CHAPTEH 111

HARD TINES AND GOPAN

Hard Timos o x b i b i t s ono o f Dickcns's most r a d i c a l

c r i t i q u e s o f i n d u s t r i a l England, and, pcrhaps, t hc

most r a d i c a l up to t h a t time. Though n o t h i s l a s t

novc l , and though i t cannot bc conaidorod as h i s

mootorpiccc, i t ga ins i n importsnco i n t h o I n d i a n c o n t c x t

bccpu30 i t i n f l ucncod Prcmchand's l a s t complcto ~ O V C ~

and mastorpioco, S i cg f r i cd A. Schulz i n h i s

book, somchandr A Jcs tern A p p r a i ~ s l asso r t s t h i ~

i n f l uoncc . Ho s t a t e s t h a t i n cach n o v o l t uo theses

aro oapoundcd. I n l a r d Times Dickcns a t t acks t h o

i n j u s t i c e of tho unhappy Stcphon B lackpoo l and tho

opprcss ion o f tho poor by the r i ch . I n Godan Prorchand

quost ions tho docply i ng ra inod concopt o f dharma ( t h o

o c r u p u l o u ~ observation of which i n o w i t a b l y l oads t o

H o t i ' s p roaaturo doath) end tho opprcss ion of t ho poo r

by t h o r i c h . Dickcns g i ves a t h i r d dimension t o h i s

n o v o l through a s p o c i f i c a t tack on c o r t a i n cconomic

t h o o r i a t s , most ly u t i l i t a r i a n s who worship 'Facts'.

But Promchand conf ines h imse l f t o u g l y aepcctn o f

I n d i a n socip ty.'

' 5 1 ~ f x i . d A. Schulz. Promchandr A !amtern A p ~ w (Now Dolhia I n d i a n Counc i l f o r C u l t u r e 1 Rela t iono, #

S t i l l whcn compared t o tho dharmo which Moti

olipouacs i n end rcmoina s t c a d f a a t t o till h i s

doath, t h o a t t s c k on tho divorce laws t a k o ~ u p only

a amall f r a g l o n t of Hard Timcs. m, drials with t h o

l i f o of a poaaant, and h i s avcwcl t o h i s dharma

bocomca a major thomc of the novcl. Staphon Blackpool

i s only onc smong t h c many i n h r d Timcs, and h i s l cvo

f o r Hachacl, and thc i n j u s t i c e of tho divorcc laws

form only onc of tho thcmcs of the novel. Dickcnz

o t t sckcd thc l c g e l oystca on a l a r g o s c a l c i n h i s

prcvious novcl, Bloak Houoc, and t h i s timc hc l a y s

cmphaais on tho p l i g h t of i n d u s t r i a l England i n

gonoral. So h i s a t t a c k on u t i l i t a r i a n s and t h c i r

b l ind adhorcncc t o 'Fac t s ' should be considcrcd h i s

main prc-occupation. Thus tho s t o r y of English

i n d u ~ t r i s l i a m can bc juxtaposed with tho oaga of

Indian po;asntry and a conparcttive study of tho two

novolo tak ing thooo two aopccto con be madc. In

o thor ~ x d a , a comparative study of tho two novalo

e m bo s t t o a p t a d concentrating on t h c t roatmant of

t h o lFact-or iontodl ayotom i n Hard Times and tho

ctmcept of dhmrma i n and t h o i r iapl icmtions.

Hard Tiroa i a b novol doa l ing with 'Facton. -

Tho o n t i n , s t o r y r ~ v 0 l v o s round thc 'Fact -or iontod '

i doo logy propagated by tho hero o f t h o novol. Thomas

Gradgrind. and h i s associates. . Gradgrind i s a r c t i r c d

wholcsalo hardware merchant. Thc n o v c l bcgino w i t h

b r a d g r i n d ' s i n a i s t o n c o upon 'Facts' . Ho sayas

Now, what I want i s . Facts. Tcoch thosc

boys m d g i r l s no th ing bu t Facts. Fact8

olono arc wantcd i n l i f c . P l a n t noth ins

o lsc . and r o o t ou t every th ing oloc. You

can on ly form tho minds of roaooning animals

upon Facts : no th ing o l s c w i l l over bc o f

any s c r v i c o t o thorn. This i s tho p r i n c i p l e

on which I b r i n g up my own ch i ld ren , and

t h i s i s tho p r i n c i p l e on which 1 b r i n g up

thcsc c h ~ l d r o n . S t i ck t o Facts. S i r . 2

I n t h i s ;chool o f " rodgr ind a l l thc toachcrs arc f u l l

o f 'fact,' and t h e ' innoconto ' a r c 'murdcrod'.

Gradgr ind oxprosnos h i a vchcrncncc. uhon ho t e l l s

S issy Jupo. a s tudcn t o f thc school end daughter o f

a c i r c u s master. "5 iasy i a n o t a nnme. Don't c a l l

y o u r s o l f Sissy. C a l l yourso l f C o c i l i s " (P.27).

Chatlacr Dickcns, HardTimos (London' Pan Books Ctd. , 1977) . P.25. AAX Turthmr quo te t iona era fraa t h f 8 o d i t t o n . C c r r o ~ p o n d i n g paqoli ale ~ i v l r n i n t ho t o x t *

*Tho g o n t l c m e n n i n t h o o c h o o l 03k3 S i a y n o v c r t o

f a n c y . H I C h o a k u a c h i l d . t h o s c h o o l - m n a t c r . is a

m a a t o r of a l m o s t o v c r y t h i n g , of all f a c t u a l knowlodgo.

But Dickonn s a y s , "Ah r a t h o r o v c r d o n o , kit choakurnchild.

I f ho h a d o n l y l o a r n t a l i t t l o l o s s , how i n f i n i t e l y

b o t t o r h a m i g h t h a v c t a u g h t much moron (P.31).

T h i s i s ' F a c t ' , ' F a c t 1 a s opposed t o f a n c y . ony

u s o of t h c i m a g i n a t i o n . G r a d g r i n d i s a s t r i c t ,

o i n c o r o n a n bound t o h i s r y a t o m o f ' F a c t s ' . H i s f i v o

young c h i l d r e n a r e n a d o l s of h i e s c h o o l . Tho o t h e r

c h a r a c t o r who r o p r c o o n t s t h i o down- to-ear th syotom

i s J o s i a h Boundorby, a r o a l t h y m a n u f a c t u r o r end

~ r a d ~ r i n d & c l o e o f r i o n d . I n f a c t , ha

8s b o a r b o i n g Mr. G r a d g r i n d ' s bosom

f r i o n d , a s a man p o r f o c t l y d o v o i d o f

' a o n t i n o n t c a n a p p r o a c h t h a t s p i r i t u e l

relationship t o w a r d s a n o t h o r man p e r f o c t l y

d o v o i d o f s e n t i m e n t . 50 n e a r was Mr.

Baundorby--or, i f t h o r o a d o r s h o u l d p r c f o r

i t . o o f a r o f f . (P.36)

Ho onrrcimos him powor. h i o etr ict a d h o r o n c o t o

'frstr* touuds tho workorr , i n h i e f a c t / o x y .

I n w , k o r i , t h o pro tagoni r r t can n a v o r f o r o a k o

d h a r a g and h i s l i f e i o doomod duo t o hi^ ocrupulauo

adhoronco t o it. I n f a c t , t h i s i s n o t t h o f i r s t

t imo t h a t Proachand i a d e d i n q w i t h dharma and &hi.'

i n f l u o n c o o on t h o I n d i a n psycho. n i g h t trm tho

boginninq , i.0. from Sovaoadan i t o o l f ho had onvisegod

t h o impor tanco of d h a r a a i n t h o ' l i f o of an I n d i a n ,

o a p o c i a l l y an I n d i a n farmor. Though h i s c a r l i c r

n o v o l e havo d i f f o r o n t thcmco and i s s u e r t o bo d iocusood,

t h o l i f o i n a v i l l a g o and t h o l i f o o f a f a r r o r a r o

mloo p a r t o of h i s c o n c e r n , and t h o t r o a t m a n t of dharma

bocomos i n o v i t a b l o . But, a s Godsn h a s t h o life o f a

p e a s a n t ao i t 3 main c o n c e r n , dharma g a i n s added

i m p o r t a n c o i n t h i o nove l . Tho word i t s e l f o c c u r s

a b o u t a hundred t i a o o i n t h o nove l .

Tho w o t t o l l i n g ov idencc of H o r i ' o concopt o f

d h a r a a i s t h o p a s s a g o whoro t h o v i l l a g e o l d e r 8 and - o t h o r o t r y t o t h w a r t 8 h o l a ' a a t t o l a p t o a t a b d u c t i n g

H o r i 8 e b u l l o c k s by f o r c e . aut Hori i n t e r v e n c s : Bhola

hao dorandod t h a t h i s widowed daughter, n o r p r o g n a n t

by n o r i n s ron , bo thrown o u t o f H o r i ' s houao o r t h o

w n o y owed t o Bhola by Hori i n p@y.lont o f t h o bow

b a p c t d rexthrith. ' Woti eap3she h tha v i U a g a

m&*ro Oh& ha wead aot turn art h i a d r t r o h t U - t n 3 ~

and t h a t ho had no moncy t o pay--so i f Bhola 'o

dharma o a i d t h a t i t was f a i r t o t a k a away h i o - b u l l o c k o , ho could havo Thc v i l l a g o c l d o r o ,

when H o r i hao t o l d thom h i s s i d e of t h c o t o r y l o o k

'glum' and t h o d o c o i t f u l o l d v i l l a g o Brahmin oayo

h y p o c r i t b l l y . When you l o f t t h c m a t t c r t o h i s d h a r a a

t h o q u o a t i o n of f o r c o dooon ' t a r i s o . Hio ocnso of

dharma oaya h e ' s do ing r i g h t . ' B h a i ' , t h c b u l l o c k s - a r c yours . Gou (P. 120) . And "thcy l o a k c d a t Hori

contomptuously. Bhola l i f t e d h i s neck , p roudly

morchiny, t h c b u l l o c k s f o l l o w i n g n (P.121 ).

Moraovor, wo f i n d t h a t whcncvor t h o t e r n dharna

i s u t t c r o d by c h a r a c t o r s o t h e r t h a n Hori. ovcn by

H o r i ' o w i f c Uhania, i t h a s a d i s t i n c t l y hollow r i n g

t o i t , i n h y p o c r i c a l . aut h o r i i n h i s s t c a d f a s t

adhoronco t o h i s own c o n c c p t of dharma a t l e a s t

hopoo t h a t . dl o t h o r s a round ham w i l l n a t u r a l l y

a d h o r o t o a t r a d i t i o n a l coda of conduct a p p r o p r i a t o

t o t h o i r own c a s t o and o t a g c o f l i f e . T h i s would

hoed t o poaeo and harmony. bu t u n f o r t u n a t o l y H o r i ' s

p i o u s a t t i t u d e i o n o t r o c i p r ~ c o t o d . ~

S c h u l t p o i n t s o u t t h o m a a t o r - w o r k o r / o c r v a n t

r o l a t i n n o h i p i n b o t h t h o n o v c l s 83 o n e nf t h o m a j o r

s i m i l a r i t i o s 5 w i t h t h o d i f f o r o n c o t h a t t h o i m p o r t a n t

c h a r a c t c t o a r c on t h o o p p o s i t o D C ~ ~ E i n t h o two n o v o l o e 6

G r a d g r i n d ( a n d ovon Boundorby) e r a m a s t o r s , w h i l e H o r i

i o a w o r k e r . G r s d g r i n d ' o f a m i l y c a n b e comparod and

c o n t r a o t o d w i t h H o r i ' o f a m i l y . Tho w o r k e r S t ephen

w i t h Rachao l c a n bo j u x t a p o o c d w i t h Mohta and M a l t i

i n Gadan who h a i l f r o m t h o

But comparod t o m. Hord T i m c ~ i s more an

a t t a c k on t h o V i c t o r i a n i n d u s t r i a l s o c i e t y , t h o s y s t e m

i n g c n o r e l r a t h e r t h a n a c r i t i q u c o f t h o mes tc r -workor

r c l a t i o n o h i p . Godan a x p l o r o o t h o l i f c o f t h o p o a s a n t ,

H o r i , who l i v o s t h o l ~ f o o f a w a r k c r and d i o o w i t h o u t

g a i n i n g a a y t h i n g , s t i l l i n d e b t . Tho V i c t o r i a n

i n d u o t r i a l p o c i o t y c o n o i d o r o d a l i f e o f ' f a c t a ' moro

p r o f o r a b l s . D i c k a n s c rumbloo t h o oyotom upho ld by

S i c g f r i o d A. S c h u l z , Promchandr A Uos to rn A p p r a i o a i Pp.37-38.

U o g C r i a d A. S c h u l r , Pr8laehand8 A U o s t c t n A p p r a i o a l P.20.

S i s p f r i o d A. S c h u l r , Promchand, A Uos to rn A p p r d s m l P.30.

G r a d g r i n d and h i o mon and oxposoa t h o h y p o c r i s y o f

Boundorby. Boundorby'o h y p o c r i s y h c l p s him i n

m a i n t a i n i n g a u t h o r i t y o v o r t h o w o r k e r s i n h i s f a e t j o r y .

HO ombodioo t h o qualities o f m i d d l o - c l a s s a m b i t i o n

and i m a g i n a t i v o o n o r g y , cvon i f t h o ' i m a g i n a t i o n ' i o

usod t o a s s o r t t h o s u p o r i o r i t y of ' F a c t ' o v o r fancy .

f o r ho h i m s e l f i s t h o g r o a t f a n t a s i a t i n t h o n o v o l

and n o t any o f t h c c i r c u s pooplo . Hc t a l k s a l w a y s i n

metaphors o r i n s t o r i o s . Tho w o r k c r s . h e s a y s , want

o n l y t o o a t v o n i s o n and t u r t l o soup w i t h a g o l d o n

spoon (P.135). Evon i n t h o w o n d u r f u l showdown w i t h

Mro. S p a r s i t , h i o hounokoopor , whan o a c h a n t o g o n i o t

knows what t h o o t h o r i s u p t o , ho d i s m i s o o o h e r w i t h

a ' f i c t i o n ' b u i l t o u t of h i s l a r g e r ' f i c t i o n ' o f

h i s moan and h o r a r i s t o c r a t i c b o g i n n i n g s r

. I r a t h o r t h i n k you a r o cramped h o r o ,

do you know7 I t a p p o a r a t o mo, t h a t ,

undor my humblo r o o f , t h o r o ' s h a r d l y

oponing enough f o r a Lady of y o u r g e n i u s

i n o t h o r p o o p l c ' o a f f a i r s . (P.285)

Ho d o n i o o t h a t ha was b r o u g h t up by h i s mothor and

h o t a l k @ o f h o r as a v i c i o u s c r i m i n a l wharoao wo come

t o know l a t e r t h a t h i o mothor wan b o t h l o v i n g and

h o l p f u l .

