Charles Dickens – “Hard Times” – Chapter Five – “Mr. Bounderby” – Analysis.

The extract is part of the fifth chapter of the novel "Hard Times" written by Dickens; the overall function of the extract is the introduction of a new character within the narrative.

The main character of the extract is introduced in analogy to another character: Mr. Gradgrind. The two characters have similarities in that both avoid moral feelings (are devoted to the calculations and the actual figures) but initially the reader only knows the kind of relationship that binds them (deep friendship) and is not aware of other analogies on the socio-political floor. The first sentence makes clear only the presence of significant differences between the new character and the one presented directly before him (of which the reader, who has read only current chapter, has no information): Not being Mrs. Grudy, the difference between the two is very strong because their identities are totally distinct one from the other.

The similarities between the two men emerge in the second paragraph which sets out the social and physical characteristics of the new character; thanks to them the intelligent reader can process a first pattern of matches with the teacher introduced the second chapter. The repetition of a man, in addition to highlighting the specificity of its characteristics also puts it on a higher floor than that of the other characters known so far. The characteristics of Mr. Bounderby are presented here in the form of a list, each on the same level of the others, again thanks to the repetition of the two terms. The first sentences concern the workplace; then you move to his physical description, and finally to his perception of himself and to his moral characteristics. The description of the man is a kind of climax that leaves from his social position until reaching his inner most peculiar and particular elements.

The relationship with Mr. Gradgrind is explained fully in the third paragraph: A year or two younger than his eminently practical friend; Mr. Bounderby looked older. In this second part of the descriptive sequence we talk about the apparent age and real age of the character in relation to the other, highlighting his peculiarities not mentioned before: his vainglory.

The fourth paragraph begins a first narrative sequence that combines the two characters not only in their features but also in the situation told in the extract. The introduction of the scene, however, implies a continuation of the description: the man decides to stay in front of the fireplace for three reasons (temperature; humidity of the place; position that this implied). Mr. Bounderby suffer the cold and damp climate, but at the same time acts to put yourself in a position higher than that of women: this refers to the matrix of sexist nineteenth English society (men have more decision-making power that lacks instead to women, which are only the submitted). The description of the environment; in addition, may report directly to the owner of that house and denote him remotely by extension: Mr. Gradgrind thus appears to be a man gloomy, cold, detached and that provokes terror (characteristics compatible with his description in the second chapter).

The next paragraph inserts a dialogical sequence: a brief reading of the next part of the text highlights the fact that the narrative continues, but at the same time takes a dialogue between the two characters in the scene. The man tells how he spent his last birthday (central topic of the conversation). This story is in total contrast to his previous description: whereas before the reader has the perception of the social importance of the character and its degree of training, now his own comments make him look ridiculous in given situations. This contrast is part of the narrative technique of the grotesque; in this case it is time to ridicule only the character and not to bring the reader to try pathos to it, because the initial description and the relationship, that binds him to Mr. Gradgrind, suggests to the reader that this character plays a negative role in the novel, an element that does not allow the identification with it and then try pathos.

After this first beat the dialogue continues with an inference about the appearance of the woman, the wife of alleged Mr. Gradgrind. She is seen as a slender figure and weak: in this way the narrator emphasizes again its position of inferiority to the man who is speaking and his passive behaviour against him, the brief description, mainly composed of adjectives and time only to give a few indications on the character (and therefore will not be among the main characters) ends with a question. This conclusion serves the function of bringing the sole comment made by the woman in reference to the fall in a ditch just told by Mr. Bounderby. The character of the wife of his friend is initially so unimportant as not to make it necessary to quote his direct statements. This refers back to the underestimation of the role of women in Dickensian English society.

The following beats of the woman are shown but only with the intention of accelerating the conversation. The description of the man continues in these measures by referring to his plight childhood: the vicissitudes of his led Mr. Bounderby to be the self-made man who he is when he speaks. The technique of the grotesque is used here again but whereas previously the intent was to ridicule the character and its contradictions, now the narrators intent is to try pathos against him, against the child was. This will also highlighted the lives of a middle child in Victorian age (exploitation, malnutrition and low living conditions).