The fictional characters of Charles Dickens never disappoint me. From The Old Curiosity Shop to The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens has masterfully intertwined the lives of his characters, creating the heartwarming--and sometimes heartbreaking--relationships that compel us to read on. His brilliance shines in Hard Times as the novel starts out with the haunting message, "Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else." This theme reverberates through the pages of his book, dictating the lives of the painfully unwavering school headmaster, Thomas Gradgrind, and his emotionally abject daughter, Louisa.
As the novel progresses, Dickens introduces his trademark supporting cast of characters. We meet the refreshingly honest Cecilia 'Sissy' Jupe, a girl who symbolizes Gradgrind's missing traits; Stephen Blackpool, a mill worker whose fate is left to the cruel society of industrial England, and the self-proclaimed 'determined vagabond', Josiah Bounderby of Coketown, who Stephen works for. Dickens never drags the plot on; rather he introduces characters when he sees fit, fortifying the plot and adding depth to it as a result.
If you're looking for a novel that isn't too long, but packs a emotional punch, Hard Times is a shining example. Dickens's mastery over character development is at its best, showing us why he is the most celebrated author of the Victorian era. Pick up this novel; you won't be disappointed! ^_^
No comments:
Post a Comment