Friday, January 9, 2015
Book I: Chapters 1-6
Welcome! Remember to write two comments on the first six chapters of "Hard Times" by Thursday, January 22. Read your classmates' comments and make sure the study guide questions on the class handout all get covered, and make sure one of your own comments reacts to someone else's observations, while your other comment brings up new ideas of your own. Also make sure to quote the text directly at least once. Have fun!
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The dialogue between Louisa and her father in chapter 3 seems to show Louisa as a curious and bold young girl and her father as disapproving towards his daughter being so. Mr. Gradgrind seems to believe that men should be in charge and should have better sense as he says "Thomas, though I have the fact before me, I find it difficult to believe that you, with your education and resources, should have brought your sister to a scene like this." Furthermore, when Louisa says that she had brought him, Mr. Gradgrind responds saying "It makes Thomas no better, and it makes you worse, Louisa." Because their father believes that it makes Louisa worse for bringing him shows that he feels as though women should do no such thing.
In regards to Nick's post, the belief's of Mr. Gradgrind presented within the dialogue of Louisa and himself in chapter 3, about how men should be in charge continues on through chapter 5, in different context. In continuation to the idea that Mr. Gradgrind believes that men should be in charge, he takes it upon himself to figure out why Sissy/Cecilia Jupe is off gallivanting in the city. His reaction to the fact that she is running from someone, indicates his need to take charge of her "well-being." He seems to take the consequence of the matter to be a fault within her father and wants to speak with him because he feels her father has not discipline her enough. In the fact that she is wrong for "running in this manner," instead of understanding that he had frightened her, he felt the need to bring up the matter with her father. "'Now, girl,' said Mr. Gradgrind, "take this gentleman and me to you fathers; we are going there." (pg. 25) He feels the need to take charge of this young girl who in his perspective he believes doesn't really know what she is doing, and therefore has little sympathy for her. Other than the fact that he convinces Bounderby to take her under his wing.
Mr. Gradgrind is obviously a very hateful person from what we've read in the first six chapters. He seems to think he's better than everyone, which is illustrated by his conversation with Mrs. Gradgrind on page 22 and 23. Notably, Gradgrind says "How I fought through [my life struggles], I don't know...Here I am, Mrs. Gradgrind, anyhow, and nobody to thank for being here but myself." (pg. 22). It is unknown exactly how much help Gradgrind needed to get him to where he is, but one can assume that he had at least some. Mr. Gradgrind, however, likes to believe every success he's ever had is simply a result of his own determination and hardwork, with no assistance from anybody.
Sissy Jupe’s name is not only a caricature but also ironic to her actual personality. She is one of the only characters, that we’ve seen so far, who stands up to Mr. Gradgrind’s strict beliefs and doesn’t follow the standards of her community. When asked in Chapter 2 if she would cover her room “with representations of flowers,” she said that she would but would use pictures of flowers instead of the actual thing so that they wouldn’t get ruined. To the teacher and Mr. Gradgrind, this idea was ridiculous because there were no “facts” included in her response. Jupe used her imagination to create something that she “fancied,” an action that stuns the people around her. Although her name would make it seem like she is a coward or a weakling, Sissy is actually an imaginative young girl who doesn’t follow the stereotypes around her.
I agree with Brandon's statement regarding Mr. Gradgrind, however, Mr. Gradgrind is more hardened than hateful. His life as a young man was very difficult as he stated "'I hadn't a shoe to my foot. As to stocking, I didn't know such a thing by name. I passed the day in a ditch, and the night in a pigsty....'" (pg. 17) Gradgrind's oppressive, dirty, unkempt childhood no doubt affected his thought process. As an adult, he is portrayed as orderly and against tomfoolery, but most importantly repulsed by imagination. His running away from his grandmother and life on the street most boldly define his character. "'everybody of all ages knocked me about and starved me. They were right; they had no business to do anything else. I was a nuisance, an incumbrance, and a pest. I know that very well.'" Gradgrind is a self-made-man and openly admits that as a beggar he was a drag on society. In my opinion this makes him a very respectable man in this aspect. He chose to make himself something instead of continuing to live a life of oppression and hunger. It is because of his early turmoil that he teaches or rather lectures to the students in such a stern manner, or in the case of Sissy Jupe, interrogates her. Gradgrind despises failure and desperation, so he teaches his students to succeed.
