What do the various deaths (Stephen and Tom) suggest about how Dickens feels that certain ways of life deserve to end and why? What does Mr. Gradgrind's ironic change of heart at the end suggest about Dickens' view of industrialized societies?
Great Question Sunni! Although I am not quite sure of why Dickens chose to have Stephen die at the end, I found a pattern in Dickens’ writing that suggests that those who are clearly bad and live a selfish and greedy lifestyle end up miserable in the end. Through the death of Tom, Dickens suggests that the criminal acts of robbing the bank to repay his gambling debts and then blaming his sister for his capture are punishable by death. Although Tom manages to escape from being imprisoned, he realizes the guilt of his awful behavior towards his loving sister, Louisa, after it is too late to make amends, and he dies, in misery with the thought that “all the treasures in the world would be cheaply bartered for a sight of her dear face” (287). The fact that the last moments of his life were spent agonizing over the thought of mistreating his sister shows that Tom was punished because of his immature behaviors. Just like Tom was punished by the end of the book, Bounderby was exposed as a fraud with the news that his whole life story was a lie made to cover up the “[getting] rid of” his kindhearted mother (283). The downfall of Bounderby’s life suggests that because he was selfish in wanting to live a wealthy life and not choosing to share it with his mother and just “got rid of her” shows Dickens metaphorical punishment of his character. Also, the fact that Mrs. Sparsit is sent off to Lady Scadgers, having ruined her own chances with Bounderby because of her “too developed [of] a nose” suggests that she too was punished (283). Ginny Frost
I like this question Sunni! To help answer why Dickins chose to have Stephen die his painful death from falling into the "Old Hell Shaft," I think he did this to show the stress and burden the Coketown society enforces upon the lower class. During the second book, Bounderby questioned Stephen, "What do you people (lower class), in a general way, complain of?"(seeming to assume that there could be nothing to say in response). However, Stephen reveals an unfortunate truth when he responds, "Look how we live, an where we live, an in what numbers, an by what chances, an wi' what sameness; and look how the mills is awlus a goin, and how they never works us no nigher to ony dis'ant object--ceptin awlus, Death" (147-148). Dickins shows here how the lower class is essentially "worked to their Death" due to the monotonous cycle of working in the factories; the rest of society is ignorant in allowing the lower class to suffer. Dickins chose to portray Stephen dying to emphasize this terrible reality of Coketown. Katherine Schlemmel
I think that Dickens portraly of Gradgrind's change of heart reflects that Dickens feels that an industralized societies are always changing. An industralized society is always changing to find the best way to do something. Like cars, for example, they started as huge, ugly, noisy machiens that could take a person from point A to point B. Now, cars are used to show off one's wealth, or if they're a parent. There is no longer one model; there are too many different types to count. This is the same with Gradgrind. He genuienly believes in the beginning that facts are the only thing a child should know. As the book progresses, and Louisa has her melt down, her repetition of "I don't know" (211) seems to show Gradgrind how his fact based society seemed to mess with her head. Gradgrind realized that knowing only facts isn't the best way to learn, so he changed in accordince with the times.
To respond to your second question I think its important ir finding the stem for Mr. Grandgrind's realization in the first place. Louisa's confrontation proved to be a major contributor in forcing her father to reach this "epiphany". Without Louisa's outrageous retaliation that results from her upbringing, Grandgrind would most likely never have came to admit his regrets. Therefore, the society does not play as large of a role in influencing Gradgrind's change of heart.
Great Question Sunni!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not quite sure of why Dickens chose to have Stephen die at the end, I found a pattern in Dickens’ writing that suggests that those who are clearly bad and live a selfish and greedy lifestyle end up miserable in the end. Through the death of Tom, Dickens suggests that the criminal acts of robbing the bank to repay his gambling debts and then blaming his sister for his capture are punishable by death. Although Tom manages to escape from being imprisoned, he realizes the guilt of his awful behavior towards his loving sister, Louisa, after it is too late to make amends, and he dies, in misery with the thought that “all the treasures in the world would be cheaply bartered for a sight of her dear face” (287). The fact that the last moments of his life were spent agonizing over the thought of mistreating his sister shows that Tom was punished because of his immature behaviors.
Just like Tom was punished by the end of the book, Bounderby was exposed as a fraud with the news that his whole life story was a lie made to cover up the “[getting] rid of” his kindhearted mother (283). The downfall of Bounderby’s life suggests that because he was selfish in wanting to live a wealthy life and not choosing to share it with his mother and just “got rid of her” shows Dickens metaphorical punishment of his character.
Also, the fact that Mrs. Sparsit is sent off to Lady Scadgers, having ruined her own chances with Bounderby because of her “too developed [of] a nose” suggests that she too was punished (283).
Ginny Frost
I like this question Sunni! To help answer why Dickins chose to have Stephen die his painful death from falling into the "Old Hell Shaft," I think he did this to show the stress and burden the Coketown society enforces upon the lower class. During the second book, Bounderby questioned Stephen, "What do you people (lower class), in a general way, complain of?"(seeming to assume that there could be nothing to say in response). However, Stephen reveals an unfortunate truth when he responds, "Look how we live, an where we live, an in what numbers, an by what chances, an wi' what sameness; and look how the mills is awlus a goin, and how they never works us no nigher to ony dis'ant object--ceptin awlus, Death" (147-148). Dickins shows here how the lower class is essentially "worked to their Death" due to the monotonous cycle of working in the factories; the rest of society is ignorant in allowing the lower class to suffer. Dickins chose to portray Stephen dying to emphasize this terrible reality of Coketown.
ReplyDeleteKatherine Schlemmel
I think that Dickens portraly of Gradgrind's change of heart reflects that Dickens feels that an industralized societies are always changing. An industralized society is always changing to find the best way to do something. Like cars, for example, they started as huge, ugly, noisy machiens that could take a person from point A to point B. Now, cars are used to show off one's wealth, or if they're a parent. There is no longer one model; there are too many different types to count. This is the same with Gradgrind. He genuienly believes in the beginning that facts are the only thing a child should know. As the book progresses, and Louisa has her melt down, her repetition of "I don't know" (211) seems to show Gradgrind how his fact based society seemed to mess with her head. Gradgrind realized that knowing only facts isn't the best way to learn, so he changed in accordince with the times.
ReplyDeleteTo respond to your second question I think its important ir finding the stem for Mr. Grandgrind's realization in the first place. Louisa's confrontation proved to be a major contributor in forcing her father to reach this "epiphany". Without Louisa's outrageous retaliation that results from her upbringing, Grandgrind would most likely never have came to admit his regrets. Therefore, the society does not play as large of a role in influencing Gradgrind's change of heart.
ReplyDelete