Analysis of the Extract Mr Bounderby from C. Dickens' Hard Times

The extract is taken from the fourth chapter of Charles Dickens' novel Hard Times, published in 1854.
The function of the extract is to present the ideal of the self made man, that is very important during the Victorian Age.
First of all, the narrator says that Mr Bounderby is not Mrs Grundy, who is the personification of a gossip woman. Using irony the narrator makes the reader understand he cares only about himself.
The narrator goes on presenting him: he is very near to Mr Gradgrind but their relationship is not of real friendship, but it is founded on the same interest. Using the metaphor the narrator uses irony to introduce their relationship, and in the following sentence the narrator shares intelligent reader's idea about them, saying that he is far to be Mr Gradgrind's real best friend.
The narrator goes on presenting Mr Bounderby throughout the category of social position and work: he is a rich man and he reached a high social position making many works. From this information the idea of the self made man, very important during the Victorian Age emerges. The narrator says he is "a man made out of a coarse material": it underlines he does not belong for birth to the upper class, but that he has fought to reach a higher position. He is a haughty man who does not want to hide what he reached so the narrator compares him to a balloon. He shows his present and high position to everyone, comparing it to his old position of poverty and ignorance: he is the model of the Victorian Age, a man who has been able to reach a better position and to improve himself.
The first sequence is characterized by many sentences that begin with the word "man", as to underline that in Mr Bounderby's opinion he was not a man before reaching a higher position. Moreover the narrator uses irony to characterize Mr Bounderby, who becomes a grotesque character, who causes reader's laught.
In the second sequence the narrator provides the reader with some information about Mr Bounderby's age. He is a middle aged man, but he seems older than he really is. It may be a sign of his past hard life and the man does not do anything to look better. There is also an ironic description of Mr Bounderby's aspect and the metaphor of the balloon is here recalled, comparing his boastfulness to wind.
In the third sequence Mr Bounderby is in Stone Lodge. He is stand up near the fireplace, not only because it is a cool spring afternoon, but also because he wants to subdue with his person Mrs Gradgrind. It emerges that he always wants to be superior and it is due not only to haughtiness but also to his fear to return to the past poor condition and to be treat like a poor man.
Mr Bounderby is telling Mrs Gradgrind about his tenth birthday, underlining how disperate was his condition: in this way Mr Bounderby makes his efforce to climb the social ladder more admirable. The narrator provides the reader with some information about Mrs Gradgrind: she is a bodily and mentally weak woman and also the narrator defines her a stupid woman.
Mr Bounderby goes on talking about his childhood and of the terribile conditions where he lived. The last sentence of the extract is very important: Mr Bounderby underlines that he has reached his present position only exploiting his determination and that he has done everything alone. He considers himself an example for everyone and he his proud of his efforce.