In regards to Katie D's comment, I would like to disagree. While I do agree that Sissy Jupe's name is in fact a caricature, it is not representative of her weakness, and is therefore not ironic. Instead her name is representative of her youthful personality, as yet unhardened to the world. Both aspects of the name are a reference to femininity, Sissy by an outward comparison to the word sister, often shortened to sis or sissy, and Jupe being the French word for skirt, a very obviously youthful and, for lack of a more apt term, girly article of clothing. So rather than a caricature of weakness, Sissy is instead a caricature of youth, and perhaps naivety.
Coketown, the setting established by Dickens, was full of visual and olfactory imagery that was also a direct insight into Mr. Gradgrind's personality. While he himself was a man of cold, hard facts and allowed no imagination or freedom, he chose a place to live with similar qualities. Chapter 5 opens with a description of Coketown as a town of "unnatural red and black like the painted face of a savage...and a river that ran purple with ill-smelling dye." (pg. 65) Dickens establishes a melancholy, uninspired town, much like Mr. Gradgrind himself. As a result, Dickens emphasizes the social problems of the working class of his day and the juxtaposition between Sissy Jupe and Mr. Gradgrind, or fantasy and rationality
Dickins overall tone throughout the first six chapters is one that seems to separate characters from the readers. The text and dialogue throughout seem to oppose modern day values of imagination and the uniqueness in individuals. This tone distances the reader from the ideals of some of the characters in their need for factual material and truthfulness. Mrs. Gradgrind even states "Go and be somethingological directly." (pg. 18) to her children. Somethingological appears to mean something without nonsense or something unimaginative as it's expressed that Mr. Gradgrind found her statement to be somewhat hypocritical but well placed for her limited imagination as well as that she had "no nonsense" about her.
The definition of "utilitarianism" is shortly a theory of normative ethics holding that the proper course of action is one that maximizes utility. It is open to interpretation how Dickins will express his feelings throughout the rest of the story. However, throughout chapters one through six, Dickins appears to be in confusion of these utilitarian ideals. So far the story has only been told only through the eyes of the people who seem to follow and agree with utilitarian ideals. These characters are also aggressive with their beliefs in enforcing them upon their children and others, expressing an expectation that they also follow and agree with their utilitarian ideals. Making an educated guess however, I would believe Dickins would be expressing these feelings toward utilitarianism positively, so that the reader could gain outside perspective upon the characters and their flawed, oppressive ways. Therefore encouraging readers to oppose these ways and search for their flaws.
"Now what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life." The opening statement to this novel, by Mr. Gradgrind, showcases a major theme in the first 6 chapters. Facts are portrayed as the only thing that truly mattered in this culture, with Gradgrind's teachings being centered around them. It is also important to note that the word facts is always capitalized within the novel, regardless of syntax. I believe that this hard emphasis on facts is important in order to draw a contrast to fancies, which is seen as a staple of the circus community within the novel.
Dickens presents Coketown in an overall dark, disparaging way. It is described a having basic structures, fulfilling their purpose, yet lacking aesthetic appeal. In describing Coketown, he uses similes such as “like the painted face of a savage,” (p 28). He also incorporates metaphors comparing the smoke out of chimneys to “interminable serpents,” (p 28). These devices set a wild, dark, and mysterious tone for the setting. In this description, the most frequent colors mentioned are black, white and grey. These are plain, simple colors, and ultimately portray a boring, work-oriented setting. This is also an extension of Mr. Gradgrind’s passion of concrete facts, and his disbelief in excessive imagination and non-educational outlets. He mentions on many occasions his absolute insistence on facts. He discourages his children and his students any form of digression from facts, which emphasizes simpleness and dullness--just as the colors, similes, and metaphors of Coketown do.