Tho m i s o r y of t h o workors i s t h e responsibility

o f Boundocby and o f t h o "ideology" a r t i c u l a t e d by

G r a d g r i n d . Tho n o v e l i s s o t i n Cokctown, which c o u l d

bc M a n c h o a t c r , o r some o t h o r ~ i m i l a r c i t y . Dickono

had v i s i t a d Manchce tor onco t o l o o k a t a f a c t o r y ,

and o n l y t h e n d i d ha oco t h o r o a l i t y which h e had

r o a d i n t h c msny p a r l i a r n c n t a t y I o p 0 I t 3 . ~ Ho s t a t e d ,

1 wont some week3 a g o , t o M a n c h n s t c r ,

and saw t h c w o r s t c o t t o n m i l l . And t h e n

I saw t h o b a s t . EX uno d i s c o omnos. Thorn

was no g r o a t d i f f o r o n c c b o t u c o n them . . . . I wean t o n t r i k o t h o h o a v i o s t blow i n my

powor f o r t h o s c u n f o r t u n e t o c r o a t u r c l ,

b u t whothor I s h a l l d o s o i n t h o ' N i c k l o b y ' ,

o r wait some o t h o r o p p o r t u n i t y , I hava n o t

y o t do te rminod. 9

L o u i s t a z a m i a n , Tho S o c i d Novel i n England, Trano . M a r t i n F i d o [London; R o u t l o d g o & K o g m ~ a u i L t d . , 1 9 7 3 ) t P.164.

But Dickcno c o u l d d o v c t o h imaol f cumplc toSy f o r t h i o

p u r p o n o o n l y i n Hard Timco. Hia d o o c r i p t i o n o f t h o

c i t y r o f l o c t n t h o o x i o t i n g a t m o s p h c r c o f an

i n d u a t r i a l i z a d c i t y i n p c w o r f u l to rmor

Cokctcwn . . . w a s a t r i u m p h o f f a c t s it

had no p r c a t o r t a i n t o f f a n c y i n it t h a n

Mrs. G r a d g r i n d h c r s o l f . . . . I t wao a

town o f r o d b r i c k , o r o f b r i c k t h a t would

havo boon r e d i f t h c omoko and aohco had

a l l o w e d i t ; b u t a s m a t t c r o s t o o d i t was

a town o f u n n a t u r a l r o d and b l a c k l i k o tho

p a i n t e d f a c c o f a savage . I t was o town

of machincry and t a l l ch imneys o u t o f

which i n t c r m i n o b l o o c r p c n t o o f amok0

t r a i l e d t h e m a c l v o a f o r c v o r and o v o r . and

n o v c r g o t u n c o i l e d . I t had a b l a c k c a n a l

i n i t , and a r i v c x t h a t r a n p u r p l c w i t h

i l l - a m c l l i n g dyo , end v e s t p i l o o o f bualdAng

f u l l o f windowo whoro t h o r o was a r a t t l i n g

and a t r a m b l i n g a l l day l o n g , and whcrc

t h o p i s t o n o f t h o o tcam-cnginc workod

monotcnouoly up and down l i k o t h o h ~ a d OF

an c l c p h a n t i n a o t a t c o f mclancholy madnosa.

I t c o n t o i n o d n o v e r a l l a r g c s t r c o t s a l l

v a r y l i k o o m a n o t h o r , and many s m a l l

a t r o o t s s t i l l more l i k c one n n o t h c r ,

i n h a b i t o d by p c o p l o o q u o l l y l i k e onc a n o t h o r ,

who a l l went i n and o u t a t t h o samc h o u r s .

w i t h t h o samc sound upon t h c samo pavcmcnts,

t o do t h c samo work, and t o whom cvcryday

was t h c samc a s y c s t c r d o y and tomorrow, end

ovory y e a r t h o c o u n t o r p a r t of t h o l a s t and

t h e n c x t . (Pp.42-43)

Boundorby c a l l s t h o workcrs i n h i s f a c t o r y 'Hands '

b o c a u s c t h o y a r o n o t h i n g more t o him. Ho h a s no

h u m a n i t a r i a n concorn f o r h i o workora. T h i s i s o v i d o n t

f r o n h i s r c s p o n s & o Stcphcn Blockpool ' s x o q u c s t f o r

h o l p o r e d v i c o . Stophcn i s woddod t o an a l c o h o l i c

w i f o , and o o c a n n o t marry t h o woman ho l o v o s c loar ly ,

Rechaol . Boundorby t o l l s Stophon t h a t c s t a b l i s h o d

i n s t l t u t i o ~ s do n o t p r o v i d e any h o l p f o r a p o o r

workinq-man. Ho c o n c l u d s e s a y i n g ,

You d i d n ' t t a k o y o u r u i f o f o r f o o t and

f o r l o o o o ; b u t f o r b o t t o r o r worso.

I f oho h a s t u r n o d o u t worse--why, a i l wc

hevo g o t t o may, i o , oho might have t u r n o d

o u t b o t t o r . (P.90)

Through S t o p h a n ' o p r a d i c a m c n t Dickona a t t a c k s t h o

d i v o r c o l a n o i n Enyland.

Hoonuhi lo , G r a d g r i n d i s s o obocasod w i t h h i e

'rationalism' t h o t ho f i n d s Boundorby b o a t - a u i t a d t o

b c t h o husband of h i s d a u g h t o r , L o u i s a . t r a i n a d undm

t h o Dam0 syotcm of h o r f a t h o r , though ohc doos n o t

l i k o Boundcrby f o r h o r huoband, g i v c a conoont t o h o r

f a t h o r . Dickono makoa uoo of L o u i s a and Tom G r a d g r i n d ,

t h o o l d o s t aon o f t r c d ~ r i n d i n a r c m a r k a b l c mannor i n

o r d o r t o o x h i b i t , a s t h o s t o r y p r o g r o o a c o , t h o v a r i e d

rcoponaoa t o and d o b i l i t a t i n g i n f l u c n c c s of G r a d g r i n d l o

p h i l o s o p h y . G r a d g r i n d ' s oyatcm d o c s n o t oncourago

any uoc of f a n c y o r t h c i m a g i n a t i o n , s o cvon l o v c .

Hc t o l l s L o u i s a thmt l o v e was i r r c l o v a n t i n t h o

c a n t o x t o f m a r r i a g o ; ho montxons t h e ' F a c t s ' , t h o t

i a t h o o t a t i a t i c a l a v i d o n c c t h a t a l a r g o p r o p o r t i o n

of t h e marriages i n England and F r a n c c " a r c c a n t r a c t o d

bc tuoon p a i t i c a o f v a r y unoqual agoo, and t h a t t h o

o l d o r o f t h o s o c o n t r a c t i n g p a r t i c a i s , i n r a t h o r

n o r 0 t h a n t h r o e - f o u r t h s o f t h o s e i n o t a n c o o , t h o

b r i d o g r o o n * (P.110) and t h a t a i m i l a r r o o u l t a a r o

o b t a i n a d *rang t h o n a t i v o o o f t h o P r i t i o h popposoiono

i n I n d i a , e l o o i n 9 c o n a i d o r . b l a p a r t o f China , and

among t h o Celmucks of r a r t a r y ~ P . 1 1 0 ) . Hc o i l c n c c o

t h o d ionayod Lou ioa by compe l l i ng on h c r h i s 'Fac t -

o r i o n t o d ' marr iagc proposa l . Hc says:

I t appcars t o mc t h a t n o t h i n g can bc

p l a i n o r . Con f i n i ng y o u r s c l f r i g i d l y t o

Fact , t h o quca t i on o f Fac t you a t a t c t o

y o u r a c l f i s : Dnos W r , Boundorby a& mc t o

marry him7 Yea, hc dons. The s o l o remaining

qucg t i on then i s r s h a l l I marry him? I

t h i n k n o t h i n g can bo p l a i n o r than t h a t ?

( P . 1 1 1 )

I n Gadan, H o r i g i v c s o f f h i s c l d o o t daughtcr i n

mnr r i agc t o a man o n l y a few yca rs younger than him.

But, u n l i k o Gredyr ind , hc i s n o t unconccrncd about

t ho l o v c h i s daughtor roqu i r co , h i s hc lp lesnncss d r i v a s

h im towe ids t h i s doc is ion . Hc do00 n o t havc monoy

t o g i v c t h a dowry.

Moro than anybody a l so , H o r i romaino a p a r t o f

t h o v i l l a g o community. Yct , ha shows t h c courage t o

c o n f r o n t t h o authorities i n h i s community a f t a r

d o v i a t i n g f r o m c o r t a i n n o m o which ho f indn n o t t o

concur w i t h h i s dharma. Ho i s bound by t r a d i t i o n .

s t i l l h o comos o u t o f i t and g i v o o s h c l t c r t o G o b a r ' s

w i f e , J h u n i o and t o H o t a d i n ' s chamor w i f o S i l i y a .

He r e t a i n s H i r a ' o w i f o P u n i y e i n h i s hou3c cvon a f t o r

ho knowo t h a t H i r a h a o p o i s o n c d h i s cow. Thosc a r c

o p o c i a l f o a t u r o o of t h o c h a r a c t e r , H o r i , u n l i k e t h o

p r o v i o u o c h o r a c t o r o o f Promchand end t h o c h a r a c t e r s

i n pos t -Promchand f i c t i o n . H o r i shown h i n o o l f t o bo

a c o m p l o t o men. H i s c h a r a c t c r i o t i c o o x h i b i t t h o

q u a l i t i o o o f c o r t a i n h o r o o o who r i s o above t h o

c i r c u m o t e n c o a , t r a d i t i o n s , r o o t o u t t h o c x i o t i n g

c o r r u p t i o n and o p p r e s o i v o r u l c o o f s o c i o t y , and l o a d

thom t o c o a p l c t c h u n a n i t y . 1 ° H o r i b o a t s h i s w i f o

m o r c i l o a s l y whon she t o l l s t h e p c l i c c t h a t H i r a

h a s p o i s o n c d t h o cow, and whon t h o p o l i c o t h r c a t c n

t o o o a r c h H i r e ' s h o u s e h c b o r r o w s moncy t o b r i b c t h c

p o l i c o i n s p c c t o r . Ho h c l p s o u t on t h o f a r m of h i s

runaway b b o t h c r , much t o t h o d e t r i m e n t o f h i a own

f a m i l y . Ho d o o s a l l t h i s t o uphold t h c h o n o u r of

h i e f a t h e r ' s f a m i l y , which i s a p a r t of h i s dherma.

He i s n o t r o a d y t o s e n d h i s d a u g h t e r - i n - l a w . J h u n i a ,

l o Kom.1 K o t h a r i , a H o r i m . Promchand k c P a t r a , ed. Kolnal K o t h a r f , Vijmydhan ~ o R a , Pp.190-91;

o u t o f h i o houoo ovon s f t o r s h o h a s o a r n o d a bad

name f o r t h o f a m i l y . Tho v i l l a g c e l d c r s g c t t o g o t h o r

and condemn H o r i f o r s h o l t o r i n g an immoral g i r l .

Many o f t h o mombcrs of t h o panchay& a r c t h c m s c l v o o

mon of q u o o t i o n a b l c r o p u t a t i o n . But t h a t doc's n o t

p r o v o n t thom f rom o x p r o s s i n g h o r r o r a t H o r i ' s adharma.

Dhsnia . h i s w i f o , p r o t c s t s a g a i n s t t h c d e c i s i o n o f

t h e p a n c h s y a t t o impose a f i n c of one hundred r u p c c o

and u r g o s h e r husband n o t t o pay t h c f i n c . But H o r i

c a n n o t t h i n k of d i s o b o y i n g t h c commend o f t h c v i l l a g c

c o u n c i l . nc t r i c s t o ca lm Dhania by s a y i n g ,

#c a r a a l l l i m b s of t h c community.

How can wc b r e a k sway f rom i t ? You must

s u b m i t t o t h o d o c i o i o n of t h c Panchcs.

Doath is any t i m o b o t t c r t h a n l o a d i n g

. a l i f o w i t h n b l o t on y o u r namo. (P.97)

Hc f i r m l y b c l i o v c o t h a t f o r a humblo p c f s o n l i k e him

t h o v o i c o o f t h o ' o a n c h a y a t ' i s t h o v o i c o o f God.

Hc oayo ,

I t ' a t h o v o i c o o f God t h a t s p o e k o t h r o u ~ h

t h o P e n c h ~ a . I ' l l a b i d e by y o u r v e r d i c t

t o t h o l h t t o r . I f God w i l l s t h a t wo o h o u l d

l o e v o t h o v i l l a g o , wo o h a l l certainly

lomvo. (P.97)

H o r i

c o u l d n o t i m a g r n c l i f c o u t s i d o t h o f o l d

o f t h o community. Tho f o o l i n g t h a t

t h o r o c o u l d be no i n t o g r a t i o n o f l i f o

w i t h o u t t h o communrty, t h a t m a r r i a g e s ,

r a l i g i o u o r i t c a , b i r t h and d o a t h had

moaning o n l y w i t h i n t h o community, had

boon d o o p l y i n g r a i n o d i n him, O u t c a o t c d ,

ho would j u s t d r s r n t o g r a t c . (Pp.97-98)

Thus H o r i w a n t s t o s t r ~ k c a compromisc, a b a l a n c o

bctwoon h i o d h a r m s and his r c s p c c t f o r t h o 'community1

b u t r h o n o v o r i n a c o n f l i c t r n g s i t u a t i o n , s u r e l y h i s

d h a r m s t r i u m p h s . - Fram t h o b o g i n n i n g o f t h c n o v o l till t h c a n d ,

H o r i r o p r c s o n t o a t y p i c a l p o a s a n t w l t h h i s p roblems

i n l i f o , . h i o a p p r o a s i o n by t h e l a n d l o r d s and t h o

g u s r d i a n o o f s o c i o t y , h i s c h a o r f u l f a m i l y l i f c t h o u g h

i n t o r r n i n g l o d w i t h q u s r r o l s , h i s c o n t i n u o u s o x i s t o n c o

i n d e b t t o t h o monoy- lenders , and h i o tondancy t o

o u f f i r end i p n o r o a 1 1 t h a a o t h i n k i n g t h a t i t i s h i e

f a t o . Through Nori Promchand r o v o a l s t h o nono-too-

happy p r o o p o c t of t h o I n d i a n f a r m o r and g i v o d o

wmtning ~h.t thk. i i f o of m i o o q wuAd s o n t i n w until

t h o r o i s no chnngo i n t h o opproach o f t h o I n d i a n

f armor t o w a r d s h i o c n v i r o n m c n t .

G,radgrind and Boundcrby a r c p r o d u c t o o f Dickmno'a

i m a g i n a t i o n r c p r c s c n t i n g t h o contemporary p u r c l y

m a t o r i a l i a t i c o c i c n t i f i c a l l y bont u t i l i t a r i a n a * a p d

t l i e o r i a t o . But t h o i r c h o r a c t c r o a r c c x a g g e r a t o d

and somotimos f a r - ; o t c h c d . A s i t happened u i t h

Uickona q u i t o o f t e n , t h c s c characters t c n d t o w a r d s

c m r i c n t u r c . T h i s i o u n l i k c t h c c h a r ~ c t o r i s o t i o n o f

H o r i i n %. Tho o u c c c s a o f Prcmchand may bo duo

t o h i 3 c l o s o n o ~ ~ t o w a r d s t h o l n d i a n p c a s a r ~ t r y . Novel

a f t c r n o v c l ha was c o n c o r n o d w i t h t h o s o r r y p l i g h t

o f t h c I n d i a n f a r m c r , and h e improvcd ,in h i s p o r t r a y a l

o f t h o f a r m o r c h a r a c t c r n o v o l a f t c r n o v c l . And i n

m, h e ~ u c c o o d o i n p o r t r a y i n g t h o c h a r s c t c r o f

H o r i i n t h o b o o t mannor p o s a i b l c , s o r c a l i a t i c aG

p o s s i b l o . On t h o c o n t r a r y , i n Hard f imoo, Dickono

d o a l o u i t h 'pooplo and t h i n g s o u t a i d c t h o r a n g c

o f h i o own o x p o r i o n c o D " " which i o ono r o s o o n f o r

t h o p a r t i a l rooponao t o t h o book. L o u i o Cszalnian

o a y o ~

" Hunphry Houoo, Hard T i a s a t , Dlckens , od. A.E: Dyoon, P.214.

