Fact met Fiction (#4)

Take an passage from Hard Times (a paragraph long) and explain why and how this paragraph is important to the key themes of the novel

Through careful consideration about how I could combine my own personal interpretation to Charles Dickens “Hard Times” and still depict the themes as required by the question: I chose a paragraph that doesn’t necessarily embody usual studies, as I hope to focus less on class and family and more on Dickens himself.

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“Thank Heaven!” exclaimed his father ‘He may be got abroad yet.’ 

It was the more hopeful as the town to which Sissy had directed him was within three hours’ journey of Liverpool, whence he could be swiftly dispatched to any part of the world. But, caution being necessary in communicating with him – for there was a greater danger every moment of his being suspected now, and nobody could be sure at heart but that of Mr Bounderby himself, in a bullying vein of public zeal, might play a Roman part.

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This passage specifically acts as a mediator to the conflict and the family dynamic itself. As we see the family rushing to attempt to help their guilty brother. Despite previous mentions of family values and overall attempt to prioritise facts. The family is hoping to hide the brothers guilt and get him out of the country to avoid prosecution for the robbery.

Aside from obvious juxtaposition of the families ideals vs their expression of family values, the Reader is also shown that despite initial portrayals of them being cold and distant towards each other they are also willing to allow someone else to take the blame for the crime. Showing Dickens own personal view on absolute enlightenment thought, that complete reliance on facts can be damaging to family love and a healthy family unit.

This personal attempt to allude to a balance of faith and fact is further reinforced as Dickens consistently alludes to religion in this passage.

Firstly, Dickens emphasises the fragility of using facts as the cornerstone to your personality through “Thank Heavens!” he reveals Mr Gradgrind falling back on faith in times of struggle. Using biblical allusion to discredit his cold and fact forward expression of self. Introducing us to Dickens own personal bias and faith. This critique on the Gradgrind’s and how they have conducted themselves is furthered through the allusion to the betrayal of Jesus, and his crucifixion at the hands of the Romans, in “Mr Bounderby himself, in a bullying vein of public zeal, might play a Roman part” using biblical allusion to further reinforce that Mr Boundary was ‘set up’ by Tom and his family.

This then presents us to Dickens interpretation of class inequality and his personal view inspired by the class inequality during the industrial revolution. As through mention of Mr Boundrby we the readers, are reminded through personification of the media in “bullying vein of public zeal” that Mr Bounderby was innocent and unable to save himself like Tom and his family are saving him, due to his class and lack of resources.

Although it is not the most iconic passage within Hard Times, I personally liked how it brought closure to Dickens own interpretation of the Gradgrind’s and a fact prioritising life.

A Critically Acclaimed Dear Diary (#2)

1/ What obstacles did you face in trying to read Wuthering Heights and how did today’s tutorial help you to work a way around some of those obstacles? What are your plans for taking action on the obstacles that you face(d)?

Although Wuthering heights is teeming with themes very similar to the ideas followed by the Romantics. The text itself can be a challenge road to read, even if you set aside Google on hand for any nuonced words that feel like their mocking you, when you find the definition is pretty self explanatory.

One of the great things about Wuthering Heights is the lack of overt bias Bronte expresses within the text, her ability to be a literary guiding figure as the author doesn’t seem to be a huge contributor to how people receive the text. I chalk this up to the reason the novel has a divisive response in regards to characters, themes and morals. The author reads as conflicted and undecided…

Should we condemn the lovers who go against the the normal views of love? or should we rally behind their non-conforming expression of love? What does Bronte want from us? – the critique coming from Nelly? or the empathy coming from Catherine?

This confronting way of articulating the story and the themes of Bronte’s time are also what made it challenging for me, personally. The push and pull feel of the book had me on my own inner turmoil. Despite being well aware that it was probably just an overt expose of Bronte’s own exploration. However, the lack of clear idea as to whether the novel was congratulating the lovers or criticising their lack of change made it hard to follow the narrative.

The lack of clear guidance from Bronte paired with the nagging voice of Nelly felt almost meta, in the way the book challenged and took on itself and its own portrayal of these clear Romantic themes. Which made it again, hard to follow – It was hard to not feel like I was reading the thoughts of someone undecided and overtly self critical.

Eventually, I had to come to the decision that all the characters would do wonders in therapy or perhaps with some TedXTalks on communication.

God Save the Subjective (#1)

1/ Can you say briefly what was the most important idea(s) that came from this morning’s lecture or tutorial? Can you also say why it was important to you?

Throughout the tutorial mentioned, we delved through readings & poets alike hoping to capture the dreams of the ‘Romantics’. Posing questions via their remains such as: what made their poetry starkly contrast that of their counterparts from the ‘Enlightenment’ period & where they believed their society was lacking.

The key ideas that furthered this crew of idealists are many that we see today, although most of us feel them less intensely, and hopefully, are less enamoured with children.

Despite my throwaway line, the Romantics and their obsession with the portrayal of innocence was a vital idea in my personal opinion. It began the recognition of children as a separate entity, leading the way for child laws & the mentality that children & their innocence should be protected (especially if their family are the ones refusing to maintain this).

I feel as though I, and the Romantics, such as Wordsworth and Blake, would not get along. Their approach to reality although pivotal for history and fantastic to study being subjective and lacking of affirmative action. This, despite their progressive ideas, challenge me personally.

It was very much the movement of Ideas.

Therefore, Romanticism’s recognition of Indigenous people’s worldwide can be seen as a catalyst for attempts today of global recognition of Indigenous people’s claim to land, rights and retribution for past colonial atrocities.

I once watched a documentary saying that we nowadays are all Romantics, due to the impact the ideas had on our current views on nature, innocence, the middle class, education, desire, imagination and my personal favourite – morality.

As much as I would like to, my drive to help ‘better’ society & my willingness to die for the working class*, I can’t fault the documentary’s logic.

*note: use of hyperbole: I promise I do not have a personal death wish.