Hard Times

Set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, this novel explores the harsh realities of factory life and the dehumanizing effects of utilitarianism. The narrative follows several characters, including the pragmatic Gradgrind and the struggling Stephen Blackpool, as they navigate a society focused on facts and efficiency. Themes of social inequality, personal fulfillment, and the importance of imagination versus rigid rationality are woven throughout the story, offering a poignant critique of Victorian values.