Tho 8 p p o a r s n c c and menncro o f n o r t h -

c o u n t r y workoro v c r c d i f f c r c n t from t h o o o

D i c k c n s had known i n London. Hc c o u l d

n o t f a t h o m t h e i r inmoat t h o u g h t s and

f o o l i n g o . . . t h c p a s s i n g occno d i d n o t

s p c a k d i r e c t l y t o him. And s o Hard T i a c o

i s t h o i a p c r f c c t work o f an a r t i s t who

t r i c d t o b r i n g t r a d i t i o n a l modoa of f o o l i n g

t o a now a u b j a c t . I t i s a r c p c a t v e r s i o n

o f Tho Chimco. a d a p t c d t o i n d u s t r i a l

c o n d i t i o ~ 3 , 1 2

Unc r o a l i s o o t h a t i n GodRn Prcmchand heo m a s t e r e d

t h c r c n l i s t i c t a c h n i q u a of c o n o t r u c t i v c a r rangomcnt .

Ho w i t h h o l d a t h e i n f l u c n c c upon t h o r o a d o r a o c m o t i o n n ,

and t h c t h o e t r i c a l i n a t i n c t h a s d i m i n i s h o d . I n h i o

c s r l i o r n p v o l o , ho wao concornnd w i t h t h o p l o t and

a o c i o l p u r p o l o , so ho p o r t r a y e d many c h a r a c t c r s ,

h a r d l y 3uccooding i n t h e p o r t r a y a l o f o n c s i n g l o

c h a r a c t o r . Thc omphaoin waa on t h o g r o u p r a t h o r t h a n

on t h o i n d i v i d u a l . But i n w, Promchsnd O U C C O O ~ O

i n p o r t r a y i n g t h o l i f o of a c h a r a c t o r who bocomas

l2 Louis f a t & i a n , Tho S o c i a l Novol i n England Trans . M a r t i n F i d o , P . 1 6 7

immortal duo t o h io d i f f c r o n c o from o t h o r c h a r a c t c r o

i n t h o oamo novcl and from o tho r c h a r a c t c r o i n h i s

o a r l i o r novols whc a r o moro s n g c l i c than human.

Hcri i s t h c only pu rc ly r e a l i s t i c hero of Prcmchand

i n h i s o n t i r c f i c t i o n . Jha t f i n a l l y g a i n s importance

i n t ho ncvol i s n o t h i s uoua1,conccrn f o r reformat ion,

but c h a r s c t c r i o a t i o n , c s p c e i a l l y of Hori. 13

Godan i s f a r ahced of Hard Times i n t h c c l a a a i c - p o r t r a y a l of Hori , t h c p ro t agon i s t . S t i l l ,

rcscmblanccs bctwcon t h c two novel3 make a atudy o f

c h a r a c t c r a and c h a r a c t o r i 3 a t i o n i n t h o two novcls ,

not only of Hori and Gradgrind, o r Hari and btcphon,

but a l s o of o tho r c h a r n c t c r s , i n o v i t a b l c . Both tho

n o v c l s r cvon l t h o o o c i a l purpooc of t ho au tho r through

c h a r a c t o r and t h i s chap to r makes not only a comparstivo

nna lya io ,o f chmractors but h i g h l i g h t s t h e s o c i a l

prodicamont through t h i n ana lys i s .

In Hard Tinoo S i s sy o r C c c i l i a Jupo i s an impor t an t

c h a r a c t o r r cp rcocn t ing tho a n t i t h e s i s of t h o s c h o l a r a

of t h o Gradgrind ochool. 5hc i o on0 of t h o s t u d c n t o

i n G r a d g r i n d i s s c h o o l and i s l a t o r a d o p t e d by

b r a d g r i n d & h i r n s e l f b e c a u s c h e r f o t h c r d o s c r t s he r .

Tho c i r c u s - m a s t e r , Mr. S l c a r y t o l l s G r a d g r i n d t h a t

h e r f a t h e r wan tod h e r t o bc w e l l - c d u c a t c d and t h a t

t h o r o i s n o o n c t o l o o k a f t e r h c r . S c h u l z p o i n t s

o u t t h o s i m i l a r i t y w i t h Godan i n t h i n c o n t e x t . He

r o f o r a t o H o r i g i v i n g s h c l t c r t o t h e u n t o u c h e b l o

chammr g i r l , S i l i y a , w i t h whom M a t a d i n h a s f a l l o n i n

l o v c . Tho nemca a l s o sound v e r y much s i m i l a r .

5 i l i y o i s i l l o g i t i m a t c s o n i a l a n g u a g c h a s s i m i l a r

d c ' f c c t s l i k c t h o l a n g u a g e o f Mr. S l c a r y i n Herd Timos. 14

S c h u l z f s a t t e m p t is t o c o n v i n c o u s t h a t P ronchand

h a s b o r r o r o d i n g e n u o u s l y f r o m Hard f i m o s .

Uhon G r a d g r i n d a g r e e s t o t a k c S i s s y t o h i m a c l f

h c is v c r y p a r t i c u l a r t h a t s h c s h o u l d f o l l o w h i s

s y s t c m of . education. She h a a s t r o n g i m p u l s c e o f

r u n n i n g away i n t h o f i r s t mon ths o f h e r s t a y b u t t h o

h o p c t h a t h o r runaway f a t h e r would come back f o r c o a

h c r t o s t e y back. Sho i s a v c r y p o o r s t u d e n t and

c a n n o t g o t t h o ' F a c t s ' i n t o h o r hoed. She g i v o s

a b s u r d anmwcrn t o klf Choakumchi ld l 3 q u o s t i o n a . Whon

S i o g f r i o d A. S c h u l r , P=onchandr A Waotorn A p v r a i a a l , P. 31.

hc asks f o r h o r romark on tho p r o p o r t i o n whan twonty

f i v o ou t of a m i l l i o n i n h a b i t a n t s a rc atarvod t o

dcath i n t h o couroo of o year, sho r c p l i o a t h a t sho

thought t h a t i t muot j u s t be ao hard upon thoac who

wcrc s tarvod, whothcr t h o o thers wcrc R m i l l i o n , os

e m i l l i o n m i l l i o n ( P . 7 4 ) . And thc pcrcontagc o f t h o

pcop lc who wcrc drownod o r burn t t o dcath 1 3 no th ing

t o h c r bccouoc i t i a n o t h i n g " t o tho relations and

f r i o n d s o f thc pcop lc who wcrc k i l l c d n ( P . 7 5 ) . Sho

t c l l a Louisa, "And t h o worst of a l l is, t h a t a l though

my poor f a t h c r wishcd mu on much t o l c a r n , and

a l though I am no anxioua t o l o a r n , bccausc hc wishod

mc to , I am a f r a i d I don ' t l i k o it* ( P . 7 5 ) .

Sisoy i n dovolopad i n a ta rk c o n t r a s t t o tho

charac to r o f Lou isa who i s badly i n f l u c n c c d by hor

f a t h u r ' ~ !'system*. Sho bccomda e good companion t o

Lou isa and amusos h c r w i t h h o r i n t c r c s t i n g t a l k .

Sho i s a comfort t o hor i n h c r d i l t r c s s . Gradgrind

f o o l s t h a t sho ohould hevc been t r s i n o d a t an e a r l y

ago. Sho has l i v o d t o o l o n g among tha circus-poop10

t o por fo rm p r o p a r l y i n t h i s ochool. Evcn thouqh she

i s i n tho Gradgr ind houso ohc i s i n a wor ld o t hor

own c x p o c t i n g l c t t c r o f r o m h c r f a t h e r a n d w a i t i n g

f o r h i s r c t u r n . D i c k c n s c o u n t o r s G r a d g r i n d * ' w o r l d

of 'F a c t s ' w i t h S i s s y 1 3 w o r l d o f f a n c y . Shc b r i n g s

warmth a n d u n d c r s t e n d i n g t o t h o G r a d g r i n d homc.

L o u i u a ' s y o u n g o r s i s t o r , J a n c , g r o w s up t o know l o v e ,

t o d r c a m , and t o w o n d c r b c c a u a c of h c r i n f l u o n o o .

i J i c k c n a s h o w s S i o s y ' n f u t u r c t o bc b r i g h t i n c o n t r a a t

t o t h o b l c a k c n c o f L o u i s a .

An o x t c n a i o n of t h i s c o n t r o s t o f ' F a c t ' w i t h

f a n c y c m c r g c s i n t h o d c l i n o a t i o n o f t h c c i r c u s

i t g o l f . Tho l o n g i n g f o r f r c c d c m of t h o s t u d e n t s i n

h i n t c d i n t h c b c g i r , n i n g o f t h c n o v c l whcn G r a d g r i n d ' s

c h i l d r e n , L o u i s a and Tom a r c c a u g h t p c o p i n g t h r o u g h

a h o l c a t t h o c i r c u s - p e c p l c o f S l c a r y ' c H o r s o - r i d i n g

( P . 3 4 ) . T h i s i s a 'loophole' i n G r a d g r i n d ' n mothod

o f t e a c h i n g . U i c k c n s t r i o s t o c o n f i r m t h o sway o f

t h e i m a g i n a t i o n on young minds . Hc u p h o l d s b i s f a i t h

i n t h c m a g i c s 1 c i r c u s i n c o n t r a s t t o G r a d g r i n d ' s

u c h o o l a n d t h i s "is a p a r a d i g m o f h i s c o n t r i b u t i o n

t o t h c s o c i a l n o v e l ! h c t r a n u f c r e o d ' F a c t s ' t h r o u g h

t h o o n t o r t a i n m o n t o f t h c i m a g i n a t i o n , m a k i n g t h o

r o a d o r s e o o o c i o l r e a l i t y i n a now l i g h t . " 1 5 '

l 5 L a u i n J s m o s . "Tho N i n c t o c n t h - C o n t u r y S o c i d - - - - - - - k o v o l i n Engl*ndn, ~ n c y c l o ~ o a d i a o f ~ i t c r a t o r c a n d C r i t i c i o r n , md. ~ a r t l n C o y l o , P o t o r G n r a i d o , H a l o o l m Kelo.11 a n d John Pock (Londonc R o u t l c d g c , 1991). P.549.

Tho S loary c i r c u s appaars i n t h c beg inn ing a s

w a l l as a t t ho ond o f t h o ncvc l . S loary , l i k c S isoy

otandm f o r common-sonsc. Ho comos f r o m a g c n o r a t i o n

o f t h o wieo o r h o l y f o o l . Thc as thma t i c S l ca ry

u t t o r s t h o oolomn m o r a l o f t h o s t o r y and i s t h e v o i c o

o f Dickone, whcn ho says, "Pcoplc muth t bo amuthod,

Thqu i rc , t h o r n ~ h o u ~ ~ and cont inuos, " toy c a n ' t bo

a lway th a working, n o r y c t they c a n ' t bo always a

l e a r n i n g . Mako t h o b o t h t o f uth: n o t t h e wu r thn

(P .60 ) .

Dickons had n o t p r a j c c t o d an i n d u s t r i a l worker

as R majo r cha rac te r b c f o r c Hard Timc3. J i t h Stephen

B lnckpoo l and h i s r o l n t i o n s h i p a w i t h h i s crnploycr

Boundcrby, and tho o t h c r workora, he p o r t r a y s t h o

p h y s i c a l and p n y c h o l o g i c a l d i s t r c s s o s o f t h o wo rk ing

c laos. Ip c c n o i d c r i n g 811 workcrs as 'Hands'

Boundcrby don ics any sonso o f f o l l o w - f o c l i n g towards

thorn. Ho i g n o r o s S t o p h ~ n ' s ncod t o d i v o r c e h i s w i f e

and t o l o a d a happy l i f o w i t h h i s t r u o l ovo , Rachaol.

Staphan on h i 8 p a r t , i s n o t i n f l u c n c e d by t h o workorul

c a l l f o r a o t r i k c , though h i s a l l o g i a n c o 13, doubt loso,

f o r h i s c laso. I n t h o ond ha l o n c s h i s j o b a f t o r ha

t a l k 0 i n dofonco o f h i o f o l l ow-workc ro whon ho mooto

Boundcrby t h c second t imc. Hc 1 3 n o t o n l y d i sm isocd

by h i a cmployer bu t o l s o i o o l o t c d by h i s f c l l o w -

workcro.

Al though bchulz t r a c c s thc s t r l k i n y s i r n i l a r i t i c o

bctwccn tho r l c h Gradgr ind i n Hard Timo: and tho

poo r H o r i i n u, onc cannot i g n o r c t h c p o s s i b i l i t y

o f an analogy betwccn t h c l i v c 3 o f j t c p h e n and Hor i .

Stcphon i o a good c h a r a c t c r who ha3 h i s own wcaknosacs,

and d o s p i t c h i s tendency t o d c s t r o y h i s w i f c , cmcrgco

a3 onc o f t h c most l o v a b l c c h a r a c t c r s i n thc nove l .

H ia s i m p l i c i t y and honcsty aro a lmost a k i n t o and aa

i m p o r t a n t as Ho r i l : dharmo. Hc docs n o t p a r t i d p a t o

i n t h c s t r i k e (D ickcna had v i s i t c d P r c s t o n and had

wi tneosod t h c o t r i k c t h c r c ) and pronounces U s c k b r i d g c

t o bc n o t a worthy l c a d c r . Yct ho dc fondo h i a

f o l l ow-wqrkc rs i n t h c presonco o f Boundcrby and

l o o c o h i s job. Wo era rorninded o f H i r a p o i s o n i n g

H n r i l o cow, end H o r i b r i b i n g t h e p o l i c c t o rcocuo

H i r o from puniohmont. T h c i r f c l l o w - f e e l i n g and l o v o ,

addod t o t h o i r a i a p l i c i t y end honcsty p r o v i d a f u r t h e r

ocopo f o r c x p l o r a t i o n o f t h o i r l i k o n c a a o f cha rac te r .

F o r Stcphon " L i f c i s 4w ' a muddlon end con t i nuo5

t o b o o o t i l l t h o ond . A l l h i s h o p o s r o m a i n a

a i r a g c till h i s d o a t h . He i s i g n o r e d by h im f c l l o w -

w o r k c r s and d i s m i s s a d by h i s c m p l o y c r , Morcovor+

h c i s n o t a b l e t o l o a d a m a r r i e d l i f o o f h i 3 c h o i c o .

Hc l o v o s R a c h a o l d o c p l y b u t t h c d i v o r c o l a w s p r o v c n t

t h c i r m a r r i a g o . Ha i s f o r c e d t o l o a v o t h o town i n

s c o r c h o f a j o b , w h i c h h c d o o s n o t g e t , h o i s a c c u s e d

o f r o b b e r y , o f wh ich Tom G r a d g r i n d i s t h e r o a l c u l p r i t ,

a n d h c d i n s a t r a g i c d o a t h , f a l l i n g i n t o O l d Hall

S h a f t , an a b a n d o n o d minc s h a f t . Ho d i c s o n l y a f t o r

many p c o p l c come t o h i s r c s c u o . ay t h a t timc h i s

body i s b r o k e n and w a s t e d f r o m s t a r v a t i o n . Ha d i o s

q u i e t l y , h i s hand i n R a c h a c l ' s ' h a n d and h i s o y o s

g a z i n g a t t h e c o m f o r t i n y s t a r . His d c a d body i s

c a r r i o d bock t o Cokotown i n a p r o c o s o i o n .

H o r i , t o o , d i c s i n o i m i l a r f a s h i o n . Hc d i c o

w i t h s t i l l t h c d o s i r o o f b u y i n g a cow, a n d i n t h o o n d

h a h a n d s o v e r t h o l i t t l e moncy l c f t t o D h a n i e t o

g i v o i t t o t h o p r i c s t a n d s a y 5 t h a t i t i s h i s godon.

