Imageries in Hard Times
BOOK 1
CHAPTER ONE
“The scene was a plain, bare, monotonous vault of a schoolroom”
“...the speaker’s mouth, which was wide, thin and hard-set.”
“...the speaker’s voice, which was inflexible, dry and dictatorial.”
“The speaker’s obstinate carriage, square coat, square legs, square shoulders.”
Analysis: The description of the classroom is clearly ridiculing the absolute
reliance upon calculations and facts in opposition to emotion, artistic inspiration
and leisure.
CHAPTER THREE
“A great square house…”
“…his ears were invaded by the sound of music. The clashing and banging band
attached to the horse-riding establishment.”
Analysis: Mr. Gradgrind finds fault and unpleasant aspects in things like circus
and music, establishing his hard fact-filled mentality.
CHAPTER FOUR
“A man made out of coarse material.”
“…a pervading appearance on him of being inflated like a balloon.”
“brassy speaking-trumpet of a voice…”
“such a strained skin to his face that it seemed to hold his eyes open.”
“…a little, thin, white, pink-eyed bundle of shawls.”
