Utilitariansim and Dickens' Hard Times What is utilitarianism and who embodies it in this novel? What other aspects of English society is Dickens criticizing?

knock out quantify offers a judge of the Utilitarian political orientation from a romantic perspective. Hard Times demonstrates that one abide non reason oneself to happiness, bargonly that relying solely on the faculties of the mind will not foregather the complexities of the human beingness. John Stuart Mills, in his paper Utilitarianism proposed the philosophical system is not something to be contradistinguished from pleasure, but pleasure itself, together with exemption from inconvenience oneself; and instead of opposing the useful to the agreeable or the ornamental... However, fiend did not find this harmony to be a doable outcome of the rigidity of system of logic, but found the belief to be a more fertile ground for producing happiness.          the Tempter wrote of utilitarianism as it was utilize during British industrialization. In the economic mood of the Industrial transition capitalism prevailed and social equality was more rhetoric th an practice. capitalist economy combined with the philosophy to impersonate an emphasis on the item-by-item achieving his or her own goals, preferably than focus on the greater good. Mills did look at in the greater good, but Dickens believed a precise logical approach to vitality would void this ideal. Rationalization could surpass virtue by creating mechanical impressibility devoid of caring, which plays an classic vox in maintaining morals.          Throughout Hard Times Louisa expresses apathy towards life when she asks why she should care about important planets, even being married. Rather than suspect something is wrong, the other characters believe she is being logical. much(prenominal) a response is acceptable to them, even though it is an air of her unhappiness. Through this example Dickens makes the leg reason exclusively is not enough guidance for a human beings happiness. no(prenominal) of the characters that follow the utilitarian l ifestyle are truly happy. exactly Sissy, w! ho fails to be taught to be so logical, is in reality happy. This is a fairly reasonable attempt at what is a genuinely difficult novel. Hard Times is in accompaniment group under a genre of nineteenth ampere-second novels which grant been termed by critics as industrial novels or social-problem novels. That is, these novels (such as Hard Times, North and South etc) have been specify as an attempt to highlight the incredible social problems caused by British Industrialisation. The main problem, critics have argued, is that these novels, particularly Dickens, failed to provide a practicable solution to the problems.

The problems were, from a Marxist interpretation, the subordination of the operative classes to the masters, or factory owners. Strikes broke out in the 1840s which turn out a battle of will between the two sides. The strikers victimisation the loss of money for the owners that would incur from the strikes as their weapon, and the owners using esurient caused by no wages due to strikes as theirs. Children were squeeze to work 15/16 hour long nights, 6 days a week, using dangerous machinery (the result of which were umteen fatal accidents) and in general the workers were trapped in their situation. They valued higher wages and better conditions. Dickens approaches this with a brush up on Utilitarianism. It is unclear whether Dickens conception of Utilitarianiam was the same as John Stuart Mills, or whether, as John Holloway suggests, it was a cruder and less(prenominal) subtile form; by whic h the world is based on logic and facts. Dickens, as ! with all the social-problem novelists, has been criticised for being unable to modify amply and properly the working class (Stephen Blackburn and Rachael are alone untypical of the real working class - something which is highlighted by Stephens refusal to junction the passel union) and are flat and unrealistic. Many critics attribute this to his ignorance of the industrial north, flood tide at it from his own middle-class perspective. Hope that helps! proceed up the good work! If you want to get a plenteous essay, order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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