H o r i l o d o o t h i n d i c e t o o t h o d o f c a t o f t h c I n d i a n

p o a m a n t i n t h o f a c o o f u n b c a r a b l o o d d s a g a i n s t him.

S t c p h o n ' r f a l l i n t o t h o m i n c s h a f t symbolizes t h o

d o a t r u c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g c l a a s by t h o i n d u s t r i d

uppor c l a s s . But b o t h H o r i and Stophcn o r h i b i t

t h e i r ox t rcmc f a i t h i n l i f o and i n t h c immcnsc

p o t o n t i a l of t h o i r c lass .

i t would n o t bc f a r - f e t c h e d t o o t a t c a l a a t h o

comfo r t and cnorgy r o c o i v c d by b c t h Stcphon and H o r i

f r o m t h e i r bc lcvodo i n t i m c s o f d i s t r c o o and tono ion .

i h c r c i s onc canopicuoua d i f f e r c n c c bctwccn Rachocl

and Dhania. Rachacl is always l o v i n g b u t Dhania

o x h i b i t a h e r v c l e t i l c n a t u r e c c c e a i n n a l l y . Rachaol

hao no qualms i n h e l p i n g and l a v i n g t h c l i f e o f

S tophcn 's m iso rab lo w i f c . To Stcphcn, Hachocl i n t h o

o h i n i n g o t a r t h a t i l l u m i n a t c o t h o darknoss o f t h o

whole w o r l d wlicn compared t o a csnd l c t h a t d i s p c l o

o n l y a l i t t l e o f i t . bhan ia h c s i t o t c s t o a l l o w H i r a

and h i s w i f c t o s t a y i n h o r houoc a f t c r t h a t p o i s o n i n g

i nc iden t . , but she l s t c r ocqu icsccs w i t h h e r huciband'o

d e c i s i o n . She has h c r own o p i n i o n o t o makc and

showo h o r p r o t o a t o f t o n i n c o n t r a s t t o t h c mcck,

submisa ivo n a t u r o o f t i o r i . Shc b l u r t s o u t t h o o ~ c r o t

t h a t H i r e he0 po i soncd t h o cow t o t h o p o l i c c and l a t e r

r o c o i v o ~ boating. f r o m h o r husband. Both hsvc t h o i r

own ways, y e t ultimately t h o y t o o t h o sene l i o o ;

But f o r Stophon R.oh~o1 i s t h o gu ido and t h a r o i s

n o t h i n g a c c u s a t o r y .bout Rachaol. Shc i s t y p i c a l o f

D i s k c n o ' o h o r o i n c s . Shc i s a b l c t o u n d c r s t a n a and

f n r g i v c L o u i o e , who a p p c a r s t o have 0130 bcon i n v o l v o d

i n t h o p l a t a g a i n e t S t c p h c n . Shc c o s i l y mokea f r i c n d s

w i t h S i e s y and Mrs. P o g l c r , and s h c , l i k c S i s s y , f o r m s

a l i n k botwcon t h o v o r i o u s g r o u p s , a l l p a r t o f t h o

ignominy c x c a t c d by t h o i n d u s t r i a l syotcm.

T h i s s t r i k i n g a n a l o g y n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g . i t would

b e w o r t h u h i l o t o c o n s i d o r t h o ' p a r a l l c l o u t l i n o d by

S i o g f r i o d A. Schulz . J u s t a o h c p o i n t c d o u t

r o o c m b l a n c o s bctwccn H o r i and G r a d g r i n d (ovcn t h e i r

families) who a r c on t h o o p p o s i t e s c a l o s o f l i f o ,

ho h i g h l i g h t s t h o o i m i l a x i t i c o i n t h o i m p o r t a n t s o t s

o f c h a r a c t c r s i n t h o two n o v c l a i . c . t h o o i m i l a r i t i c e

botwccn Stophcn and Rachaol i n Hard Timoo and P r o f .

Mchta and Mia3 M a l t i i n tadRnr

Boforc an e x p o s i t i o n c o u l d bc modc a b o u t t h c a o

two s o t 3 o f c h n r a c t c r s it would b c c s s o n t i a l t o n o t c

t h a t , as i n many p r c v i o u s n o v c l s o f Prcmchsnd, i n

Godan a l s o t h o r o i o t h o ~ h i f t i n g projection o f l i f e - i n t h o v i l l a g o end l i f e i n t h o c i t y . One t o n d s t o

f o r g o t and ovon i g n o r o t h c t r c a t r n n n t o f c i t y d i f o i n

t h i s n o v o l duo t o t h o concen t ra t i on o f t h o thcsc o f

t h c v t o r y on tho l i f c o f t h o pcmoant, Weri. Morcovor,

t h o p o r t r a y a l o f c i t y l i f o i s n o t as a u t h e n t i c as t ho

p o r t r a y a l o f t h o w o r l d o f Hor i . Th i s ncw wor ld o f

pcop lo i n t h o c i t y has no th ing conc ro t c about i t s

cxpc r i cncca and t h o cha rac te rs a rc pronc t o t a l k i n g

and d i scuss ing i n o t c s d o f ac t ing . 1 6

Thc abovc romark scorns t r u c whon onc goas

through t h o l o n g p h i l o s o p h i c a l d i scuss ions o f Mchts

and M a l t i . Marc t a l k i n g i s done. Tho mar r i ed l i f c

o f K h ~ n n a and Gov ind i i s a f a i l u r c . The c o s o n t i a l

p o t t c r n c f l i f o o r t h e unhindered smooth f l c w o f l i f o

i s m i s s i n g i n t h o l i f o c f t he c i t y . Thc p r a o e n t a t i o n

o f t h c impor tan t c h a r a c t o r s o f t h c c i t y , thosc

be long ing t o t ho midd lo-c lass i s n o t realistic and

t h o t r c a t m c n t o f t h o l i f o i t s e l f o f t h c midd le-c lass

doos n o t c a r r y c o n v i c t i o n . 1 7

Stophon bocoros a m a r t y r i n tho n o v o l and nobody

o l o c i n t ho n o v o l i s p o r t r a y e d w i t h such poignancy

l 6 K.D. K u r t k o t i , 'Godan and t h o Structure o f Chsngc\ Promchand: Our Contcmporary, cd. Sh ivkunr r Miara, P.I~z~

?nt$or Nath Mod??, Prcmchand-(An I n t c r p r c t o t i o n ) P.111,

t h a t hc may bc c a l l o d t h c h o r d o f t h o novo l , n m a j o r

f c a t u r o wh ich l o a d o t o h i o p a r a l l o l w i t h Ho r i . B u t

h i s r o l c i n t h o w idc compooo o f t h c n o v o l i s o n l y

limited. And h i s a o s o c i a t i o n w i t h Rachoc l and t h e i r

c h a r a c t a r i a a t i o n l o a d s t o t h o compar ison batwcon t h o a

and t h o c h a r a c t o r a o f Mchta and M a l t i i n m, whooe

r o l o o a r o 0 1 ~ 0 l i m i t e d i n t h c novc l . Neh ta dovo tes

h i s l i f e f o r knowlodgo and M a l t i f o r s o c i a l s c r v i c c .

They l o v c cach o t h c r , t hey s r c n o t m a r r i o d , y o t t h e y

l i v c l i k c husband and w i f e . Th i c happens duo t o t h o

chang ing approach t o l i f o i n t h c c i t i c s . Thcy b c l o n g

t o t h c ncu c r d o r o f o o c i c t y i n wh i ch l4r. Khanna and

O n k ~ r Nath a r c a100 i n c l u d o d end f rom which R a i Sahcb

and M i r z a Khurshcd a r c c x c l u d c d d c o p i t o t h o i r

c f f c r t o t o change o v o r t o t h i s now o rde r . Hoh ta and

K a l t i o x p r c s s f roodom o f thought . Through those t w o

c h o r a c t c r o Prcmchand r c p r c s c n t s t h e cmorgonco o f a

f r o c - t h i n k i n g , u n f o t t c r c d s o c i e t y . But ho cxposos

t h o c o m p l i c a t i o n o i n h c r c n t i n t h i s o o c i c t y and t ho

d i f f i c u l t i n s f a c c d by o t h o r i n d i v i d u a l o o f t h i a

a o c i o t y . A l l Mr. Khanne's hopes a r o a h a t t c r o d whon

h i s s u g a r - m i l l ca t chos f i r c . Tho ncw o x d o r hao

crnorgod, b u t ~ r c m c h a n d scorns t o h i n t t h a t , it' w i l l

bo a l o n g t i m c b o f o r c i t o c t t l c o dawn a n d t a k c o i t o

o t o a d y c o u r o c . l e

Tho t w o p a i r o o f c h a r a c t c r a a r c , s i m i l a r so f a r

a s t h c i r d c d i c a t i o n i s c o n c c r n c d . A p a r t f r o m t h a t

t h c r c i s a w i d c g u l f b c t w o c n t h c s c t w o p o i r o . s o p a i r o

e n d a s individuals r c s p c c t i v c l y . Tho d i f Q s r o n c o i n

t h c i r position^ i n l i f c i s u n d c r o t o o d . T h c i r o u t l o o k

on a n d a p p r o a c h t o w a r d s l i f c a r c a l s o d i s s i m i l a r ,

c v c n t h o u g h t h c y h a v c o i n c c r c i n t c n t i o n ~ . D i c k c n o ' o

p o r t r a y 0 1 o f t h o two c h a r n c t c r s i s realistic,

c o p o c i n l l y h i s p o r t r a y a l o f S t c p h c n i n c o n t r a s t t o

t h c p o r t r o y a l o f M c h t a a n d H o l t i i n N. H c h t a

a n d M a l t i o x p o s c P r c m c h a n d ' o i d e a l i s m o r o n e c a n s a y

P r c m c h a n d p o r t r a y s r a a l i ~ t i c a l l y t w o i d c ~ l i o t

c h a r a c t c r s . S t o p h c n d o c o n o t r o p r c s c n t t h o c m c r g i n g

u o r k i n g - c l a s s b u t h o i s a n i n d i v i d u a l d r a w n by e

m a s t o r - h a n d , a n d 30, i n d i v i d u a l l y c a n n o t bo p l a c e d

b o s i d o M c h t a a p a r t f r o m t h c i r o i n c o r i t y a n d d c d i c a t i o n .

M o h t a r o p r o o a n t o t h o r n i d d l c - c l a s s t r y i n g t o f o r m t h o

now o r d o r o f o o c i c t y . Evcn t h o u g h h c h a s inwncnso

P a i t h i n s o c i a l o c r v i c c , h c g i v c ~ l o s s i m p o r t e n s o

t o t h o m a t o r i a l a n d p r a c t i c a l s i d o o f l i f c . Ho i a

X.D.Xurtkotl,. "Oodan and the strucaure of Change*, premhndr hu: Contemporare, ad. Shivkumar Misra, P. 142

a k ind of philosopher who has l 0 3 t h i s t r a d i t i o n a l

f a i t h , find i s groping f o r a now onc i n t h o omcrging

bourgeois c i v i l i s a t i o n . Mchta, a long wi th c t h o r

c h a r a c t o r s a f tho midd le -c l a s s oc rvco a l s o Prcrnchand's

purposc of cxp rcs s ing h i 3 dcvcloping i d c a s . Stcphcn

s t i c k s t o h i s t r a d i t i o n a l f a i t h and i s r cedy t o s u f f e r .

Hc docs n o t t o o t h o l i n e of h i 0 fo l low-workers a g a i n s t

h i s conocioncc and d c c i d c s t o d i s t a n c o himsolf from

t h c s t r i k c .

ns s t a t e d c a r l i c r t h c d e l i n o a t i o n of t h o middle,

c l a s s i n todan l a c k s a u t h c n t i c i t y . M a l t i bccomcs a

changed woman only a f t c r coming under t h o i n f l u c n c c

o f Pro f . Mchta. Shc, t a o , comcs ncn r Hcchacl on ly

whcn t h c 3 c l f l c s 3 n c 1 3 of both t h c c h a r a c t e r s a r c

tokcn i n t a c o n s i d c r a t i o n . Bcforc coming undor t h e

s p o l l of Mchta, M a l t i i s shown a s an cxamplc of a

p roduc t o f wostcrn c i v i l i s s t i o n . She c o n s i d c r o

h c r a c l f and t h e whole of h c r sox on c q u a l tcrrns w i th

men a o c i a l l y and p o l i t i c a l l y . 5ha f l i r t s w i th M r .

Khanna, end bo fo ro t h a t , f a l l s i n l o v c wi th f lehta ,

who dooo n o t respond t o h o r l cvc . Sho c r o a t a a a r i f t

botwoon Mr. Khanna and h i o wifc . Haro, ohc r e p r o s o n t o

Promchand'a b i t t o r h a t r e d f o x t h c wcs t c rn i aod Ind ian

woman. A 1 1 t h r o u g h h i 3 n o v c l s , ' h c h a d u p h o l d h i o

f a i t h i n t h o I n d i a n i d c a l o f womanhood and h a d t r i o d

t o p o i n t o u t i t s e x c o ~ ~ s o o and drawbacks. B u t h e r o

was a now c l a s s o f women, i n f l u c n c c d h e a v i l y by

w o r t o r n c d u c a t i o n , t r y i n g t o o m u l a t o t h o w e s t e r n woman

and mock ing a t t h o i r " u n a c p h i r t i e a t e d " r i n t o r s .

P rcmchand was v c h c m e n t l y a g a i n o t t h i s t r e n d i n I n d i a n

society, ond M a l t i b c c o r n c ~ t h e t a r g c t o f h i s s a r c a s m

and s a t i r e i n m.

G o v i n d i , M r . K h a n n a ' s w i f c , i s a n i m p o r t a n t

c h a r a c t o r i n t h o n o v o l s o f a r a s h e r p u r p o a o i s

c o n c e r n e d . She i s a c o n t r a s t t o I.~L.LLI, a n d 3ho

r o p r o s o n t a t h c I n d i a n i d c a l o f womanhood. She i s

an o n b o d i m o n t o f t l ~ c a n c i e n t i d o a l o f s o l f - c o n t r o l ,

r o l f - d o n i a l a n d s c l f - s a c r i f i c e . Shc i s f a s h i o n e d

a f t c r t h o . I m o t h c r i d c a l ' c o n s i s t e n t l y u p h c l d by

Promchand i n h i a woman c h o r a c t c r s . Mr. Khanna i s

g o l f - c c n t r c d , s e l f i s h a n d g r c c d y and relatively

G o v i n d i i s much more a e n s i b l c , ~ p r a c t i c a l , h a n e a t

and g o n o r o u s . I t i a a g a i n s t t h i s i d o a l c h a r a c t e r

of G o v i n d i t h a t H i s s H a l t i i s drawn a s a c o n t r a a t . 19

l 9 I n d c r Noth .Madent Promchand (An I n t o r p r o t a t i o n ) , P.111.

Yet, M d t i l a t o r casto away hor l o v o f o r tho

g l i t t o r o f wootorn c i v i l i o a t i o n . , though she i s n o t

6b l0 t o ascopt the I n d i a n idoml t o t d l y . Sho romains

unnarr iod, 3ho h m hor own viows, and t r i o s t o be

u s o f u l t o othoro i n hor own mannor. Both Mchta and

H a l t i arc tho procursoro of a now ordor bu t Promchand

rcmaino ocop t i ca l about tho cndurancc and l o n g c v i t y

o f t h i s ncw ordor.

