Re: Hard Times

Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Fri, 16 Oct 1998 11:09:25 -0100 

My dear Mrs Vilhelmsdottor,

  It distresses me that my book is so opaque to you, but I rejoice in the
opportunity to elucidate some details.  Bitzer does indeed gain his
promotion at the bank, such are the rewards of bloodless calculation.  This
alone perhaps explains why I am less than happy with the notion that a
novelist rewards good characters and punishes bad ones, and prefer to think
that each earns his or her fate through his or her conduct.  But, yes, Mrs
Sparsit, through her scheming, condemns herself to a dreary life with her
elderly relative.  Louisa, indeed, never remarries.  I like to think that
her error in allowing herself to become the wife of Mr Bounderby, and the
unwise promptings of her heart towards James Harthouse, teach her that a
life of celibate usefulness is the one for her.  Cissy Jupe, as you observe
ends up with all the desirable things in a woman's life.  "And she has only
been herself," you say.  When being herself is a matter of being a good
loving faithful creature, can that really be the objection you seem to feel
it to be?


Faithfully yours,


Charles Dickens  
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>--- Inkommet från VAC.MOVI 0520-94836                  98-10-15 13:27
>
>Dear Mr Dickens,
>
>I am an elderly student at the Department of Education and Humanities
>at The University of Trollhaettan, were I attend a class in English
>this term. As one task am I doing a paper on Your Hard Times.
>
>I have concentrated on the characterization of the characters.
>
>The beast Mr Bounderby, the noble savage Stephan Blackpool or the
>angels Cecilia Jupe and Rachael gives me no problems.
>
>About Bitzer am I irresolute. He stay true to his logic, still does he
>inherit a position at the bank, just as he wished?
>
>Mrs Sparsit on the other hand, who also stays indifferent and not
>developing love for one's neighbour, she is punished to live in with
>an old relative of hers?
>
>Louisa Gradgrind who change so much are not to remarry, although her
>cad to husband dies?
>
>The only person who have it all is Cecilia Jupe and she has only been
>herself?
>
>Please help me to sort this mess out.
>
>Yours Faithfully
>
>Monica Vilhelmsdotter
>
>---- 98-10-15 13:27 ---- Sänt till     -------------------------------
>  -> cdickens(a)RMPLC.CO.UK
>
>

======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author