The extract about Mr. Bounderby's characterization begins with a question so that the writer tries to involve the reader into the narration.

In the first part of the extract, Mr Bounderby is described as a person empty of feelings, uncapable of sentiments. He is said to have spiritual relationships only with people devoid of sentiment as him. Of course, his relationships had nothing to do with spirit. Here Dickens uses a negative description since the character is shown through what he is not or what he lacks of.

Again, the tird person and omnicient narrator is intrusive because of the expression "if the reader should prefer it".

Secondly, Mr Bounderby's social background is revealed through exaggeration: he was a rich man, who was able to do any job. He is ironically described as if there was nothing he cannot do.

The reader understands he belongs to the middle class (bancker, merchant, manufacterer).

The characterization proceeds with the description of the character fisical aspect given through comic images which ridicule Mr Bounderby.

He is said to be made of coarse material and the writer creates a concrete vision of something being stretched through the alliteration of the "m" (man, made, material, make, much..).

Everything is in excess, enormous and sproportioned in the descricption of Mr Bounderby's face.

The phisical features reflect his personality since the character is said to vaunt himself a self-made man. He was full of himself. Also is way of speaking is analyzed: he does not speack, he proclaims. His voice is compared to that of a brassy speaking trumpet so it was as if he wanted to make an announcement.

This way of proceeding to cerate the characterization is functional to make a critic of the character and to give him less importance.

In the past he was poor and ignorant but now he has improved his social position. People had this aim during the Victorian Age. Everybody wanted to climb the social ladder.

He looked older that actuallt was; he had not much hair; also the expression "windy boastfulness" ridicules the subject highlighting his vanity.

The extract proceeds with the scene of Mr Bounderby and Mrs Gradgrind talking in the drawning-room of Stone Lodge. Mr Bounderby stood near the fireplace so he had a position of command over Mrs Gradgrind.

This detail reveals Mr Bounderby wanted to subdue people such as material properties.

Mr Bounderby's speech is focused only on his figure, as underlines the repetition of the expression "I was". The man talks about himself and his infancy exaggerating into describing how poor he was and how bad his health condition was.

Moaning and groaning are onomatopoeic verbs.

Mr Bounderby is really proud of himself and he insists on his capability to rech a good social position without the aid of other people.

Mr Bounderby repeats the sentence "I am proud as you are" to assert his indipendence. The repetition reveals the writer's intention to make irony.