Stcphon moutho Dickcna's d isgus t towards thc

o x i s t i n g s y ~ t o m whon ho nays ropcatodly, " I t s aw a'

muddle" m d ho axproaooo Dickcns's a t t i t u d o towards

tho working claoo and tho t radc uniono whon ho

absta ins from tho a t r i k o and i o s c o p t i c d about tho

loadorsh ip q u d i t i o o o f Slockbridgc. A 1 1 t h i s was

in f luoncod by D ickonr ' r v i o i t t o Preston t o watch

tho o f f o c t o o f a o t r i k o o f tho c o t t o n workers thcro.

Ho wroto about i t i n tho a r t i c l c "On S t r i k o m i n

* ~ o u o o h o l d Words* o f 11 Fcb., 1854. Hc was ourpriood

by tho s t i l l cltmosphoro and thc l a c k o f any turbulonco

o r a g i t a t i o n a t t h o two mootingg ho attondod. Thoro

waa tho prasonco o f mn outa ido o r a t o r a l s o ( a p ro to typa

o f Uackbr idgo) whoso i n f l u c n c o on t h o workofo i s

c o n o u r o d i n t h e a r t i c l e . But d o o p i t c a l l t h o s i l a n c o

and l a c k of any ill-rill, t h e a r t i c l e q u o t a s o n 0

i n o t a n c o o f M opon c o n d o m n a t i o n o f a p a r t i c u l a r man,

and t h o a t r i k o r o maom t o bo m o r a l l y on t h o r i g h t .

But Uickono doom n o t a p p r o v o o f t h i s s t r i k ~ . ~ '

D ickono uoco S t a p h o n t a r o p r c s o n t h i s v iowo

b o t h i n word and d o o d , and c v c n R a c h a c l h o l d 3 on t o

t h i s p u r p o ~ o . But n c i t h o r Mch ta n o r M a l t i t and n o t

o v e n H o r i r c p r c s o n t s P r e m c h e n d ' s v i o w s i n t o t o i . c .

b o t h i n t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n . H o r i s i g n a l s t h e doom

o f t h c t r a d i t i o n - b o u n d , h a n e s t f a r m e r . Mch ta v o i c c s

P r c m c h a n d ' s v iowa on t h c r o l e o f women i n I n d i a n

s o c i e t y b u t h c h i m s e l f f a i l s i n p r a c t i c a l l i f e . Hc

i a a m i s t i t a t homc, and h i s c l a s s d o c 3 n o t h a v e 0

b r i g h t f u t u r e . M a l t i ohows t h a t s h c i 3 s i n c c r c and

d o d i c a t c d b u t *ho i s f a r f r o m P r c m c h a n d ' s i d c a l o f

en I n d i a n woman.

Tho o t h o r c h a r a c t o r s b e l o n g i n g t o t h c m i d d l e - c l a a s ,

Mr. Khanna, Rei S a h a b , M i r r a Khurshcd a r o p o r t r a y e d

a c c o r d i n g t o t h o r o l c t h e y p l a y i n s o c i e t y . Khanna

20 Humphry ~ o u s c , *Hs=d T i n e s * , ?lckens, o d . A.E. Oyson , , * * 2 f 6-'!7.

i s a m i l l - m a r , and ho roproscn ts t h c c a l l o u s

o t t i t u d a o f a r i c h buoincssman. Hc anhancco t h o

n i o o r y o f H o r i a f t c r h i s agont chcats him o f h i s

csrn ings. Thin happcns a f t c r t h c c n t i r c produce o f

ouparcanc and o thor o r t i c l o o from H o r i ' s v i l l a g c i s

acnt t o t h i o sugar -m i l l o i t u a t c d i n i t s ncighbourhood.

Tho Hai Schob, on t h o a t h c r hand, c x a c t s forcod

labour f rom t h o poor d c s p i t c h i s p a t r i o t i o m and h i s

gonuinc aympethy w i t h thc pcaoant. More than tha t ,

hc b r i b o a tho c d i t o x o f a ncwopopcr t o aupproro

t h i s c r u o l t r ca tmcn t a f the poor. M i r z a Khurshod,

l i k e Mchta and H a l t i , shows h i s z c a l f o r sc rv icc ,

and i s concorncd about tho l ~ b o u x c r o and tho dancing

q i r l a o f the r o d l i g h t d i s t r i c t . But, s t i l l , t l i r z a ' s

indu lgunco i s on ly a o u p c r f i c i a l on0 which doos n o t

y i o l d any f r u i t f u l roou l to .

Stophon is f o d up w i t h h i s w i f c , and l o n g s f o r

a broak-up of t h c i r r o l e t i o n a h i p . A o i m i l a r f a t o

onvolepa Louisa, who has bcon f c r c o d t o marry

Boundorby, a men much o l d o r than hor. A l i t t l o

i e t o r oho c a o s I n con tac t w i t h Jmmoo Harthouno, ono

of h o r f a t h o r s e f r i o n d s who i s a t p rooen t a o o i s t i n g

Poundorby. Ho i n n o t on0 who g ivoo much i r p o x t a n c o

t o t h o ' F a c t - o r i o n t a d ' l i f e b u t 13 a b l e " t o t a k o t o

t h o h a r d F a c t f o l l o w s w i t h a s good a g r a c e a 3 i f ho

had boon b o r n ono o f t h o t r i b o , and t o t h r o w a l l

o t h o r t r i b o o a v o r b o a r d , a 3 c o n o c i o u s h y p o c r i t e s n

(P.170). Ho s a y s t o L o u i s a a b o u t t h o ' F a c t ' f o l l o w s ,

Whom nonc o f u s b e l i e v o ~ , my d o o r Mrs.

Boundorby, and who do n o t b e l i o v c thcmdclves .

Tho o n l y d i f f a r o n c c bctwocn us and t h o

professors o f v i r t u 0 o r b c n o v o l c n c c , o r

p h i l n n t h r o p y - - n c v c r mind t h o namo--is,

t h a t wc know i t i s a l l m c a n i n g l c ~ s , and

s a y s o ; w h i l c t h o y know i t o q u a l l y and

w i l l n e v e r s a y so . (Pp.170-71)

T h o i r i n t i m a c y l o a d s t o t h o dawning o f knowlcdgo upon

L o u i s a and h c r c o m p l o t o r o s o n t m o n t t o w a r d s h e r f a t h o r

and h i s syo to&. T h i s s o v o l a t i o n on t h c p a r t o f

L o u i s a a l s o p a v a s way f o r t h o d i o i l l ' u s i o n m o n t of

G r a d g r i n d w i t h h i 3 h i t h o r t o infallible s y e t o m o f

'Fmcto ' .

I n J l u o s H a r t h a u a o P i c k o n a c r o a t u a 'one a t t h e

moat p u r o l y r o a l i o t i c c h a r a c t o r o i n Hard Times,

p o o o i b l y bocauoo ho o x i a t o o n l y i n r o l a t i o n t o

L o u i s a ' s f a t o . D i c k o n s i n n o t c o n e o r n o d w i t h

H a r t h o u o o ' o p o r o o n a l d o o t i n y , a s ho i s w i t h t h a t o f

c u r t a i n s i m i l a r c h a r a c t o r u - - 5 t o o r f o r t h i n

C o p p o r f i o l d f o r i n o t a n c u and Lugonc J r a y b u r n i n Our Mutuo l F r i c n d . d u t i t i s a l s o t r u o t h a t D ickcns woo - p a r t i c u l a r l y f a s c i n a t e d by t h c b l o n d of c y n ~ c i a m and

i r r c s p o n o i b i l i t y p r c s o n t i n H a r t h a u o c , wh ich may

c x p l a i n why t h o d o p i c t i o n i s d i r e c t l y realistic, and

w i t h o u t g r o t c a q u o r i o s o r m y t h i c o v c r t o n c s o f any k ind . "21

So i t i s t h a t ono c v c n i n g when Boundorby i s o u t on

b u o i n c s s H a r t h o u s o a p p r o a c h c a L o u i s a and o x p r o s s c s

h i s d c o p l o v o f o r h o r . Ho g o o 3 away a s k i n g h c r t o

moot him t h c aamo n i g h t . H i s a t t o m p t t o a c d u c c h o r

f a i l s a s s h c , i n s t o a d o f m c c t i n g him, m o o t s h o r

f a t h o r i n h i s houoo, whore a h 0 p o u r s o u t h o r pont-up

f o o l i n p n . Sho s i k o h o r s u t p r i a e d f a t h o r , who do05

n o t know a n y t h i n g . 0 2 t h o m a t t o r .

How c o u l d y o u g i v o mo l i f o , and t a k e

f r a q a l l t h o i n a p p r o c i r b l o t h i n g o t h a t

r a i o o i t froa t h o s t a t 0 o f c o n s c i o u s d o a t h 7

Dyson A.E., Tho Inimitable D i c b o n a (London: M8caillan 6 Go. ~ t d . t 9 7 0 ) , P.191.

Uhoro aro t h o gracor o f my 10u17 Yhoro

aro tho son t i non to o f my h c a r t ? what havo

you dono, 0 f a t h o r , what have you dono,

w i t h t ho garden t h a t should havc bloomcd

onco, i n t h i o g r c a t w i l d ~ r n ~ s ~ here? (Pp.214-15)

Sho cont inuos,

Fathor, chancc thcn thrcw i n t o my way Q

now acquaintanco: a man such as I had no

cxpcr icncc o f i uocd t o t h c wor ld; l i g h t ,

p o l i l h c d , oasy: making na protcnceo;

avowing tho l ow cs t imatc o f cvc ry th ing ,

t h a t I woo h a l f a f r a i d t o form i n scc rc t

. . . . Thoro scomcd t o bc a ncar a f f i n i t y

bctwocn uo. I on ly wondcrcd i t should bc

wor th h i o w h ~ l c , who carcd f o r noth ing c l s c ,

t o Lare DO much f o r mo. (P.217)

Sho t o l l s he r wonder-otrutk f a t h o r t h a t Harthousc woo

oxpoct ing he r t h a t n i g h t d o c l a r i n g h o r o e l f hor l o v e r

( P . 2 1 7 ) . Sho mays,

I do n o t know t h a t I am so r r y , I do n o t

know t h a t I an aohemod, I do n o t know thb t . * I am dcgradad i n my own ostoom. A l l t h a t

I know 13, y o u r p h i l o s o p h y a n d y o u r

t o a c h i n g w i l l n o t s a v c mc. Now, f a t h c r ,

y o u h a v o b r o u g l l t me t o t h i s . i a v c mc by

somo o t l i c r m c a n s ! (Pp .217-18 )

T h i s r o v o l s t i a n b r i n g o a b o u t a n a t t i t u d i n a l

e h a n g c i n G r a d g r i n d ' z mind . Hc i s n n mnro t h e ' F a c t -

o r i c n t c d ' h a a r t l c s s f o t h c r h c was. And,

h e t i y h t c n c d h i s h o l d i n t i m o t o p r c v c n t

h c r s i n k i n g on t h c F l o o r , b u t s h c c r i o d

o u t i n a t c r i b l c v o i c c , ' I s h a l l d i c i f

y o u h o l d mc! L c t rnc f a l l upon t h e g r o u n d ! '

And h c l a i d h o r down t h o r o , a n d saw t h c

p r i d o o f h i s h c o r t a n d t h o t r i u m p h o f h i s

s y s t c m l y i n g , a n i n z c n s i b l c h e a p , a t h i s

f c c t . ( P . 2 1 0 )

I n t h c d e m o l i t i o n o f G r o d g r i n d 1 3 3 y s t c m D i c k c n o

s h o w 3 t h e f u t i l i t y of t h o b l i n d ~ d h n r e n c c t o any

~ y a t o m i n v o n t o d by men, w h i c h h a o n o p l a c c f o r

i m a g i n e t i o n a n d o o n t i m c n t i n i t . Hc o n c o u r a g o a t h o

way o f s r c f o r m o d o d u c s t i o n a l o y s t o m t o a c h i n g b o t h

l f n c t l a n d ' f a n c y 1 a p a r t f r o m t h o l i v i n g way ohowg

b y Siuoy, L o u i s a ( i n t h o e n d ) a n d won, p a r t t y by

G r o d g r i n d and t h o r a y of s u f f o r i n g o f Rachaal . 22

H a r t h o u s o , a l o n g w i t h Mrs. S p a r s i t r o p r e s c n t s

t h o f a d i n g a r i s t o c r ~ ~ y . Hc i s n o t t o o cnncorncd

a b o u t l i f e . Ha h a s t o k e n many j o b s and found a l l o f

thorn b o r i n g . A t l a s t ho r c a c h c s t h o " h a r d - f a c t

f a l l o w s n a e c o p t i n g h i s b r o t h o r ' s rcconmondat ion . Hc

i s a c l o v o r man who m a n i p u l a t a a h i s a c t i v i t i e s w c l l

i n Cokotown. A f t c r moot ing Mra. S p a r s i t , hc comoa t o

know a b o u t t h o n a t u r e of Cokctown a o c i c t y . From h c r

ho understands t h o s t r a i n e d r e l a t i o n s h i p bctwccn

boundcrby and L o u i s a . So i t i s t h a t h e n c e f o r t h he

t r i o s t o f l a t t o r Boundorby and h a i s s u c c e ~ s f u l i n

h i s o t t c m p t a . L o u i s a a l s o d o c s n o t show ony d i s l i k o

f o r him. But s h c i s n o t a b l e t o r c v c a l h c r o c l f t o

him, and h o r o s h c sooms t o bc a r i d d l o t o Har thouso .

50 ho d o c i d a s t o c o n v i n c o h i m s o l f o f t h c r c a i

c h a r a c t o r o f L o u i s a . Hor m y o t c r i o u o n e s s l c a d s t o

H a r t h o u s o ' s c u r i o s i t y and d o t o r m i n a t i o n t o know t h o

t r u t h .

H a r t h o u s o , t h o u g h a p r c t o n d o r and a m a n i p u l a t o r

22 John F o o t o r , Q u o t o d i n K a t e F l i n t , Dickcna ( k t s o c x $ The H e r v a n t a r P r c s a L i m i t e d , 1986)--95.

aa f a r ea t l l c ways o f t h o wo r ld a re conccrnod,

t r i o s t o show h i m o c ~ f a5 a r t l e a s l y f r a n k b o f o r e

Louiaa. He d i s c l a i m s t o bo a p o l i t i c i a n and h i e

aasumcd honesty improsaca her. Ultimately ho n o t i c e 3

t h o choc r fu lnes3 which l i g h t s up h c r f a c e whencvor

sho comes across h c r b r o t h c r Tom. So hc make8 f r i e n d s

w i t h Tom and l o a r n s f r om him t h a t nobody, i n c l u d i n g

Lou isa , l o v c s Boundcrby, and dl h c r a f f c c t i o n i s

beotowcd on h c r o n l y b r o t h c r . And th rough Tom.

Harthouac i s ab lo t o g o t n c a r c r and n c a r c r t o Lou i sa ' s

hea r t .

Harthouso bcg ino a f t c r t h i s t o pay f r a q u c n t v i o i t o

t o t h o Boundcrbys. Boundcrby doco n o t much care f o r

o lcgancc and p o l i o h c d rnannoro nnd l c a v o s h i s w i f e

t o a t t o n d him. Horthouao t a l k s about Tom i n h o r

prosonco and ho i o s u r p r i ~ o d t o f i n d t h a t Lou ioa

bog ina t o show tho o f f o c t s o f h i s i n f l u c n c o i n a

markod mnnnor. Hc l a o r n o about h o r conccrn f o r Tom.

