* The Industrial Revolution: Dickens witnessed firsthand the grim realities of industrial life in England during the 1800s. He was deeply concerned by the social and economic inequalities created by the rapid industrial growth, the exploitation of workers, and the dehumanizing effects of factories and mines. He wanted to expose these injustices and call for social reform.
* The Utilitarian Philosophy: The book directly critiques the Utilitarian philosophy, which emphasizes maximizing happiness and minimizing pain. Dickens felt this philosophy was overly focused on material progress and ignored the human cost of industrialization. He believed that a focus on facts and figures could lead to a cold and uncaring society.
* Personal Experience: Dickens himself had experienced poverty and hardship in his youth. His time working in a blacking factory left a lasting impression on him, and he used his own experiences to inform the character of the young boy, Bitzer, in Hard Times.
* Social Commentary: Dickens was a social commentator who used his writing to address important issues of the day. He saw the rise of industrialism as a threat to human dignity and creativity. Through the characters and setting of Coketown, he criticized the rigid and oppressive social order, the emphasis on economic progress over human needs, and the suppression of emotions and imagination.
* Literary Influences: Dickens was influenced by other literary works, including the novels of William Makepeace Thackeray and Jane Austen, as well as the works of social reformers like Charles Kingsley and Frederick Engels.
Hard Times is a powerful and moving novel that exposes the injustices of Victorian society and calls for a more humane and compassionate approach to social issues. Dickens's powerful writing and vivid characters continue to resonate with readers today.