Explore Dickens presentation of education in Hard Times Essay Example for Free

Explore deuce presentation of direction in weighed down Times EssayExplore heller presentation of upbringing in delicate Times and chit chat on how this reflects a Dickensian vision of Utilitarianism Dickens presents The Victorian education system in Hard Times in a fundamentally negative bureau, Dickens expresses the idea that having an imaginative aspect to our education is essential. He does this through satirising the education system and mocking the eccentrics. Throughout the novel, it is a purpose of Dickens world satirical towards the education system.Dickens opens the novel with a satirical comment of Thomas Gradgrind and his utilitarian educational methods as he teaches the room full of students Facts al adept are wanted in life (9) Dickens satirises Gradgrinds commitment to an education comprised just of facts as Gradgrind exaggerates that facts are the lone(prenominal) essential thing in life. Fancy (14) symbolises imagination and wonder compared to facts .Dickens emphasise Fact more than he does with Fancy he does this by repeating fact itself, sounds more forceful. Gradgrinds view on education is his children are to neer conjecture or wonder. Gradgrind rejects the concept of fancy or imagination fancy has nonhing to contri ande to understanding only things that can be measured are important. Gradgrinds disapproving rant on fancy You foundert walk upon flowers in fact (14) to the students underlines that fancy is bad and it should be facts (14) In his satirical description of Gradgrind, Dickens aim is of what he experienced in the industrial England during his time when education varied vastly, fit to location, gender, and class, meaning that Dickens view on Utilitarianism is shown in a satirical way, and his beliefs stood out throughout the novel, this indicates how the education system was controlled. Dickens uses characters names to continue his satire of the utilitarian education system prevalent in Victorian Britain.Mr Gra dgrind breaks into the word Grind as a means to crush, signifying his method of grinding down the students individuality and any imagination they may render entered the school with. Mr MChoakumchild, breaks into me, choke, child Dickens exaggerates with the name as we dont think the new teacher is literally choking the children in his care, that this Fact-obsessed creature entrust only choke imagination and feelings out of them. If he had only learnt a little less, how infinitely reform be he might have taught much more (15) This highlights that the utilitarianism system would function much better, if it were not so strung on facts. If Mr. MChoakumchild had learnt less and been practically involved with his students more and would have taught remote better. This is criticizing the way the system works. Dickens is suggesting that in the utilitarianism system, suggesting that ramming facts into students might not be the most effective way of teaching them. Not everything can be r educed to facts alone. Mr Gradgrind and Mr Bounderby are the main representations of utilitarianism and take iners of the system.In Louisas proposed marriage to Bounderby, Dickens shows us a disastrous consequence of Gradgrinds system that denied everything but facts. You have been accustomed to consider every other question, simply as one of tangible Fact (97) This illustrates that Gradgrind, who is incompetent of expressing his senses effectively toward Louisa, edges her into a marriage with Bounderby by stating various facts and statistics to her. Louisa is hesitant to communicate her feelings towards him she returned, without any visible emotion (96) David bewilders How Successful Was Hard Times? (1981) argues that Gradgrinds ideology in his system is question commensurate, Lodge explains that it is a primary index of what is wrong with his system Mr Bounderby is also a character with utilitarian beliefs, doubtlessly one of the major characters that has a firm belief in the s ystem, you may force him to swallow boiling fat, but you shall never suppress force him to suppress the facts of his life (23) He signifies the very essence of his ruthless principles that only has room for facts and statistics.Hard Times outlines that a utilitarian approach to life is unsuccessful and costs those who follow their imaginations become robotic and inadequate to the system. Imagination and heart is found in the circus where Mr Bounderby and Mr Gradgrind despise No three-year-old people have circus masters or attend circus lectures about circuses (23) Gradgrind implies that circuses are not like a practical schoolroom. Dickens represents Sissy Jupe as an influential character of the novel who presents the nourish of a warm heart and embodies feelings and emotions.She is seen as a complete failure of Gradgrinds system. However Dickens and the reader judge her as a success. The young innocent girl mocked by the teacher and presented as the dumb girl in the start of the novel, gradually turns out to be the most key character in the whole novel. Since the foundational significance of fact and the removal of fancy that Gradgrinds education obliges, Sissy Jupe will never succeed. Nevertheless, in spite of the education, Sissy becomes a young woman who is able to maintain her own principles and beliefs.The severalize descriptions of Sissy and Bitzer are shown in their appearance. For example Sissy is described as radiant and warm opaque eyed and dark haired (11) referring to her as someone who is the face of vitality. However Bitzer is portrayed as what little contort he ever possessed (11) and His iciness eyes would hardly have been eyes (11)) Demonstrating that he is cold and emotionless with no heart and all calculation. Dickens uses Bitzer to demonstrate that other students are influenced by him, display that he is a follower of Gradgrinds system, whereas Sissy is the foreigner to the system.The Utilitarian education system relates to the indu strial town Coketown which consists of factories and large streets like one some other people equally like one another (27) The town is linked to a painted face of a savage (27) that is described as raging and uncultured, the children are being deprived from the ill-smelling dye (27) Dickens suggests the society that the children/workers are living in is unsanitary Jail (28) indicating that they have no escape from their problems.The utilitarian system stamps out all imagination in the pupils and prepares them perfectly for the life of drudgery. Dickens describes as their lot as hands in Coketowns factories. pedagogics presented in Hard Times is shown as satirical in Dickensian vision of Utilitarianism. This is because Dickens is able to create a fool out of the system cunningly. Furthermore it is certain that what Dickens has presented is humorous and persuade with making the utilitarian ideology seem absurd through the novel. I find David Lodges argument towards Dickens opini on as liberal and potent.