Harthouoo pra tondo t o ~ u g q e s t c x c u s o ~ f o r Tomto

r c c k l o o s bohsv iau r and promisoa h o r t o t r y t o r e f o r m

him. But on moot ing Tom ho c o m a t o know t h a t ho

i o fax t o o much i n dob t and i t i o d i f f i c u l t t o r c d ~ o l n

hdm. Harthouao in a t l o a o t cepeb lo o f porauad ing

Tom t o apo log iao t o L O U ~ D ~ f o r h i s r u d o bohav iour

t o h c r on s p r c v i o u o o c c a s i o n . Hc a p o l o g i o o o and

s w o l l s up t h o l o v o f o r him i n L o u i s a ' s h c a r t , a n d

H e r t h o u s o a l s o r c c c i v e s a s h a r e o f L o u i s a ' s a f f e c t i o n

f o r t h e f a v o u r dono t o ! , o r .

I t i s a f t e r t h i s t h a t H a r t h o u n r p l a n s w i t h

L o u i s a t o e l o p c , end ho f i n d s t h c r i g h t momont f o r

t h a t when Boundorby i s away i n London f o r a f a w d a y s .

L o u i s o a l s o i s c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h i 3 i o t h e o n l y

s o l u t i o n t o h c r probloms.

A t t h i s j u n c t u r o L o u i s a p r o v c a h c r i n n a t e

p u r i t y , g o o d n c s s when s h c d c c i d c a a g a i n s t m e e t i n g

n o r t h o u 3 0 a t h i 3 h o t e l . Shc h a s t o c h o o s c bc twccn

two o p t i o n s b c f o r c h c r and s h c c h o o s c s t h o ono

which r c t a i n s h e r p u r i t y , h e r s o n s o of m o r a l v a l u c s .

H a r t h o u s c p r o v c o t o bo a n a m o r a l c h a r a c t o r b u t

h c i s n o t a wicked c h a r a c t e r i n t r u t h . Hc might

havo b e a n movnd by p i t y a t t h o c o n d i t i o n o f L o u i s e ,

a f t o r f i n d i n g h o r f a t h e r t o bc a machine . h o r

b r o t h c r a whelp and h e r huuband a b e a r . I n t h o c n d ,

ho i o f o r c o d t o l o a v a Coketown, d i o s a t i o f i c d w i t h

h i a v c n t u r o . B o f o r o t h a t , ho comoo t o know o f

G r a d g r i n d ' s h o a p i t d i t y and l o v o f o r S iooy . Ho is

a h o c k c d and f o o l s t h o a b s u r d i t y o f s u c h a t o l a t i o n s h i p .

I n H a r t h o u o c D i c k o n s p r o a c n t s t h o d o c a y o f t h o

a r i s t o c r a c y , w h i c h h o had shown i n h i s e a r l i e r n o v e l s

a l s o . His aya tom. h i s p h i l o s o p h y w h i c h i s p o c u l i a r

t o h i m , crumbles. D i c k o n o a l w a y s u p h o l d t h o midd lo -

c l a s s . G r a d g r i n d , t h o u g h h i s p h i l o s o p h y a l s o

e x h i b i t s i t s f u t i l i t y i n t h o and . i s rodccmod a 5 h c

i s h o n c s t . But H a r t h o u s c , who d o o a n o t c a r c f o r t h c

w o r l d a n d c o n s i d c r o o v c r y t h i n g t o h i s own a d v e n t a g o

and amuoomcnt , h a s n o h o p e o f r o d o m p t i o n .

Tho o t h c r c h a r a c t e r who i a doomod and b a l o n g s

t o t h c f a d i n g a r i s t o c r a c y i s Mrs. S p a r s i t . She i s

B o u n d o r b y ' s h o u s e - k o o p o r and r o m a i n s o n e o f t h o

s i n i n t o r f i q u r o o i n t h e n o v o l . She i s a m a l i g n a n t

v a r i a n t o f t h e c h a r a c t o r o f Jamos H e r t h o u s o . H e r t h o u s o

do03 n o t h a v e any w i c k o d n c s s o r h a t r e d b u t S p a r s i t

h a s n o f o l l o w - f o c l i n g and i s a l w a y s q u i c k t o a c i z n

a n y o p p o r t u n i t y t o f u r t h o r h e r s e l f i s h o n d s . She

o v a n b o a s t o o f h o r a r i s t o c r a t i c o r i g i n a n d h i g h

c o n n o c t i o n m t o o v a r y b o d y s h o moots . 5ho bocama a

widow a t t h o a g o o f t w o n t y - f o u r and a f t e r t h a t d u o

t o h o t impoverished c o ? d i t i o n d o c i d o d t o s e r v o

Boundorby a o hio h o u o a k o o p o r . Boundorby i s c l a t o d

t o havo en ~ r i o t o c r a t i c l a d y omploycd undor him

c o n s i d o r i n g h i s p a n t humblo h i s t o r y which hc n m r r a t o t

t o o t h o r s . Boundorby it e b l o t o managc h e r by p a i n t i n g

o u t f r o q u c n t l y t h o d i a p a r i t y botwcon h c r p a a t h i a t o r y

and h o r p r o n o n t p o s i t i o n . But Mra. S p a r a f t p o r s i a t s

w i t h h o r r o f o r o n c o s t o h o r a n c i c n t g l o r y and c o n t i n u o s

f o i l i n g Boundcrby i n h i a a t t c m p t 3 t o i g n o r c hor. But

t h o r o e d o r , i n t h o r o p o a t c d r c f c r o n c c a t o h u r o f

a r i s t o c r a t i c b e g i n n i n g s , a t i n t h c casc,Boundorby'a

own o r i g i n s , b o g i n s t o d o u b t t h o v o r a c i t y o f h o r

s t n t c m c n t o .

Mrs. S p a r s i t d o l i g h t o i n g a i n i n g aocondancy o v c r

o t h c r a . Sho wiohoa t o domine to Boundcrby a l l t h o

t imc . But s h o p r c t c n d s a l l t h o t i m c t o a c t a c c o r d i n g

t o t h o w i t h e s of h o r m a s t o r , t o be coaxod t o s i t a t

t h o t a b l o , end f o ba o r d c r c d t o o a t w i t h him. But

i n h i a aboonco ahc c n j o y s h o r a o l f c a t i n g t h o

d o l i c a c i o o s h o h a s h i d d o n f o r h o r s c i f . Shc a l s o

p r o t o n d o t a c o n a u l t Boundorby on t r i v i a l m a t t a r s

zogmrding t h a houaohold which s h e r u n o a s a h c l i k o a .

Sho f e i g n s happinooo a t Boundorby's p r o p o s a l t o marry

L o u i s a and o p i n o o t h a t a w i f o may r o l i o v o h o s o f

h n r d u t i e s . But oho a l e o oayo t h a t s h o mould ba

happy t o c o n t i n u c t o r o c c i v c t h o " a n n u a l c o m p l i m c n t H ,

by which s h c moans t h o s a l a r y . Boundcrby d o c s n o t

r c a l i z o t h a t h c r a g r c o m c n t i n h i 3 d e c i s i o n t o m a r r y

i o o n l y o mcok, and i s happy w i t h h c r . He g c t r h e r

p o o t o d a o o matron i n t h o bank. B i t z c r i s h c r

a a a i a t a n t . S p a r s i t and B i t z c r p r o v e t o b c a g o a d

c o m b i n a t i o n ; t h e y a r c good s p i c s . Tho bonk r o b b e r y

p r o v c o h c r f a i l u r o st t h o bank and s h c shews s i g n s

o f t e r r i b l e s i c k n o s o . She comes back t o Boundorby ' s

houoc and citayo t h c r c till 3hc r c c o v c r s .

A t t h o bonk a h c had k e p t i n c o n s t a n t t o u c h w i t h

t h e r c l a t i o n o h i p bc twcon Boundorby and L o u i s a , and

h a d comc t o t h e conclusion t h a t L o u i s e would n o t b e

e b l c t o l i v c h a p p i l y w i t h Boundorby. And when

H a r t h o u o o r c a c h c o Cokctown and comcs i n t o c o n t e c t

w i t h L o u i s a , s h c o c a l s t h o f e t e o f L o u i s a . Mro.

S p a r s i t i s c l c v o r oncugh t o t h i n k o f an i n v o l v n m c n t

botwoon t h c o o two b c f o r c t h e y moot. She b e g i n s t o

d o v o t c cnough t i m o t o s t u d y t h c i r r c l e t i c n s h i p , end

l a t o r f i n d s L o u i n a o i n k i n g g r a d u a l l y down h e r

t o t a i c c a n c l r which i m t h o a tmoophorc o f shamo end

d i m g r a c o b u i l t r o u n d Louima. 5ho k c o p a c l o o e w a t c h .

on L o u i o a and f o l l o w o h o r t o t h o g a r d o n on t h o d a y

vhon both t h o l o v a r o moot and d o c i d o t o o l o p o (She

had takon i n t o a c c o u n t Boundorby's d o p a r t u r o on

bus inooo f o r a l o n g p e r i o d t o London). But aha

minaoo t h o f u l l c o n t o n t o f t h o i r conversation a s it

bogino t o r a i n i n bctwoon. Hcr i m a g i n a t i o n c o n p l o t c s

t h o o t o r y and oh0 r o l a t o s t o Boundorby t h a t h i s w i f o

h a s o lopod w i t h Harthouao. She romaina cxpoaod and

i s s o n t back t o t h o bank by a d i e g u a t e d Boundorby.

Mro. S p a r s i t l o n o x t a c t c f s p y i n g b r i n p i n t h o

m y o t o r i o u e Mra. P o g l o r . Sho i s f o r c c d i n t o Boundorby's

houao and aho r o v o a l s h o r a c l f t o t h o d i a a p p o i n t m o n t

of b o t h S p a r o i t and Boundorby t h a t aha i s nono o t h c r

t h a n Boundorby'o mothor. T h i s o v o n t a l s o b r i n g s t o

l i g h t t h c fa130 b o a s t of Boundcrby t h a t s h c had

sbandonod him i n t h o g u t t o r . A l l Mro. S p a r a i t ' a

unnocooaary # toddl ing , flattery and i n t r i g u o , l o a d

t o h o r d i o g r s c o and h o r d i s m i o s a l f rom o c r v i e o .

Yot oh0 t r i o s t o r o t a i n h c r cus tomary 3 u p c r i o r i t Y

and o s y o b o f o r o l o s v i n g ,

I f t h a t p o r t r a i t c o u l d apoak, Sir--

but i t ham t h o a d v a n t a g c o v o r t h c o r i g i n a l

of not p o m s o s s i n ~ t h o powor of committ ing

i t @ o i f and d i a g c a t i n g o t h o r o , - - i t would

t o a t i f y . t h a t a l o n g p o r i o d h a a o l a p e e d

o i n c o I firmt h a b i t u a l l y a d d r o o o o d it

a o t h o p i c t u r n of a Noodlo. Noth ing t h a t

a Noodlo dooa c a n awakon a u r p r i a o o r

I n d i g n a t i o n ; t h o p r o c a o d i n g a o f a Noodlo

can o n l y i n a p i r o contempt. (P.286)

G r a d g r i n d , Hor i . L o u i s a , Rupo, S t o p h e n and

R a c h a o l , Mohta and M a l t i . a l l t h o s c c h a r a c t o r o and

t h c i r r o p r o o o n t a t i o n o h a v c r o v o n l n d c l o s e p a r e l l o l o

botwccn t h o two n o v o l o and t h o possibility o f t h o

i n f l u c n c o o f Hard T i m 1 3 on Promchand ' s Godsn c a n n o t

b a r u l o d o u t . I n f a c t , S i o g f r i o d A. S c h u l r m a i n t a i n o

t h i o c l a i m . Ho s a y s ;

a u t Promc hand borrowed and t r a n o p l a n t o d

f rom Dickons ovon moro t h a n j u s t o t r u c t u r a l

o ~ h m o n t o . Ho t o o k o v o n t o and c h a r a c t o r a .

oven o a t s o f c h a r a c t c r c ~ . which ho i n v o r t o d

and t h o n a d a p t o d w i t h g r e a t i n g e n u i t y t o

t h o I n d i a n ocono. Tho d i a m d Cokotown o f

Hard Timoo, i n mn i n d u o t r i a l i z o d c o u n t r y .

b o c o m o t h e p o v o r t y - o t r i c k o n v i l l a 9 0 o f

B o 1 a r i . a prirno oxamplc o f t h o r u s d b l i g h t

23 S i o g f r i a d A. S c h u l r , P r o r c h a n d r A V s s t c r n ~ p r a i e e l , Pp. 29-30.

Two more c h a r a c t o r n nood o u r o c r u t i n y . T h y

a r o Tom G r a d g r i n d , t h o oon of G r a d g r i n d , and Gobor,

t h o oon o f Hori. L o u i o a 8 n i n t i m a c y w i t h Jamoo

Har thouao hao a p a r a 1 1 0 1 i n t h o romance o f Gobar and

J h u n i a , b u t L o u i s a ' a p u r i t y r c & c t c d i t s c l f i n t h o

ond , w h i l o Gobar l o f t w i t h an i l l c g i t i m a t o c h i l d t o

J h u n i a , Thin a s p o e t , t h i s f r o s k i o h n o a s i n Gobar ' a

c h s r a c t o r i n o t a n t l y rominds ono o f t h o r a c k l o o s

n s t u r c o f Tom Gradgr ind .

Tom a150 l i k o Louioa i e a o t u d o n t o f G r a d g r i n d ' s

sye tam b u t u n l i k o L o u i a a ho i o s t t i c k c n w i t h h a t r o d

f o r h i s home. HO han a n a t u r a l b c n t f o r a o l f -

advancomont and l i k e n t o a c t a c c o r d i n g t o t h o ways

o f t h o world. Hc i s a p r o d u c t of h i o f a t h c r ' u e y o t a n

b u t h i s s o r r y p r o d i c a m c n t i a t h a t i n a t o a d o f k e o p i n g

w i t h i n t h o J i m i t o o f t h c oystom he c r o s s e ~ it i n t o

d i n h o n o o t y . Ho a l l o w s h imool f t o be usod by Har thouuo,

and whon gambling l o a d s t o an unproccdontcd amount

i n d o b t s , oven boyond t h o c a p a b i l i t y of L o u i o a t o

a o o i e t , ho u n f l i n c h i n g l y commits t h e bank r o b b o s y ,

which r o s u l t a i n Stophon Blackpool b a i n g etccusod

of t h a crimo. I t i n h o , i n t a c t , and n o t Louipe ,

who a i n k a down t h o o t h i r o t o u t t o r d a n . n a t i o n r

I n Louioa and Tom, Dickona produces a g l a r i n g

c o n t r a s t i n charactor. Yot Tom remains Louioe 'o

'~10at a f f c c t i o n e t o a b ro thor . He docs n o t havo tho

p a t i c n c o and r o a t r a i n t o f Louisa. Ho 1 3 va ry much

disgusted w i t h h i s f a t h e r ' s housc and h i s systcm.

Hc says, "I wish I c o u l d c o l l c c t a l l t h e Fac ts no

hcar 30 much about* and ''and a l l the Figuroo, and

011 tho pooplo who found thom out: and I wish 1 cou ld

p u t a thousand b a r r o l o o f gunpowder undcr thcm, and

blow thcm a l i up t o g c t h a r l M ( P . 6 9 ) . Ha c a l l a h i s

houac a " j o l l y old--Jaundiced j a i l M ( P . 6 8 ) . Ha

docidco t o conpcnsato f o r t h c r i g i d i t y and borcdom

a t h i o houoc by bocoming an a s s i s t a n t t o Boundorby

a t t h c bank.

