The Victorian Education system as presented in Hard Times :: English Literature

The Victorian Education sy radical as presented in Hard propagationFrom the early havenings of Hard Times, we can tell that this novelwas originally think to shock those reading it. The education thatthese children receive is harsh and designed to stem any feelings ofself-opinion. When Gradgrind interrogated girl number 20, he provedthat their education was more exacting and when he later humiliated herwhen he asked her to describe a horse, he proved that the Victorianeducation system was solely based on fact and allowed no room for itto be questioned.This was even the case in such incidents as where Sissy states thatshe would like flowers on her carpets. Gradgrinds wish to turnfancy in her thoughts, mean that at some points during the dialogue,Gradgrind can begin to sound absurd in his words. Dickens heavilyobjects to the mechanical agency of teaching in Gradgrinds utilitarianschool. As early as in the second chapter the reader notices that thefacts taught in this kind of scho ol have no use at all in normal life.Sissy, with her natural arrangement of a horse contradicts the colddefinition of a horse by Bitzer Quadruped .....What makes that situation worse is that later on, Gradgrind, who takescharge of Sissys education, forces her from learning on her powerfulnessto comprehend that she cannot believe in what she wishes.They are stifled in their environment, prisoners of a world ofutilitarianism. Gradgrinds school is very plain and bare, Dickensdescribing it as a monotonous vault, and being intenselywhitewashed. For pupils having to learn in this kind of environmentwould be passing boring, and no encouragement is given to exercise