Application Of The Marxist Theory To Hard Times
Marxism is embedded today as it is displayed in variety of ways in our society. But what is Marxism? It is a theory developed by Karl Marx that proposes social economic classes that are evident in literature as well as those reflected in real life. Within Charles Dickens’ Hard Times, one can view the simple teachings of Mr. Gradgrind in Book I: The Sowing, a form of Marxism. He encounters a student in the school he teaches at that does not abide with his teachings. He later takes her in where she opens his eyes to the mistakes of his proposed educational plan. With a glance through a Marxist lens, one can prove Marxism is evident in Charles Dickens’ Hard Times through the corrupt ideologies of Mr. Gradgrind leading to the destruction of youth and the social alienation of Sissy Jupe.
Mr. Gradgrind's utilitarian ideology is implemented into the minds of young children in his school and those that reside in his home. The book opens with a proposal of his doctrine which he simply states, 'Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them. This is the principle on which I bring up my own this statement, one can see that his ideology surrounds the idea of distinguishing the mind and the heart. His philosophy trumps any idea of imagination while rooting children, and this is the principle on which I bring up these children” (Dickens 3)
By everything else out. It is based solely on factuality and leaves little room for creativity. The use of this ideology is a capitalist tactic. The authority in this context takes advantage of the kids by means of viewing them as vessels of information. After the teaching of his utilitarian philosophy, Gradgrind hoped the kids would think rationally rather than emotionally. Despite the strong belief in his philosophy, it is proven to be ineffective when the kids he once taught have grown into robot-like individuals. With the lack of exposure to the creative arts, their emotions, and imagination, these children have yet to display any sense of morality. After implementing his ideology onto his own kids, Louisa confronts her father years later and says, “All that I know is, your philosophy and your teaching will not save me. Now, father, you have brought me to this. Save me by some other means!” (224). After years of firmly believing in is utilitarian ideology, he sees firsthand as to what the outcome of his teachings may be. During this confrontation, his daughter mentions that she is getting a divorce. He reveals that he is disturbed as to why his daughter desires a divorce at a young age. After this encounter, he is enlightened to the fact he cannot teach emotions. By doing so, he tries to abandon his ideology to help his daughter. The topic of ideology in the Marxist theory is expressed in Hard Times through the philosophy of utilitarian education and its ultimate downfall.
Throughout the text, Cecelia Jupe has been viewed as an outcast by society. She is continuously alienated by her peers and nonetheless, Mr. Gradgrind. While in class, Cecelia “Sissy” mentions that she would fancy. This evokes a negative response from Mr. Gradgrind as he states, “That’s it! You are never to fancy. . . You must discard the word Fancy altogether. You have nothing to do with it. You are not to have, in any object of use or ornament, what would be a contradiction in fact. ” (Dickens 4).
Through the simple exchange between Mr. Gradgrind and Cecilia Jupe, one can observe that she is not abiding to his teachings. His utilitarian ideology is not as effective on Jupe than it is on the other kids. With her acknowledgement of imagination, she is viewed as “altogether below the mark” (125). Her constant response to the emotion she feels directly contrast to her peers. Jupe’s inability to repress her own thoughts places her in a position to deal with the social alienation from her peers. To scold Cecelia for stepping out of the status quo among the classroom, he only further proves that she is indeed the alienated in the classroom. Sissy’s inability to comprehend Gradgrind’s ideology results in a positive outcome. Unlike suffering the dreadful fate Louisa endures, Sissy encounters the good karma that has been waiting for her. When the narrator reveals the fate of the major characters, they mention that, “. . . Sissy’s happy children loving her; all children loving her; she, grown learned in childish lore; thinking no innocent and pretty fancy ever to be despised. . . ” (305). As a result of maintaining her character despite the alienation she faces, Sissy is met with a happy ending.
Throughout the text, Mr. Gradgrind is always making an attempt to convert Sissy’s way of thinking. By maintaining her humanity, Gradgrind’s utilitarian ideology does not affect her. She is the only resident of Coketown who has a real sense of happiness which, yet again, alienates her from the rest of society. Ultimately, Gradgrind’s ideology lead to the social alienation of Sissy within the classroom and through the town.
One can prove Marxism is evident in Charles Dickens’ Hard Times through the corrupt ideologies of Mr. Gradgrind leading to the destruction of his own daughter Louisa and the social alienation of Sissy Jupe. Depriving kids of any sort of creativity will affect them soon. If one allows the kid to express their creativity and imagination, they will grow to be exceptional kid.