I t is Tom who takos Louisa w h i t h him t o l o o k

through a he lo i n t h o c i r c u s t b n t , and whcn thoy arm

caught pooping i n t o t h o f o r b i d d c n area, Louioa takoo

a l l t h c blamo. And again i t i s Tom who f o r c o s Louiaa

t o marry Boundcrby f o r h i a awn nonatary b c n o f i t s ,

and ho c x p l o i t o Louioa u n t i l , i n t h e ond, oven sho

i o n o t ab lo t o ho lp him. By now hc has bocoro a

thorough profligate bcyond rodcmption. Ho ovon.

bagina t o con f ron t Bbundorby. Ho i s e x p l o i t o d by

Harthouae whon ho docs n o t rocaivo any monoy f rom

Louisa. Ho promiooe Harthouso t o bo morn g r a t o f u l

t o Louiea end l a t o r bog8 pardon f o r h i o r u d o h o s ~ t o

hor. It i a a f t o r t h i o t h a t ho commita tho bank robbory,

Louisa undorotands t h e t i t i a Tom who hao

committed tho offonco. But Tom1a f c i g n i n g ignoranca

and h i s l a c k o f confidonco i n h i s a i s t o r h u r t s hor.

Sho docidoo t o loavo Boundorby, end l a t o r a lso decide0

t o otay away from Harthouso, thus l a e v i n g Tom i n tho

lu rch . Stophcnts dy ing words t o Eradgr ind a lso

onhanco h i a insecurity. I n tho ond, ho oocapoo

abroad w i t h Unary. But ho d ins o f f a v o r tho rn and

roponts a t tho momont of doeth.

Tom roprosontn tho n a t u r a l and naaty i n f l u e n c o

o f tho Vec t -o r ion tadn oyotom on r o s t l o o s adolcacenco.

Tho burdan dC the ayotom wcigha too hard on him.

Un tho o thor band, tho burdon o f t r a d i t i o n i o

unboarablo f o r tho youngor gonorat ion i n w, roprosontod by Gober. Ao oppoood t o h i s f a t h o r ' s

gonorat ion, i n s t c a d o f ohowing s t r a i n s o f r o v o l t ,

ho ohowo h imnol f t o bo a w0.k poroon, w i thou t any

e b i l i t y t o confront c r u c i a l o i tua t iona . Ha o p o a b

a l o t . b u t i n p r a c t i c a l l i f o ho i s woak and powor losat

w i t h o u t any aim, and b o r o f t o f f a i t h . I n t h e

f avou rab lo eon tex to o f a dobatc h i o t u r n has cono by

more coincidonco--othorwioa h i s c h a r a c t o r i s n o t

o u i t o d t o t h o r c b o l l i o u a omotiona o f t h o pooplo. 24

Tho boot oxamplo o f h i o mora l cowardice i s t ho

conoequonco3 o f h i 3 l o v o a f f a i r w i t h Jhunie. Ho

l oavos h o r a t t h o door o f h i s houso and aacepaa f r o m

t h o p lace , f o a r i n g t ho wrath o f h i s parents . Tho

i n c i d o n t o t h a t f o l l o w show h i s i gno rance o f t h o b o t t o r

s i d o o f h i s pa ron to ovon s f t o r l i v i n g w i t h thorn f o r

so many yoaro. Thoy showor t h o i r l o v e and conoorn

f o r Jhun ia and do n o t h o o i t a t o t o c o n f r o n t t ho

Panchoo and dofond h e r as t h e i r daughtor- in- law.

Cont rary t o Gobarlo thoughts , Dhania c e l l o h im a

coward, and soya, Wo ahould havo s tood by youw and

H o r i says, vdc a ro n o t h i s onomioa. ahc t ' n dono 13

dono. Uno hqm t o t a k o t h o rough w i t h t h o smooth.

By runn ing away ho has made ua e l l m ioo rab loH (P.92).

Dickono uoos Cokotown i t o o l f w i t h i t s m i l l s

and machinoo t o d o p i c t t h o p a l l i d o t a t o o f human

cximtonco. Cokotawn i o l i k o a red-bg ick monoter.,

'' Koinal K o t h a r i , Promchond ko p e t r a , od. V i j a y d h m Datha, P.205.

i t o m i l l a l i k o f a i r y p a l a c o o and t h o p i o t o n o f t h o

otoam-ongino i 3 d o a c r i b o d a o working mmonotonoualy

up and down l i k o t h o hoed o f a n c l o p h a n t i n a o t a t o

o f n o l a n c h o l y madnooa* (P.43). ~ h o i m a g o s 0x0 i n

c o n t r a s t t o t h e i n t a r m i t t o n t f a c t u a l r o p o r t i n g and

t o l l u s a g r o a t d o a l a b o u t t h o mad u r g c n c y o f

p r o d u c t i o n f o r g a i n . I t i s i n t h o o v o c a t i o n of t h o s o

i m a g o s t h a t Dickono ohow3 h i s a b i l i t y a s an a r t i s t .

I n Hard Timoo ho i o e o n s i s t o n t and c f f c c t i v c i n h i s

s y m b o l i c d o s c r i p t i o n of t h o town and t h o m i l l s . A t

t h o b o g i n n i n g o f ~ o o k t h c Sccond ho d o s c r i b e s a h o t

summcr d a y and maboo t h o r c a d o r s n a u s c a t c d by s t a t i n g ,

*Tho wholc town aoomod t o bo f r y i n g i n o i l . T h c r c

was a s t i f l i n g s m o l l of h o t o i l c v c r y w h c r c n (P.122) .

Tho " d a r k o a t a n i c m i l l o n o f Cokctown a r c d r e a d f u l

on many l o v o l o . Through t h o powor o f t h o machinoo

t h o omployoro and o t a t i s t i c i n n s c c u s o t h o p h y s i c a l

b o d i c o o f t h o w o r k o r s t o g o t o t u n t o d . I t i s , indood.

a t h r o a t which r c p r o o o n t o t h o f u r t h o r d o t c r i o r a t i o n

o f t h o p l i g h t of mankind. Y c t , Dickons v o r y c l o v n r l y

mnnagoo t o j u x t a p o a c t h o o u f f o c a t i n g o f f o c t o f t h o

p a t t e r n o f i n d u o t r i a l l i f a i n Cokotown w i t h t h o l i f o

v d u o o o f h u r m i t y t h r o u g h h i s figurative d o o c r i p t i o n

o f Cokotown.

Apar t from t h o i n d u o t r i a l a tmaophcrc and i ts

conooquonccm, t h o p a r l i a m o n t s r y p r o c o d u r o i s h i g h l i g h t o d

by Uickons. I t s d r o a r i n o s s and wsoto i s symboliacd

i n t h o "dumt hoapa which r o c u r o w i t h much morn

a i g n i f i c s n c o l a t o r on i n t h o novol .

Tho c h o i c e of namos f o r c h a r s c t o r s , and oven tho

t i t l e 3 of t h o t h r o o a c c t i o n o o f t h o novol a r e symbolic.

Thcrc i s a d c f i n i t o c o n t r a s t bctwocn t h e o u b j c c t of

t h c n o v e l - - i n d u s t r i a l o o c i o t y and t h o t i t l o s of t h o

t h r c c scct ion3--Sowing, Hooping and Gorncr ing and i t

b r i n g s f o r t h t h o n o v c l ' a l o a d i n g i d c a which i s t h a t

i n h o r c n t l i f o and growth u l t i m a t c l y t r iumph o v o r

t h o o r y and c a l c u l a t i o n . L i f c c a n n o t bc roducod t o a

a c t o f f a c t s and f i g u r c o howovcr herd t h e l a i o s e z - f a i r c

oconomiot may t r y t o do it. Boundorby may makc mcn

and machino? o q u a l t o on0 a n o t h e r . Machincry i n

r c g a r d o d a s a l i v i n g e n t i t y and t h c i n d u a t r i a l smckc

i s r o l a t o d t o t h o v i l o n o o o of h y p o c r i s y and d o c e p t i o n .

But t h o p r o c o s o of i n n o r growth alwayo continues.

Aa a man sows oo ho muot r o a p and g a r n c r .

Symbolirm is oxtondod cvon t o inanimate t h i n g o

l i k o S iooy 'o b o t t l o c o n t a i n i n g " t h o n i n o o i l o m end

t o t h o mine i n t o which S tophon f a l l s . S i o n y d o c s

n o t a l l o w h o r o o l f t o bo p a r t o d f r o m h o r p r o c i o u s

b o t t l o which oymbol iooo much moro t h a n h o r l o y a l t y t o

h c r f s t h o r , b o i n g a s o r t o f t a l i s m a n t o c u z o and h c a l .

Tho mino i n t o which S t c p h a n f a l l s i s a o i g n i f i c a n t

p a r t o f i n d u o t r i a l o o c i s t y and t o n t i n u a s t o o x o r t

i n f l u o n c o ovon when i t h a s boon f o r g o t t a n . S tophon

h i m o n l f r o f o r o t o t h i o j u o t b o f o r o him d o a t h , *Uhon

i t wore i n work, it k i l l s r i ' o u t nood; when ' t i e

l c t a l o n e , i t k i l l s w i ' o u t n o c d u (P.265).

Evon t h o p o r a o n s l i t i o a o f Boundorby, H a r t h o u a c

and G r a d g r i n d , t h o u g h o x p r c o ~ i n g d o f i n i t o p u r p o s e s

on t h o a u r f a c c , r o v o a l t h o p z i n c i p l o o f l i f o and

g r o w t h . As ono c a n u n d e r s t a n d f r o m t h c i r c h a r a c t o r s ,

Bounderby and H a r t h o u o o c o n c o a l t h o i r r e a l 3 0 1 ~ 0 3

and G r a d g c i n d t r a n s f o r m s h i m s o l f l a t c r .

U n l i k e U c k o n s , P r c a c h s n d d o c s n o t p o r t r a y en

J t c r n s t i v o t h a r s c t o r t o Gobar o r t o H o r i who c o u l d

c h a l l o n g o t h o m a l i g n a n t n a t u r o o f t h o o x i s t i n g o y o t o n

whieh o p p r o s o o d t h o p o a s a n t c l a s m and d o n i g r o t o d t h o

h o r i t r g o o f India. N e f t h a r d o o s h c ahow any o p t i m i s m

uf t h o kind Dickona r o v e a l o t h r o u g h h i s s y m b o l i c

tochniquo. S t i l l , Pronchand m a i n t a i n s t h o v c r s s t i l i t y

of h i s o t y l c t h roughou t t h o novel . Ao i n h i s o t h e r

novolo, ho cxproseco h i s a b i l i t y t o manipulate h i s

o t y l o t o o u i t t h o s i t u a t i o n . F o r i n3 tanco . when

P h c l s ' a daughtor Jhun ia comas t o h o r i ' a housc soma

months a f t o r h o r i l l i c i t l i a i s o n w i t h Gobar, H o r i

cxp rcsscs h i s angcr i n t h c f o l l o w i n g words: "1 '11

d r i v c t f o r ou t o f t h e village!" and "Thc s e c r e t w i l l

bc n u t sooncr o r l a t e r . Nhy n o t l o t i t o u t to-day7"

(P.91 ). Thc n c x t mcmont whcn Jhunia f a l l s a t k o r i ' s

f c c t , hc'bcnt over h c r and c c r c s s i n g h c r beck aa id ,

'Havc no f c a r , daughter, Th is is you r housc. You

a ro a3 much my daughtor as you a rc f l h o l a ' d u ( P . 5 1 ) .

Thc lanyuogc r c f l o c t a t h o mood o f t h c cho roc t c r .

I n f a c t , H o r i and a l s o Uhania o rc d c p i c t c d eo t y p i c a l

characters be long ing t o t hc peasant c l ass , whore

j o y and suffering a l t o r n a t c ss a n a t u r a l proccss.

I n c o n t r a a t t o t h i s i s tho d c l i n c o t i o n o f t h o

c h a r a c t e r a bo long ing t o t h o m idd l c c l a s s and uppcr

m idd lo c l a s s whosc words r c v c s l t h o i r p r c t c n c o and

hypoc r i oy . by t h o t imo Promchand s t a r t o d w r i t i n g

todpn, t h e a g i t a t i o n t o uoo H i n d u s t a n i as t h e modium

o f w r i t i n g waa g a i n i n g momonturn. So, as i n Ksxamabhumi

i n too, t h o lan'guago i s dovo id o f t h o unwanted

g l i t t o r o f A r a b i c and P o r s i a n i z o d v o c a b u l a r y o r t h e

o x t r a c h e o t o n o s s o f S a n a k r i t i z o d language, t h u s

making t h o r o a d o r o o a o i l y comprohond t h c t c x t .

I n m, Promchond show3 t h c f a i l u r e o f t h o

m i d d l c c l a o s a l s o . I t i s p o o o i b l c t o a g r o o w i t h many

c r i t i s a who havo m o n t i o n a d t h a t Pr fmchand had s o v o r c d

h i e l i n k a w i t h L a n d h i i s m by t h e t i m o h c w r o t o w. I n o t h o r words , ho had l o s t f a i t h i n a t o l e r a n t

a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s l i f o . But w h c t h c r o r n o t h e had

a e c o p t o d Communiom o r t a k o n a r a d i c a l o t a n c o i n a

d o u b t f u l q u o o t i o n . I n t h a t c e a o hc c o u l d havo

o x p r o o o o d h i s o p i n i o n o t h r o u g h a s t r o n g a l t a r n a t i v o

t o Gobar , b u t t h a t o l o m e n t i o m i o a i n g i n t h i s n o v e l .

Prcmchond oooo I n d i a ' s f u t u r o a 5 b l o a k , a 1 1 t h o

o p t i m i o m o f h i o p r o v i o u o n o v e l u i s l o o t , y o t ho

u p h o l d s t h o , v a l u o o o f I n d i a n a o c i o t y which d o n o t

s l a c k o n t h o w i l l end s o u r s p o o f t h o I n d i a n . Ho i o

n o t s u r p r i a o d a t t h o doom o f H o r i , b u t ha g l o r i f i e s

t h o man i n h l a , h i o w i l l t o work, t o c o - o p c r a t c ,

t o o u r v i v a . T h i s will i t s o l f would h a v c l ad t o

I n d i a n a p r o q r o s m b u t f o r t h o c l s o o - d i s t i n c t i o n s and

t h o o p p r o o a i o n . C o n t r a r y t o h i o o t h o r n o v o l o , . Promshand d o o s n o t g i v e n s o l u t i o n i n b u t

d iocuomoo the $oauss.' tek0a m g i m t leap

f rom t h o o t h o r n o v o l o t h r o u g h t h i s a r t i s t i c a p p r o a c h

o f Pronchand. I n f a c t , i t i o t h o r i g h t n o v c l t o

culminate h i e w r i t i n g c a r o o r w i t h .

Gobar l o a v o o t h o v i l l a g o and r o a c h c o t h o c i t y

whoro ho bocomos a l a b o u r o r . Ho, who hod shown s i g n s

o f omorg ing i n t o a s o c i a l i s t l c a d c r i n h i s v i l l a g o ,

who had o t a r t o d l i f o a s a r c b o l l i o u ~ p e r s o n , c o u l d not

como up t o t h i s o x p o c t a t i o n , and uhon ho l o f t t h e

v i l l a g o and o a r n o d soma monoy, hc began t o l o n d i t

a t h i g h r a t o o o f i n t e r n e t . I t i o a n i r o n y o f f a t o

t h a t Gobar , who h a t o d monoy-londoro s h o u l d bocornc a

morn r u t h l o ~ o monoy-londcr. Ho c o u l d n o t h c l p it.

