Hard Times

Set in the industrial town of Coketown, the narrative follows Thomas Gradgrind, an educationalist who prioritizes facts over emotions in raising his children. As capitalism and industrialization reshape society, Dickens explores the dehumanization of the working class, reducing them to mere machines. Gradgrind's rigid principles ultimately lead to unforeseen consequences, reflecting the utilitarian and materialist attitudes prevalent in the mid-nineteenth century. The novel serves as a critique of these societal changes and their impact on human relationships.