In the beginning of chapter 6, one of the Pegasus seen at the public-house is described as "theatrical...with a real gauze let in for his wings, golden stars stuck on all over him, and his ethereal harness made of red silk"(pg.33). Considering a Pegasus is part of Greek mythology and fantasy, the Pegasus represents the imagination and delight of the people of the circus. The circus folks aren't concerned about facts, unlike Mr. Gradgrind, who only focuses on facts. The circus folks also seem to have soften and open personalities, unlike Mr. Gradgrind's hardened personality.
I agree with Katie K’s description of Coketown, and the clash between Sissy Jupe and Mr. Gradgrind. The girl has a creative and innovative personality, whereas Gradgrind’s is the complete opposite. This juxtaposition was validated on page 15 when the girl spoke of putting flowers on a carpet because she “fancies” them and Gradgrind orders that she is “never to fancy”.
I agree with Alex's point of Mr. Gradgrind being more hardened than hateful. He seems to only care only about cold hard facts than unrealistic ideas. As seen within chapter 2, Mr. Gradgrind and a gentleman teach realistic ideas and facts to the children and give explanations to why a unrealistic idea can not be done. Anyone who agrees with a impractical idea is quickly targeted as wrong. Mr. Gradgrind stands by his beliefs firmly and isn't easily swayed by silly concepts.
I agree with Sami's evaluation of the Pegasus in relation to the circus. The factual views of Mr. Gradgrind completely oppose the idea of a greek mythology and a pegasus. The sixth chapter continues to show how Mr. Gradgrind want's his views to be expanded to others as he wishes to take Sissy to his home to teach her his philosophy of fact. In this, Mr. Gradgrind is taking out two birds with one stone. Not only is he removing Sissy from a culture which he despises and opposes, but he in the same turn would be converting and teaching her his way of life. His cause is just however it conveys a sense of oppression in how he deems his view as the truth while that of the circus is unfathomable and wrong.
In response to Lindsay's comment, I also agree that the setting has a direct correlation to Mr. Gradgrind's passion for facts and conformity. Coketown is a town designed solely for function and mechanization; a place with robotic tendencies that eliminates any room for defiance or independence. Mr. Gradgrind expects his students to behave similarly, complying with his infatuation with facts and rational thinking. Sissy Jupe disobeys Mr. Gradgrind's policy showing her self-confidence and strong-willed personality, which Mr. Gradgrind sees as a threat his very existence. He fears a world of originality and free-will possibly because such qualities were the reason behind his terrible childhood.
Dickens's word choice in chapter 1 when describing Gradgrind perfectly captures his essence and his characteristics. Dickens describes Gradgrind as being very stiff and strict when he is in the school room."The speaker’s obstinate carriage, square coat, square legs, square shoulders..." (ch.1) This contributes to the idea of Gradgrind being very stiff, his square coat, square legs, and square shoulders give us the image of a very upright and proper man who can is likely very strict. Gradgrind is also likely very dry, bland, and monotonous when he speaks. "The emphasis was helped by the speaker’s voice, which was inflexible, dry, and dictatorial." (ch.1)
I agree with Katie K's post about how Coketown is purpose built for function. Gradgrind in a way represents Coketown as a whole, he is focused on function and nothing else. But then Sissy is the exact opposite of Mr. Gradgrind and Coketown as a whole. She is caring, sensitive and can be seen as a foil to Gradgrind. He is even upset upon forst learning of her name. "‘Sissy is not a name,’ said Mr. Gradgrind. ‘Don’t call yourself Sissy. Call yourself Cecilia.’" (ch. 2) This shows how Sissy is creative and different but Gradgrind can't accept her because he thinks she should be called something that he thinks is an acceptable name.