Ho c o u l d o n l y bo an o x p l o i t o r o r an o x p l a i t o d po roon

i n t h o o x i s t i n g s o c i a l o r d e r . Promchand oxpoocs t h e

contradictions i n G o b a r ' s c h a r a c t e r , and t h o r c b y

wan to t o ~ u ~ g o r i t t h a t a t o t a l shako-up o f t h o e x i s t i n g

oyotcm i s n o c c ~ s a r y . U n t i l t h e n t h o p e a s a n t i s

doomod t o H o r i ' o f a t o . 2 5

L i k o Dickona Promchand s u g g c e t s t h a t i n d u s t r i a l i s a t i o n

i o n o t a o o l u t i o n t o t h o p r o b l c m s o f w o r k o r s and

unoap loycd p o a s a n t s . On t h o c o n t r a r y , i t l o a d s t o

t h o i r comploto r u i n . Tho p o a o a n t i s a o l a v o o f

p o v o r t y . His mioory, and exploitation i s oxprossod

s u c c i n c t l y th rough a f a r c i c d drama s t a g o d by t h o

v i l l a g o r o . Tho p o a r a n t f a l l s a t t h o f e e t of t h o

Thakur and bogina t o sob. Tho Thakur h o o i t a t o o , but

l a t o r s g r c o o t o g i v o him t o n rupoco. A f t e r s i g n i n g

t h o pronislDry n o t o , t h o p o a o s n t r o c o i v c s o n l y f i v o

rupoon f r o m t h o Thakur. Ha is s u r p r i o c d . and s a y s ,

'Thoro mro o n l y f i v o r u p c o s , my H e s t o r ' .

'They a r o t a n . Go and c o u n t thom a g a i n

a t homo. ' 'No , S i r , t h o y a r c f i v o . '

'Ono r u p c o goos f o r my g r a t i f i c a t i o n , R i g h t ? '

IYoo, S i r . '

'On0 f o r w r i t i n g t h o papor. R i g h t ? '

'!oa, S i r . '

'One f o r t h o p a p o r i t o o l f . f l i g h t ? '

'Yes, S i t . '

'On0 a s my cuotomary foo . Right? '

'Yam, S i r . '

'Ono as my i n t o r o o t . R i g h t ? '

8Yos, 5 i r . I

' F i v e r u p o s o i n cash . They caakar t o n . Right? '

' 8 e t t o r koop t h a o o f i v o t o o w i t h you.'

Nonaonso l

' I mom i t , S i r . Uno r u p o o a a my g i f t t o

y o u r youngor wi fo . One f o r t h o oldor. ,

On0 r u p o o t o buy b o t c l l o a v o n f o r t h o

o l d o r w i fo . And ono f o r t h o yaungc r . T h a t

makoo f o u r . Tho f i f t h r u p o o i n f o r y o u r

f u n o r o l r i t o o ' . ( P . 1 7 4 )

I f t h i n d o p i e t s t h o p rod icamon t o f t h o p e a s a n t ,

t h o p l i g h t o f t h o workor i a worao. Promchand r amarko

a b o u t t h o l i f o o f workoro r

Thoy l i v o i n d i r t y , s t i n k i n g , and wro tchod

h o l o a . You w i l l f o o l i i k c v o m i t i n g i n

thorn. Thoy woar c l o t h o o w i t h which we s h a l l

n o t l i k e t o c l e a n c u r shoon. They o a t f o o d

which o u r dog w i l l r c f u o o t o e a t . I n s p i t o ,

t h o c a p i t a l i o t n and i n d u s t r i a l magnatao

d o p r i v o thom o f t h o i r crumbo i n o r d c r t o

pay t h o o h a r o h o l d o r o . 2 6

I n f l u o n e a d by c i t y l i f o , Gobar a l a o bocomoo c o l p c t i t i v a

and a o l f i o h . He l o o o o a l l t h o v i r t u o o o f t r a d i t i o n a l l i f o .

Tho p a s o a g c q u o t o d abovo p l a c o o t h e m i s a r y o f

t h o c i t i e s i n t h o r i g h t p o r s p o c t i v c . Noro t h a n t h i s

i t c o n t r a s t s c i t y l i f o w i t h v i l l a g o l i f o . Though

t h o r o is a b j o c t p o v o r t y and o u f f o r i n g i n villages,

p o o p l o d o d t h a v o t o l i v o i n * d i r t y r s t i n k i n g , and

w r o t c h c d h o l o s w . Tho v i l l a g c r s l i v o n o t i n p e l a c i o u s

houooo b u t t h e i r humblo abodoe a r c c l o a n ; t h o i r f o o d

i e n o t l ~ ~ u r i o u e , y o t i t i s p u r c end h e a l t h y and

t h o i r c l o t h c 3 a r o n o t c o s t l y , y c t t h c y a r c n o t d i r t y .

I t i s n o t mcro ly t o p o i n t o u t t h o a p i r i t l c s s

n a t u r o o f t h c youngor g c n c r c t i o n of I n d i a n f a r m c t a

t h a t Promchand draws Gcbar i n t o t h c p i c t u r e . b u t ha

p r o v i d c a t h o o n l y l i n k botwocn t h e v i l l a g c and t h c

c i t y i n tllc novol . A f t o r s t a y i n g f o r somotimo i n

t h o c i t y and h a v i n g bccomc q u i t c s u c c c s a f u l i n h i s

v o n t u r o o , h o . d c c i d o o t o r o t u r n t o h i s v i l l a g c and

b r i n g J h u n i a back w i t h him. But when h c r c t u r n o ho

aooo t h a t h i s f a t h o r h a s sunk d a c p o r i n d c b t a . Thc

c o m p o t i t i v o n o a o o f t h o c i t y h a s i n s t i l l e d aomo l i f c

i n t o Gobax, and ho dono n o t want h i s f a t h o r t o a c c a p t

011 o p p r o s a i o n f r o m t h o t o m i n d a r and t h o monoy l c n d o r a

mookly. Gobcr f o r c o s t h c z o m i n d a r ' a a g o n t o t o a d m i t

t h m t t h o y had n o t g i v o n any w r i t t o n r c c o i p t s t o H o r i

whon t h o y como t o c o l l o c t f a l s o a r r c a r s f r o m Hori

and Gobar t h r o a t o n s t o c o m p l a i n t o R a i Amor P a l

S i n g h . Gobar a l s o o t a t c o p o i n t 3 b l a n k t o D a t a d i n ,

t h o m o n c y l o n d c r t h a t ho would n o t g i v c a n y t h i n g morn

t h a n s i x t y r u p o c s as t h o m o u n t b o r r o w c d f r o m him

p l u o t h o i n t c r o s t o n i t f o r o i g h t y c a r e . D a t a d i n

h a d o a k o d f o r a s t a g g e r i n g t o t a l of t w o h u n d r o d

r u p o c s . But H o r i d o c s what i s n a t u r a l t o him--hc

g o c o t o D a t e d i n l a t o r a n d a r k s f o r h i e f o r g i v c n c s s ,

end p r o m i s o s t o pay w h a t wes dcmandod.

Tho l i t t l c v i v a c i t y which G o b a r h a s a t t a i n c d

d u o t o h i s l i f o i n t h o c i t y i s bound t o f i n i s h s o o n

a f t o r h i s r o t u r n t a t h o c i t y . Hc m i s s c a h i o j o b ,

t o k o s up a n o t h o r j o b b u t bocomcs c x h a u s t c d w o n .

He t a k o s t o d r i n k a n d s o m a t i m a s a t t a c k s J h u n i a

whosc l i f o Qccomos m i o o r a b l o .

A s s t a t e d o a r l i o r G o b a r a l o n c p r o v i d c s a l i n k

bo twcon t h o two w o r l d s . Hia l o v c - s t o r y i s e o n n o c t o d

w i t h t h o main i souom of t h o n o v c l , t h a t i s , t h o

o t r u c t u r o o f change. From t h o b o g i n n i n g h a ohowa

h i s t o n d o n c y f o r chango. Ha r a a c t s i n o t i n c t i v d y

a g a i n o t i n j u o t i c o . Ho r o p x c s o n t a t h c v i t a l o n c r g y

o f t h o new g o n o r a t i o n which d o c s n o t i n any mannor

c o n f o r a w i t h t h o l o t l + a r g i c , s l u g g i s h convcnt iona . l

nodo o f l i v i n g . Coaparod w i t h G o b a r ' s c x p o r i c n c c s

i n l o v a t h o c a s o o f t h o M a t a d i n - S i l i y a a f f a i r i o n o t

o a complex . I t c n d o i n t h o t r i u m p h o f l o v c , a n d t h o

cmargcnco o f a now Matadin .

Gobcr u n d c r g o c o v a r i o d c x p c r i c n e c s o f t c r f ~ l l i n g

i n l o v c w i t h J h u n i a . A f t e r c n j n y i n g t h c t h r i l l ,

o x p o r i c n c i n y t h c a o n s o o f g u i l t , a l i c n a t i c n from h i o

p a r o n t s . r o o p o n s i b i l i t y o f r u n n i n g a h a u s a , ha i s

a b l e t o r o c o n c i l o w i t h t h o s t a t u s o f a m a r r i c d p c r a o n

i n t h c c n d . H i s h o a r t i o t o r n bc twccn c o n f l i c t i n g

f o r c a s . J u a t a s i n t h o n o v e l o a c h i m p o r t a n t

c h a r o c t a r c x p o r i c n c c a i t s h u m i l i a t i o n i n a d i f f c r o n t

way f r o m t h o o t h o r c h a r a c t o z , Gcbar t o o o x p c r i c n c c s

i n e p c r t i c u J a r mannor. U n l i k c t h e R a i S a h c b ' s

o x p c r i o n c o s which d o t o r i o r a t c h i e o p i r i t s . G o b a r ' s

o x p c r i o n c c ham b o n o f i c i a l o f f c c t on him. HC shows

h i a p r o f o u n d u n d o r o t a n d i n g whcn hc l c s r n a t h a t

" w h a t o v e r o n e ' s s i t u a t i o n , g r c c d and s c l f i s h n c o s

would o n l y makc i t worsc .

d u o t o d f r o m Prcmchend: Our tantomp~rery~ rd.Shlvkumur Wirre, P. 144

Alao , i n Gobar a l o n c t h o c o n t r a 1 i o a u c o o f t h c

n o v o l ooom t o g c t r o a o l v o d . Ho p a s o o s t h r o u g h a 1 1

v i c i r n i t u d o o o f t h o n o v o l ' s c x p c r i o n c o . Though h c

i s t r a n o p l e n t c d t o t h o u r b a n w o r l d , h i s o c n s i b i l i t y

i s r o o t o d i n t h o r u r a l w o r l d . w h i l c h o r i i n l i b c r a t o d

a t t h o c n d o f t h o n o v o l , Gobar h a s s t i l l t o l i v e a n d

f s c a h i 5 l i f o . From t h i a p c r s p o c t i v c a l s o h i s

c h o r a c t c r i a s i g n i f i c a n t . 29

T h o r c a r c somc a p p e r o n t r c o c m b l a n c c s b c t w c c n t h o

c h a r o c t c r ~ o f Tom a n d Gobar b u t s t i l l t h c y a r o two

d i f f o r o n t c h a r a c t o r o a t t h o bo t tom. Gobar r c t u r n n

a g a i n t o t h o v i l l a g c and c n d o a r a h i m s e l f t o c v c r y b o d y

u n l i k o Tom who c o c a p o s a b r o a d a n d d i c a t h c r o . I n

b r i c f , Gobar i s a c h e r a c t o r who, t h o u g h n o t s a t i s f y i n g .

w i n s t h c r o a d o r ' s a y m p a t h y b u t Tom, w i t h dl h i o

t a o t o l c o o o x ~ c r i o n ~ o o , r o m a i n o e n a b h o r r c d c h e r a c t o r .

S t i l l , Tom l i k c Gobar bccomco t h o l i n k b c t w c c n t h o

two w o r l d s i n Hard r i m a s when h o i s c a r r i c d o f f i n

t h o o n d by S l o a r y .

U n l i k o t h o t w o w o r l d s o f * f a c t n and m f a n c y w i n

Hard Tirnoo, t h o two wor ldm o f t h o v i l l a g c a n d t h o -

c i t y a rc kop t a p a r t i n w. Thcro i s o n l y an

opparcnt " t o t a l v iow o f aoc i c t y . " Ono oxp lana t i nn

f o r t h i s aopa ra t i on botwoon t h o two wor lds cou ld bc

t h a t t h o novo l , porhapa. p r c d i c t o d tho d i s i n t o g r a t i o n

o f ou r a o c i ~ t ~ . ~ ' Dickona hop03 f o r t ho bost.

Promchend aooms t o havc l o s t hopo.

l o t Dickcno hopes f o r t h c boa t o n l y th rough

t h o mossago and imaginative onorgy o f h i o novo l . H ia

novo l aa such i s i r o n i c and bloak. Tho t h r o o books

o f t h o n o v e l t i t l c t d *Sowing*, *Rcapingn and *Garncr ingas

thomsclvos aro i r o n i c , p r o j c c t i n g t h o dccay ing l i f e

i n Cokotown. Morcovcr, an a l t o r n a t i v o happy onding

to t h o novol , t o tha l i v o a o f i t s d i f f o r c n t charac toro ,

i s t o t a l l y agreoablo w i t h Dickona'a tcchniqua. But

ho d o v i a t o s f r o m h i s comfo r tab le mothod and g i v c s no

chancc o f hopc t o h i a charac ters . Lou i sa doos n o t

marry Harthodao, Stophon i s n o t roscuod and cannot

marry Rachacl,. S iaoy 'o f e t h o r doos n o t t u r n up. But

t h o atmomphoro o f Cokotown i n h i b i t s Dickcna f rom

ouch a tondoncy. Ho r e j o e t a a l l hop0 w i t h c a l c u l a t o d

b r u t a l i t y and tho amoko oorponto end t h o melancholy

mad o l cphan ts a rc oocn i n t h e i r u s u a l mannor. But

t h i s wan no t tho caso, i n h i s o a r l i o r novc la , and

roadc rs of Damboy end Son and I l l cak Houoc might have

p r o d i c t c d a happy onding.

S i m i l a r l y , i t i o an undcrotood f a c t t h a t p r cv iouo

t o e, Promchand had produced a happy-onding t o

h i s novels. And i t i o a l s o agrecd t h a t hc was undor

t ho i n f l u c n c c o f Gandhism t i l l m. i n %, hc

cnposco h i o pcssimiom, h i o l o s s of f a i t h i n t h c a b i l i t y

o f t ho I n d i n n psycho t o ovcrcomc chal lcngoo. So, hc

cndo tho nova1 w i t h t h c d c f o a t o f H o r i i n h i o nundano

l i f c . He had longed f o r a cow t i l l h i s death.

Uhania i s admonishad by H i r a t o make t h e odan t o t h o

Brahmin as H o r i i s dying. Shcdwont i n and brought

twenty annao which sho had corned from t h o s a l o o f

yarn. P l a c i n g t h c c o i n s i n the i c y palm o f h c r

husband, oho l ooked a t Datadin. 'Maharaj, t h o r o ' s

n o i t h c r a cow, n o r a c a l f n o r any monoy i n t he houso.

Th io i s e l l t h o moncy I havc; t h i s i s a l l I can

g i vo . T,ko t h i s i n p l a c o o f t h o cow: 'And shc eo l l apsod

and sank t o t ho groundn (P.200). I n one s t roke, Gadsn cxprosnco Prcmchand's brcak w i t h e t c l c r a n t , l i b o r a l and

compronioing c l t t i t u d o .towards life and a move i n a

In b r i o f , both Hazd Timag and Godsn oxproaa

tho outhora' d c p a r t u r c from t h o i r c o t a b l i s h o d n o m a

o f w r i t i n g and viowa o f l i f c .