Hard Times

Stephen Blackpool is a simple factory worker who lives in “the hardest working part of Coketown” (68). One evening, he returns from work in Bounderby’s mill. On the way home, he talks to his “respectful and patient” (69) friend Rachael. When he reaches his house, he discovers his estranged wife, who has an alcohol addiction, in his bed. She began drinking as a means of coping with their crushing poverty, but after becoming a “disabled, drunken creature” (70), she has been absent from his life for some time. Although Blackpool wishes he could divorce his wife and marry the pure, innocent Rachael, he can’t help but pity his wife.

Blackpool decides to ask Bounderby about divorce. He hopes that the factory owner can provide guidance or legal resources to help him “be ridded o’ this woman” (74). Bounderby rejects Blackpool’s interest in divorce, listing the extravagant hardships he has faced during his own life. Divorces cost “a mint of money” (75), he explains, and Blackpool should either work harder to make himself rich or accept his lot in life.

Blackpool leaves Bounderby’s house. Outside, a strange old woman catches his eye. She’s “very cleanly and plainly dressed” (77) and seems to be from the country, as she’s unfamiliar with the city. When she reaches out to him, Blackpool learns that she saves up money each year to visit Coketown. She spends a day in the city, just long enough to catch an annual “glimpse” of Bounderby. Although she’s yet to see him on this day, she’s gratified that she can talk to Blackpool after he has talked to Bounderby. They walk together to Bounderby’s factory. The factory is a grim building, but the old woman heaps praise on its beauty. Blackpool completes his shift at the factory and then takes a long walk. As his thoughts fill with “dread,” he doesn’t want to return home to his wife. While walking, he imagines the happy life he could lead with Rachael.

Blackpool arrives home and is shocked to find Rachael already there, nursing his wife, who was once her “friend.” His wife appears to be ill, so Rachael sends Blackpool to sleep in a chair, where he ponders his “miserable existence.” He wakes during the night and sees his delirious wife reaching for a bottle. It contains medicine, but she seems to think it’s full of alcohol. Drinking the whole bottle of medicine will kill her. Blackpool sits, “motionless and powerless” (84). Just as his wife is about to kill herself by swallowing too much medicine, Rachael wakes up and saves her life. Blackpool is ashamed of his inaction, but he begins to see Rachael as “an Angel.”

As the years pass, Sissy continues to struggle at school. Gradgrind accepts that she’s “altogether backward” but permits her to continue working at Stone Lodge. During this time, he has been elected as a Member of Parliament. He spends an increasing amount of his time away from Coketown and in London. Tom has become disillusioned with his father’s teachings and has embraced a more hedonistic lifestyle. One day, he reveals to Louisa that their father is planning to arrange a marriage for her to Bounderby. Tom now lives in Bounderby’s house while apprenticing at Bounderby’s bank. He hopes that, if Louisa accepts, they can be “always together.” He also hopes that her presence might provide him with some protection against Bounderby.

Gradgrind sits down to discuss “a proposal of marriage” (90) with Louisa. She feigns surprise, but she’s genuinely perturbed by the idea of marrying someone 30 years older than her. Louisa doesn’t love Bounderby, she’s certain of that much, but she accepts the proposal anyway when her father implores her to ignore “irrelevant fancies” such as love. She can’t see any reason not to do so, as she has become convinced that she lacks the capacity to love anyone. All she knows is that she’s keen to please her father, as he has “trained [her] so well” (93).

Bounderby hesitantly discusses the marriage proposal with Mrs. Sparsit, since he thinks the news will “astonish” the old woman. After the marriage, he suggests, she may wish to become a housekeeper at his bank, as she’ll no longer be required in his house. Mrs. Sparsit is unimpressed with this suggestion—and with the marriage in general—but accepts the offer. Later, Bounderby purchases many gifts for Louisa to attempt to win her genuine affection. He can’t rouse her into loving him, however. Despite her hesitation, the wedding takes place. Louisa marries Bounderby and they leave for their honeymoon in Lyon, France. The destination has been chosen because Bounderby wants to inspect some new factories in the region, in the hopes of improving his businesses. Tom waves them farewell, thanking Louisa for helping him, while she’s “a little shaken” (98).