In the book Mr. and Mrs. Gradgrind seem to perceive their own children as delinquents, running around like chickens with their head cut off. They believe that children should be more like adults with polite manners, who are well-disciplined and rather have them read a book than play outside. This is why Mr. Gradgrind gets so upset at his children for looking at the circus. When he asked his daughter “What would your best friends say, Louisa? Do you attach no value to their good opinions? What would Mr. Bounderby say?”(Pg. 20). Mr. Gradgrind feels like it’s necessary to criticize his children for their acts of imagination so that they would become more civilized and act more like an adult, not wasting their time looking at such childish things. Mrs. Gradgind also asides with her husband about what their children have done, but she believes in a different type of discipline, “How can you Louisa and Thomas! I wonder at you. I declare you’re enough to make one regret ever having had a family at all. I have a great mind to say I wish I hadn’t. Then what would you have done, I should like to know?”(pg. 23). Scolding her children, telling them that she regrets even having a family because of their actions; this even makes Mr. Gradgrind feel a little unease due to the harsh reply from her. Furthermore telling her children to “Go and be somethingological directly.” Further criticizing her children for behaving the way they did telling them to become more intellectual instead of acting like the children they are. She would much rather have children that impress her with their intelligence, than have kids who act like kids.
I do agree with Wyatt's statement about how Mr. Gradgrind views his children as delinquents. However, it is also impressionable that, he views he is a know it all, and because he is in charge of his children, he wants to force his views upon then as well. He doesn't want them to form their on opinions as he believes as he is the only one who can be right.
I agree with Katie Kemp's comment on the appearance of Coketown. From the description of the air pollution, "brick would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it", it is clear to tell that this would not be a beautiful place to live.
I also agree with Nick's original post. I would go even further into Gradgrind's misogynistic thoughts and ideals. I would say that simply from his name you can tell, much like in the poem "Hello, Hello Henry" where the central character's name is Mr. Manley
Towards the end of Chapter 3, after most of the dialogue between Louisa and Mr. Gradgrind had ceased the body language that Louisa sawed toward her father seemed to me as though Mr. Gradgrind has a past with being forceful and sexist towards Louisa separating her from the actions of her brother, Thomas. "At the mention of [Mr. Bounderby's] name, [Mr. Gradgrind's] daughter stole a look at him, remarkable for its intense and searching character. He saw nothing of it, for before he looked at her, she had again cast down her eyes!" (pg.10). This shows Louisa's hesitation when her father mentions Me. Bounderby's name and how, being a young lady, she is "property" of her father and his intentions for her to live her life. I do not believe that Mr. Gradgrind's intentions for his daughter and her future were positive just as an inference on how he was introduced and has gone through the story and conducted himself with the other characters. Mr. Gradgrind is a man that believes that women are property and should conduct themselves as such.
I agree with Wyatt's comment regarding Mr. Gradgrind's view of an imagination. Through the chapters we see that as a teacher and person, Gradgrind limits solutions to only the immediately tangible. Sissy Jupe is asked if she would carpet a room with flowers and she replies that she would because she likes flowers. Although Thomas Gradgrind only repeats the Gentleman's words, he does agree with the need for fact, reason, and logic. He treats his own children in the same manner simply because he strongly believes in order. Gradgrind doesn't tolerate imagination because he has no imagination. One would venture to say that he is hardened to imagination due to his childhood. Wishing, dreaming, and imagining got him nowhere.
I agree with Alex's comment about being more hardened than hateful. Mr. Gradgrind had a very disciplined upbringing which translated into his adult life as a rigid character not only to the people he converses with, but with his own children. I agree that Gradgrind has had to build himself up from the bottom, as it were, to the "average" life a person can have. He has had a lot of failure in his life, but also a lot of success to get him where he is. He translates that into trying to help his students, but he does so in a very forceful manner, but with out hate, giving the illusion of a hateful man but in actuality he is just rough in his presence.
I agree with Wyatt's statement about how Mr. Gradgrind believes his children should be more like adults with polite manners. Mr. Gradgrind raises his children as if they were already adults. He takes pride in the fact that "no little Gradgrind had ever seen a face in the moon,.. learnt the silly jingle, Twinkle, twinkle, little star; how I wonder what you are" (pg 10). By not allowing his children to grow up with the typical fun and imagination that children should have. Mr. Gradgrind expects his children, and all other children, to grow up as the "models" he thinks they have to be. This unrealistic expectation Mr. Gradgrind has for his children causes him to become upset when Louisa is peeking into the circus, because in his mind a child shouldn't be entertained by such foolish and child like things.
