Hard Times

I recently read Charles Dickens' 1854 Hard Times. Despite its bleak name, it had me in fits of laugher, especially when reading descriptions of, and dialogue between, Mrs Sparsit and her employer, Josiah Bounderby of Coketown.

The novel seems to be an eloquent attack on utilitarian philosophy and the selfish, hardnosed capitalism and industrialisation which it supported. Indeed, few of the wealthier characters come out well: Mr Bounderby is selfish and blustery, Mr Grandgind Sr is only interested in ‘facts’ not ‘fancies’, Mr Grandgrind Jr is a selfish whelp and Mr James Harthouse a languid loafer. It is the poorer characters, like Stephen and Rachel, Sissy and Mr Sleary, who have a greater sense of morality and compassion.

Utilitarianism is indeed a bleak and godless world view which continues to exercise its influence over the contemporary West. Dickens’ attack upon its consequences I welcome. Yet his own views leave much to be desired. While remarking that Stephen Blackpool went to ‘his Redeemer’s rest’, the great author's assessment of Jesus Christ seems to have been rather sentimental:

No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in any way ill or miserable, as He was.

Furthermore, he notes with some mockery the eighteen different Christian denominations which operated in Coketown, his literary name for Manchester. While hardnosed business will always exploit the poor, the only real solution to hard times is not greater access to the circus or even higher wages, but Jesus Christ. He alone gives meaning to life when the utilitarians deny such meaning exists. Sentimentality and class consciousness are no substitute for the gospel of grace. Hard times are best remedied by eternal joy and timeless hope.