The second chapter of the extract from Hard Times is aimed to describe the influence and the consequence of the Industrial Revolution.

Starting from the title “Coketown”, it suggests that the most important element is coal and this remembers the idea of progress (Utilitarianism). To describe the city the narrator appeals to senses, in particular sight: the two colours that are riches of symbols are red, that conveys the idea of suffering, and black, that refers to something negative as coal.  

In addition, the New Church is described using irony and the grotesque showing Dickens’ negative opinion towards institutions in Coketown where everything is built according to Utilitarian principles.

Coketown is developed in form of utility: there is no imagination in school or town according to Utilitarism and Materialism therefore there is no possibility to be creative because it requires imagination that is banned, but the most important thing is that you are not freedom.