Mr. Grad grind is presented as an incredibly one sided man, whose life amounts only to calculations, facts and figures. He is defined by his perception of society and the role he plays in it, he perceives the children in the classroom in this manner, "Thomas Gradgrind now presented Thomas Gradgrind to the little pitchers before him, who were to be filled with so many facts." (Pg.4) Gradgrind's life revolves around the proper and correct way to do things, whether it's a social custom, a calculation, or the definition of a horse. He treats both his own children, and the schoolchildren as " little vessels" to be filled with only facts and knowledge, as well as only the proper adult way of going through life.
I agree with Sami's comment about the contrast between the circus people and Mr. Gradgrind, that Gradgrind is hard and factual while the circus is full of more open and softer personalitied people. I think that Gradgrind and his emphasis on proper life styles and factual knowledge represents one side of the town of Coketown, the evidence driven, hard and cold side. While the circus people with their emphasis on fancy, their mythical animals, and warmer personalities, represent the other side of the town, one that is less concerned with facts and that is softer and more agreeable. These two sides make up the world which is presented in the book, and what each represents also captures how the different characters are portrayed in the story, as either a variation on Gradgrind and his strict regiment of facts, or the circus peoples life of whimsy, fancy and warmth.
I would have to agree with Wilson on how Mr. Gradgrind takes Sissy under his wings and will now try to make her into a civilised person like himself, instead of being in a place in which Mr. Gradgrind despises. Taking Sissy under his wing gives him another chance to make a well rounded daughter because his first attempt didn’t seem to work out due to the fact that he found his daughter looking at the circus and he sees that she will no longer be obedient to him, due to the way Louisa talked back to her mother “That’s the reason!”(pg.23), this is what
Louisa said to her mother after telling how disappointed she is with her family. Mr. Gradgrind knows that Sissy’s father won't come back for her even though she thinks he will, so he will take this opportunity to create a daughter in which he would be proud of. Teach her the Facts in which she needs to know to be like him.
I disagree with Brandon Smith about Mr. Gradgrind being a hateful person and just overall thinking that he is better than everyone else. He doesn't have the ability to think creatively, he is a factual man, making it hard for him to fathom that there is something in the world besides facts. Making it hard for him to be happy. Imagine living in a world where you can't even think of anything that has to do with your imagination, it isn't pleasant. Mr. Grandgrind's life is solely based on facts. This can be seen on page 498 (in my book,) when it says, "Thomas Gradgrind took no heed of these trivialities of course, but passed on as a practical man ought to pass on, either brushing the noisy insects from his thoughts or consigning them to the House of Correction." This quote shows that if even remotely a thought comes into his head that may contain fancy, he immediately disregards it. I don't think this means that he is a hateful person, but a person that relies on facts. A person with no imagination shouldn't be held to the standards of having an outstanding personality. You can't blame Mr. Gradgrind for being the way he is, he doesn't know any better.
I agree with Lindsay. Dickens does present Coketown with a very somber tone. It is colorless and seems to be lifeless. Although there is a population in the town, there is a sense of lifelessness with in the habitants. They are lacking imagination. They are taught only to think with cold, hard facts. There are no colors used to describe the town except black, white, and gray. "It was a town of machinery and tall chimneys, out of which interminable serpents of smoke trailed themselves for ever and ever, and never got uncoiled." (Page 17) When I think of chimneys a warm, cozy feeling surrounds it. I think of families sitting in front of fires having loving conversations. However, Dickens' description of chimneys has a cold and dark tone. He also compares the smoke to serpents. Serpents create an image of darkness in my mind. Cokeville reminds me of an industrial city, with big gray buildings and a dark cloud constantly hovering above. The town, along with Mr. Gradgrind's beliefs, are cold, hard, and factual.
