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HARD TIMES (1854) ![HARD TIMES] images (12) - Coggle Diagram
HARD TIMES (1854) ![HARD TIMES] 
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The story opens in a schoolroom in Coketown, in mid 19thcentury Victorian England
The main character, the educator, Thomas Gradgrind, belives that facts, and not imagination or emotion, are the key to a good education
At Mr Grandgrind's request, his daughter Louisa marries his older friend Mr Bounderby, in order to help her brother Tom
Tom becomes increasingly selfish, he robs his employer and he is obliged to leave the country
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Tom dies on his way back from America after apologising to Louisa who never marris again and decides to live a life of charity
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THEMES
The novel denounces:
- industrialisation --> gap between the rich and the poor, factory owners and exploited workers
- Utilitarianism --> human nature is motivated by self-interest, to be encouraged by education
CARICATURES
To hint at the characters personality Dickens uses caricatures
- The name Gradgrind is made up of grade (evaluation) + grind (crush into powder) --> his education system destroys imagination and creativity