The definition of a horse, C. Dickens – Analysis

Mr Gradgrind is an educator that teaches to pupils nothing but facts, neglecting their imagination and emotions. He is a supporter of the utilitarian philosophy and he never doubts about the rightness of his opinions.

At school, one day, he esamines two children, Sissy and Bitzer.

The girl is spontaneous and emotionalist, so she is very worried about the teacher’s questions. She can’t describe a horse, despite her father is a horse-breaker. Mr Gradgrind dismisses Sissy’s definitions because it is not scientific and factual.

Then, the teacher asked Bitzer his definition of a horse. The boy answers with a clear and precise definition of "one of the commonest of animals". He probably represents the theacher’s heir and he may be his favourite pupil.

The girl, Sissy, has got dark hair and dark eyes; while the boy, Bitzer, is described with light colours. He has also light hair and light eyes.

The author describes the girl with dark colours because she symbolizes our dark side: the imagination closed to ignorance, the feelings and inhability. Sissy is spontaneous, emotionalist and simply.

The boy symbolizes the utilitarian philosophy. He lights up, he is very clear and exhaustive. The boy describes horses telling nothing but facts, without sentimentalism. Bitzer is rational and materialistic.

Mr Gradgrind is a snooty teacher that never doubts about the rightness of his opinions. He doesn’t respects the children feelings and points of wiew. He is narrow-minded because he doesn’t take into consideration the nature of his students that are considered like “little pitchers”, only little empty vases to fill with rationality, precision and without any feeling.

In conclusion, the narrator criticizes school system and learning form more importance than subject matter: originally was conceived as a method of instruction arising from children's own experience and suited to their age, but it was distorted when introduced in English schools.