I agree with Lindsay's comment on the fact that the setting that dickens creates is similar to Mr. Gradgrind's beliefs on life. Mr. Gradgrind's belief in utilizing only the "cold hard facts" is parallel to the black and white of Coketown. Gradgrind's theory that imaginative ideas and emotions should be oppressed creates a dullness in the lives around him. Characters such as Gradgrind's daughter attempt to rebel against this theory, to feed her imagination, but finds herself stopped each time by her father. This flatness is continued on through the characteristics of the city. "It contained several large streets all like one another, and many small streets still more like one another" (Chapter 5). This idea of creating a city that would only be used for its necessary purposes adds to Gradgrind's theory. "No house is different from the other. Each only fulfilling the main function of the structure." Coketown is a "triumph of fact" (chapter 5) something that Mr. Gradgrind's prides himself on.
In chapter 3, the dialogue between Louisa and Mr. Gradgrind truly reveals the relationship that they have. Louisa just wants to have the imagination that Mr. Gradgrind never got to have. This can be seen on page 499, it says, "There was an air of jaded sullenness in them both, and particularly in the girl...a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow, which brightened its expression." That's why Mr. Gradgrind gets so mad when he sees that Louisa is trying to fancy what is on the other side of the door. Also, it makes him even more angry that his son didn't make Louisa stray from being curious. He figured that Thomas having such a high education, he should also be smart enough to know that fancying is wrong, and to make it so that his sister doesn't fancy things either.
To comment on what Alexis said I think it's very interesting how a big part of the novel is the whole contrast between facts and imagination. It's cool to see how on one side of the spectrum there is Mr. Gradgrind who bases his whole life around facts and seriousness and then on the other side, Dickens brings in the character Louisa to argue all of Mr. Gradgrind's beliefs. It will definitely be interesting to see how these conflicting characters get more involved.
A Pegasus is an emblem for the circus world characters simply because of its imaginative name and origin. The circus characters are a group in the town that have kept their imagination intact. They are what's left of the openly lively and imaginative people in the town. Pegasus is a flying horse created in the stories of the gods. It is a fictional animal. People in the town are taught only to believe things that can be proved by fact. They are also to describe things only with facts. For one to describe a Pegasus one would have to use creative terms because it is a magical character. The circus also represents a sense of magic. One goes to the circus to be awed and feel a sense of wonder and magic within each act. Similar to how one feels when they describe a Pegasus. The people of Coketown would consider a discussion about a Pegasus crazy talk but they also consider the circus characters crazy, and that is why a Pegasus is an emblem for the Circus world characters.
It becomes very obvious at one point in chapter three that Mr. Gradgrind had a very strict and bland childhood when on page 16 when the narrator is talking about the "little Gradgrinds". "No little Gradgrind had ever seen a face in the moon", "No little Gradgrind had ever learnt the silly jingle, Twinkle, twinkle, little star; how I wonder what you are!" and it goes on like that, telling the reader how unimaginative the little Gradgrinds were raised, probably all because of Mr. Gradgrind's upbringing.
The setting of Coketown in the first six chapters is reminiscent of a communist society. Coketown is described as having "nothing...but what was severely workful"(pg. 29), suggesting that everything, from buildings to the people, is geared toward a working society. Also, the "eighteen religious persuasions" that are established in Coketown have almost no members, paralleling communism's rejection of religion. The school is quite similar to a communist school, where an emphasis is placed upon knowing only facts, not on creativity and problem solving, which severely limits the imaginations of the school children, shown by Sissy Jupe's scene with Gradgrind in chapter 2. In stark contrast to the dreary, fact-obsessed mindset of Gradgrind and Bounderby is the circus troupe. E.W.B. Childers is introduced as an intelligent, rational person who isn't restrained in his imagination. He was shown to be able to counter Bounderby and Gradgrinds hinting insults effectively, demonstrating that a fact based education may not be entirely flawless. Coketown seems to represent a communist society for the most part, and only the temporary circus stands againt that image.
