Mr. Gradgrind

Thomas Gradgrind is a wealthy, retired hardware merchant in Coketown. He later becomes a member of Parliament. Gradgrind has devoted his entire life to the school of Fact, and has raised his children – both biological and those who attend his school – to rely on Fact alone, never imagination or fancy. As a result of his strict school of belief, Gradgrind has strained relationships with nearly everyone in his life, most notably his children, who grow up to resent their education and complete lack of emotional maturity. Everything about Gradgrind, from his physical appearance to manner of speech, is monotone, yet as the novel progresses, his character begins to evolve. When faced with Louisa’s emotional breakdown, Gradgrind realizes, for the first time, the flaws in his system. While he had tried to prepare Louisa for a self-serving life by preaching the values of Fact alone, he suddenly...