The definition of a horse

The extract under analysis is taken from Charles Dickens’ novel Hard Times, first published in 1854. The novel is divided into three sections. The extract is taken from chapter two, belonging to the first part. One of the main characters of the part is Thomas Gradgrind, a father of five children who works as a teacher. The novelist draws the reader’s attention on children’s education both at home and school, with the purpose of criticizing the methods used at the time.

In particular, the extract is set at school: it is focused on a significant episode that features Mr. Gradgrind as a teacher.

As for the structure, the extract is made of different paragraphs. It includes descriptive, narrative sequences and dialogues as well.

The extract is opened by a paragraph in which the narrator provides the reader an introduction of Thomas Gradgrind. The reader is addressed as a “sir”, meaning that Gradgrind’s introduction is not addressed to everyone, but only to people with a certain social status. Gradgrind’s introduction is structured as a list of sentences. As the reader goes on, sentences become larger and it creates a climax. Also, the climax is reinforced by the use of several repetitions. The expression “a man of” is repeated three times at the beginning of the introduction and makes it seem a kind of a slogan. The character’s name, especially his surname, is repeated seceral times along the introduction and it sticks into the reader’s mind.

Mr. Gradgring is presented as a highly rational man, one who only deals in facts. The repetition of his name also makes him look like self-centred.

His objective and coldly rational point of view is extended to people as well. In the second paragraph, the narrator informs the reader that Mr. Gradgrind introduces himself like said before to everyone. He doesn’t care whether he addresses someone in private or in public, nor does with children. Mr. Gradgrind’s opinion about children (in particular his students) is given by the word “pitchers”, which is highly inadequate, considering that he is a father as well: he appears to be like a cold machine.

His attitude towards his students is examined in the following paragraphs. He is indeed described as a machine and compared to a cannon. Here, the reader may recognise Dickens’ criticism towards what children were forced to face: war, but mostly work in industries and also negation of their childhood.

The cruelty of Mr. Gradgrind’s attitude is provided by the use of verbs such as “to blow them” and “to storm away”.

The dialogue begins at the end of the third paragraph. The conversation features Mr. Gradgrind and Cecilia Jupe, who seems to be a new student. He coldly addresses her as “girl number twenty”, only pointing out her gender and number (it may be her number on the class register, but that isn’t explain). His cold behavior is underlined by the repetition square-squarely. The reference to a square highlights his very little open minded point of view.

Mr. Gradgrind asks who the girl is and she immediately stands up, not hiding her emotions. At the teacher’s question, she answers with the name “Sissy Jupe” instead of her actual name (Cecilia). It is interesting to focus on the teacher’s reaction, who immediately scolds her for using the name “Sissy”. When asked to introduce herself, Cecilia showed the teacher her identity. What happens as thhe dialogue goes on, is the demolition of the girl’s identity. It is a consequence to Mr. Gradgrind’s (and other people’s) cold attitude towards children. By denying things such as “Sissy” instead of “Cecilia”, adults deny the children’s identity and prevent them from living their childhood properly.

As Cecilia mentioned her father, the conversation moves and Mr. Gradgrind asks her about him. Among his observations, Mr. Gradgrind cuts off all of the useless information and tells Cecilia to be objective and specific. He identifies her father as a “veterinary surgeon, a ferrier and horsebreaker” and therefore asks her to provide the definition of a horse. Being unable to answer the question makes Mr. Gradgrinds upset and, to make her understand, he asks another child named Bitzer to answer the question. Once again, the narrator mentions his “square finger”.

Bitzer’s answer is anticipated by a paragraph in which the narrator describes and compares him to Cecilia. While the girl is “dark-haired”, “dark-eyed”, seems to “receive a deeper and more lustrous colour from the sun when it shone upon her” and is blushing (which recalls the colour red), the boy seems to have lost all of his colours. The sun does not emphasize his colours, but his pale skin, his icy eyes and his light hair. Bitzer appears to be one of the many children who have been influeced Mr. Gradgrind: he lost his colours, which means that he is not a child anymore. His life is not characterized by fantasy, imagination, or such things, but only by cold objectivity and rationality, just like his answer demonstrates.

Bitzer’s definition of a horse is made by a list of characteristics. It is marked by precision and objectivity, and features exact numbers. It lacks verbs and sentences, as a demonstration of the boy’s gone personality.