I would agree with those who brought it up that Mr. Gradgrind is incredibly sexist towards Louisa. When he catches Thomas and Louisa peeping at the circus he is incredibly dissapointed in the fact that they're curious not about science or any sort of "somethingology" that is for the most part laid out in facts already, but in something whimsical and of no sensible value. However, as Nick Inslee pointed out he is even more angry at Louisa than at Thomas because he feels that women should not instigate unnecessary curiosity. He goes even farther to say on their way back to Stone Lodge, "“What would your best friends say, Louisa? Do you attach no value to their good opinions? What would Mr. Bounderby say?”(Pg. 20), which as Wyatt Grieble pointed out is his way of criticizing the children's un-studious behavior, but is also directly pointed at Louisa. This is could be because she doesn't feel the shame that her brother feels, but also could be because Mr. Gradgrind wants her to know, as a woman, that in his opinion she SHOULD be shamed, not just by her own guilt but by the other women and by adult men.
This gross display of misogyny towards Louisa surfaces again when Mr. Bounderby asks her for a kiss on her cheek in exchange for his promise to make things right for her and Tom with her father, which is creepy in it of itself, not to mention the fact that she obviously did not want a kiss from him when she remarks to Thomas that he "may cut the piece out with your pen knife if you like"
It's posible that Gradgrind, and much of the people in the town got the way they ere through the school. While socilizing children to certain ideals is important in all governments, Graddrind isn't really teaching his students much. "There being a general conviction by this time that 'No, sir!' was always the right answer to this gentleman, the chourus of No was very strong." Shows that the children arn't tought but to recognize patterns and fallow orders. That wouldn't lead to a very creative life for anyone in the town, if even most of the townfolk go to, or have gone to, school.
I think Sam's point about Coketown being reminiscent of a communist town, especially with all the imagery of machinery, communist red, and uniform streets. Not to mention the school is the "M'Choakumchild" school sounds a lot like "M-Choke-a-Child" to imply perhaps that they choke all creativity and innovation or "fancy" as they say, out of children so that they can grow up to be good, uniform, workers.
The name of the school being representative of an idea would also fit well with what Katie D said about Sissy Jupe's name being a characture.
Adding on to what Brittney said about Mr.Gradgrind only wanting to do anything the proper way, I also think that Mr.Gradgrind probably sees all people as vessals for facts. Like each person can only hold so much knowledge and rather than being hateful, is worried that the children will not get enough of the knowledge that they will need to do well throughout the rest of their lives. It's probably also why he takes in Sissy; he is worried for her, and that worry, combined with his admiration of her want to learn his facts.
In re Bryan, utilitarianism is certainly what Dickens is describing, but in a modern view (and while we read 1984), it is easy to see communist aspects in Coketown. As Alyssa points out, the uniform red buildings and machinery stand as communist indicators along with what I previously mentioned, however this is just happenstance as the book was published pre-Marxism. To further Bryan's point, the extreme way that Gradgrind is presented, and how the utilitarian society functions, serves to clearly show the flaws within such a society, as a less extreme example would have less extreme flaws.
I agree with what Tamara said about how the school itself reflects the character of the rest of Coketown. The first description of the school room is described as "plain, bare, monotonous vault'" (Ch.1). This is very similar to the type of feel the reader gets from the description of Coketown in Chapter 5. Also, as Alyssa stated, the "M'Choakumchild" name for the school definitely fits. Although kids aren't actually being killed or physically hurt at this school, their creativity and imagination are. Mr. Gradgrind and M'Choakumchild are preparing the students for the society that Coketown is, and has most likely been brought up to be by the school itself. Not only is Mr. Gradgrind teaching typical school subjects to his students, but he is also teaching them of the society of Coketown, which he enjoys and wants to continue. Any creativity and spirit that could have been brought to Coketown, dies when children enter the school of M'Choakumchild.
The description of Mr. Gradgrind's character in Chapter 1 foreshadows the setting of the next five chapters. Coketown seems to be more system than an actual town. It lacks a lot of creativity. The first page of Chapter 1 opens with Mr. Gradgrind speaking and he says, "You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them." Mr Gradgrind seems t believe that nothing else will be helpful for his students to know other than facts. This, of course, will help them fit in with the scene of Coketown as they get older. They will continue the society that Mr. Gradgrind and the school are used to. The whole first chapter is foreshadowing the next five chapters through its explanation of Mr. Gradgrind who seems to be running the "system" of the town through his teaching, also lacks creativity, which reflects the feel of the town, which the reader learns about in Chapter 5. Mr. Gradgrind is a great representation of the society shown in the first six chapters.
