The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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Hard Times
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Hard Times, Part II, Chapters 1-6
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I did feel for poor Stephen - in trying not to get involved in the Union and possible trouble, he brings no end of trouble on himself. I wonder whether Louisa saw the irony of his position, or just felt for someone else in as trapped a position as she is.Tom is becoming a nasty piece of work, so definately one to watch.
Mrs Sparsit and Bitzer are an odd pairing, quite amusing together and each trying to make the best of their situation by utilising any knowledge gained. Will be interesting to see if their sneaky behaviour does them any favours longer term.
Zulfiya wrote: "1. Has the marriage changed Louisa or Bounderby? Of yes, how? If no, why? 3. Speculate about the role James Harthouse is going to play in the novel. Is Dickens going to explore the topic of temptation and infidelity? ..."
I am not sure whether the marriage has changed Louisa already, but I was positively surprised that she wanted to help Stephen. That was a good thing.
With regards to James Harthouse, I had the same first impression and would say that at the moment he is probably more interested in her than vice versa, but who knows what will happen.
It became at least clear that Louisa's devotion for her brother was the reason for her marriage. It seems almost an incestuous relationship between these two, but (probably) only in a Platonic way and fostered by the way they were raised up.
Quite a self-sacrificing deed!
Helen, I have to agree with you on Tom. He is so cold, arrogant and nasty. He does not like Bounderby and nevertheless made his sister marry him in order to have her as company in Bounderby's house. How self-centered and egotistic is that. He does not care about anybody's feelings.I was very compassionate with him in the previous book, but he seems to become quite unlikeable.
I liked the (not factual) reference to the Bank Fairy and Bank Dragon watching the treasure.The first chapter felt a little more poetic/ fanciful again compared to the first book.
It seemed to me that James Harthouse arrived with some level of intention toward Louisa. All those questions about her for Mrs. Sparsit! And what did Sparsot mean when she said, "Oh, you Fool!" since she wasn't talking to the sweetmeat. Bitser seems Uriah Heep-like, but it's too soon to tell. Tom still needs a punch in the head, but more so. He's completely self-serving! I love this scene though...
“These were the last words spoken by the whelp, before a giddy drowsiness came upon him, followed by complete oblivion. He was roused from the latter state by an uneasy dream of being stirred up with a boot, and also of a voice saying: 'Come, it's late. Be off!”
Harthouse certainly doesn't have any patience with "the whelp" once he's used him!
Poor Louisa! Things don't seem likely to go easier with her. (Although, I have yet to warm to her as a character.)
Mod
It certainly seems that way. I don't know if there are secrets we don't know about. I'm so uncomfortable with most of the characters that I'm suspicious of everyone. Also, I'm hoping the story isn't that boring. :-S
Just finished Chapter 6. Do you think Tom is up to something or just a thoughtless jerk? It's possible he set Stephen up to look guilty if Tom decides to steal from the bank.
Renee wrote: "Just finished Chapter 6. Do you think Tom is up to something or just a thoughtless jerk? It's possible he set Stephen up to look guilty if Tom decides to steal from the bank."Tom is definitely up to no good - I'm just not very convinced that Stephen would be so naive as to do his bidding without question. Maybe because Tom is higher up the social scale than him, but even so...
Another thing I'm not convinced about is the whole set-up of Stephen's ostracism from the other workers. We're not told what it is the union is actually fighting for, or why Stephen is against it apart from his promise to Rachel to "avoid trouble". Dickens obviously wants us to despise the union organiser, Slackbridge, whilst sympathising with the workers who are depicted as manly, simple and Slackbridge's dupes. It's all rather clumsily depicted, with no details of the "measures" the workers want.
A few years before Dickens was writing, the Ten Hours Bill limited working hours in the mills to 60 a week, but wages were correspondingly reduced. Conditions were often highly unsafe, and industrial accidents were common. There was no lack of material for Dickens to get his teeth into had he wished - but he doesn't. It's all disappointingly vague, with the union issues reduced to a plot device.
I agree, Emma. So far this is a very disappointing follow-up to Bleak House.
I have disagree, especially with these last chapters. I'm finding this to be completely relevant to today, and I've gone for liking Hard Times the least to putting it up there as one of my favorites. Not that the characters are more compelling - except Stephen - but because of, again, the subject matter.Especially Stepehen "speech" to Bounderby - one side is unnaturally always right, the other side unnaturally always wrong. We see that today where the wealthy always see to have everything go their way and the system is rigged for their benefit, while the poor are blamed for being poor.
As for the unions, I was a bit disappointed that Dickens didn't take their side. I see his point - they are merely working to gain power of their own. But at the same time, if it wasn't for unions, we wouldn't have a lot of great things at work that we have today (i.e., a safer place to work, the weekend, etc.).
Right now I'm taking a class on Coursera called a Brief History of Humankind. I just love it. I just listen to the lectures, and don't do the papers or take part much in the discussions.
But the professor has talked quite a bit about the Industrial Revolution. I always take the side of the worker, and know how bad the conditions were for them...and still are in factories around the world. Even I have to admit, though, that the world today would be much bleaker without the IR. Everyone was poor before the advent of capitalism and the IR. With the growth that comes from capitalism, the average person has a better life. And in another course on Coursera - Sustainable Development with Jeffrey Sachs - he's talked about how we are on the point of eliminating extreme poverty.
But we can't forget the awful plight of the first workers - and again, the workers who still are treated poorly.
Or the fact that the way we live today has an enormous negative impact on the environment. And the way the west today consumes is hurting workers in developing countries.
The good news is that we can have a cleaner more humane way to run the economy. We just have to put it in place. And it's books - like this - on that subject that can bring the topic to light.
Renee wrote: "Just finished Chapter 6. Do you think Tom is up to something or just a thoughtless jerk? It's possible he set Stephen up to look guilty if Tom decides to steal from the bank."I was wondering why Tom had Stephen stand in front of the bank. Shame on me...I'm usually good at predicting what is going to happen.
1. Has the marriage changed Louisa or Bounderby? Of yes, how? If no, why?
2. How is Tom from Book II different from Tom from Book I? Is his transformation logical or expected?
3. Speculate about the role James Harthouse is going to play in the novel. Is Dickens going to explore the topic of temptation and infidelity?
4. Speculate how Tom's revelations are going to affect his family or other people whom he knows.
5. Stephen finds himself in the position when he is disliked both by his employers and his co-workers. Why is Stephen ostracized?
6. Is Stephen's situation an eye-opening experience for Louisa. If yes, why?
7. Stephen is going to start everything anew. Is this the only chance for him for a decent life? Does one have to be a pariah at home to pursue one's happiness?
Post away, my dear friends. I will try to check the progress of the discussion as often as I can. Please bear with me - the moving hassle will not last for ever:-)