities of life. In his position as a spokesman for a political party, he is not motivated to accomplish good, but to amuse himself. His interest in Louisa is equally shallow, because when she rejects him, he simply moves on to another town with no worse damage than a wounded ego."

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