Mr. Gradgrind uses the metaphor of planting a seedling is like teaching people nothing but fact to promote a strong visual image in the readers mind. In the opening lines of the book, when he first uses this comparison, he says, "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." This visual image leads to a rather large issue that he must face within his own children. Due to the "nothing but facts" ideal that they grew up with, curiosity began to grow within them. My point is that to wonder about a life that one does not know is inevitable because, in this situation especially, the unknown is forbidden and taboo. Considering Tom and Louisa's strict upbringing, it was only a matter of time before curiosity got the better of them.
I agree with Maddy in regards to the Pegasus as an emblem for the circus world characters. When you think of a Pegasus you would have to use your imagination to be able to describe or define it. This imagination is also part of the circus because you go to see things you would have never believed to be possible. This contrasts with what Mr. Gradgrind, and many people in Coketown would think because they solely look at the facts of a situation. The contrast between the imagination from the Pegasus and the importance of facts from Mr. Gradgrind is seen in many other parts of the first 6 chapters creating an important theme.
Regarding Brandon's comment about Mr. Gradgrind being a "very hateful person", I would have to disagree. While I think that this idea is not completely untrue, it is hyperbolic. It is not that Mr. Gradgrind is hateful, it is just that his purely factual beliefs do not allow much happiness to enter his life. Not only is Mr. Gradgrind's mindset not open to happiness, but the setting he is put into is somber, and slightly terrifying with gruesome olfactory undertones. "It was a town of unnatural red and black like the painted fact of a savage."(page 13). Where some unpleasant feelings may be expressed by Mr. Gradgrind, he is not a truly hateful person. He's just kind of in a dark place because of his mental state and his surroundings.
From what I have read so far I have found a great correlation between "Hard Times" and "1984". Mr.Gradgrind seems much like Big Brother. "Thomas Gradgrind, sir. A man of realities. A man of facts and calculations. A man who proceeds upon the principle that two and two are four, and nothing over, and who is not to be talked into allowing for anything over. Thomas Gradgrind, sir—peremptorily Thomas—Thomas Gradgrind. With a rule and a pair of scales, and the multiplication table always in his pocket." At his school he only wants his students to learn cold hard facts, and believes that that's all one really needs in life. He despises the idea of imagination and romanticism. These ideas personified is Sissy Jupe. This is similar to "1984" because as Big Brother tries to control peoples thoughts and restrict their imaginations so does Mr. Gradgrind. In a way Mr. Gradgrind is instilling in his school a totalitarian setting.
In response to Katie D's analysis of Sissy Jupe I would have to say that I agree with her wholeheartedly. The word sissy has always been associated with cowards because we live in a patriarchal society there is a negative connotation with words that are feminine. For example if one is to afraid to do something their friends will playfully call said person a sissy. However Sissy is the only person whom has dared to challenge the ideals instilled peers, teachers, and Mr.Gradgrind. This being said I must address Matthew's comments as well. Although jupe means skirt in french this could just be adding to the femininity of her name therefore reiterating the fact that she is a female and adding to the irony of a female heroine in this type of society.
In response to Matt M and Katie D regarding Sissy name being a caricature I agree with Matt, Sissy is obviously a character who shows youth and naivety. I also believe that when Mr. Gradgrind tells her to never use that name and to not allow her father to either shows Mr. Gradgrinds want for his students to learn fact and become more introduced to the world. The nickname is a clear caricature for her personality, but Mr. Gradgrind believes it can be changed because Sissy is not her true name.
Regarding Lindsay's first comment, I definitely believe that Dickins did a great job describing coketown as a truly awful place to live. I agree with everything Lindsay said wholeheartedly. In addition, the fact that Dickins says that the school could be confused with the church, and the church confused with the mortuary further proves this point. Everything is made of brick and looks almost exactly the same. This contributes significantly to the overall dark mood of the book.
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