Hard Times- Tom Gradgrind Analysis

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Personality

Role

  • Selfish- uses his sister to gain favour with Bounderby; frames Stephen for the robbery
  • Lonely; only friend is his sister, who loves him unconditionally
  • Unaware of how unnatural and cold his actions are
  • Capable of feeling remorse- he was raised to be without emotion, it is not natural for him
  • Oldest son of Thomas Gradgrind
  • Younger brother of Louisa
  • Apprentice of Bounderby
  • Best example of why utilitarian education systems do not produce good citizens- Tom only looks out for himself because he has not been taught moral compassion

Development (Growth & change)

Quotes

  • Book 1- sulky and rebellious; sick of himself and his father's education system; shows love only towards Louisa; shows his selfish nature when he manipulates Louisa into marrying Bounderby for his own good, not hers
  • Book 2- has become a disinterested, hypocritical young man after leaving home; has become a gambler and cannot pay off his debts- first forcing his sister to sell her jewellery and then robbing the bank and framing an innocent man
  • Book 3- ruined by his crime; gone into hiding at the circus until his father is able to get him out of the country; shows remorse only during his exile; dies a lonely bachelor
  • 'Air of jaded sullenness'
  • 'whelp'
  • 'I wish I could collect all the Facts we hear so much about...and put a thousand barrels of gunpowder under them, and blow them all up together! However, when I go to live with old Bounderby, I'll have my revenge.'
  • 'a lonely brother, thousands of miles away... delayed by illness... died in penitence and love of you; his last word being [Louisa's] name'

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