History Literature / HardTimes

* CallingTheOldManOut: Louisa does this to Gradgrind after Bounderby's marriage proposal, but Gradgrind thinks she's complimenting him on his parenting skills.
** When she does it again while revealing the truth about her marriage, though, he [[WhatHaveIDone gets the point.]]

* EmotionlessGirl: Louisa Gradgrind
** Except she ''does'' feel emotions, it's just that she was never taught how to deal with with them and tried to ignore them until they finally threatened to overwhelm her. She then turns to her father for help, which leads to a CMOH for them both.
** Even Gradgrind is flummoxed by her self-control at the news of Bounderby's marriage proposal.

* GreenEyedMonster: As much of a catch as Bounderby isn't, Mrs. Sparsit carries a torch for him and will only refer to Loo as "Miss Gradgrind." Subtle.

* FantasyForbiddingFather

** Mr. Harthouse, Louisa's would-be lover, is only the shell of a human being.

* YourCheatingHeart: Invoked but subverted in both cases. Stephen and Louisa both refuse to commit adultery, despite being miserable with their respective spouses.

* Hypocrite: Bounderby describes himself as a SelfMadeMan who was abandoned in the gutter as a child. [[spoiler: Turns out that he was never abandoned; his mother raised him and looked after him.]]

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* WellIntentionedExtremist: Mr. Gradgrind forced his two eldest children to learn facts all day long for everyday of their childhood, telling them that things like imagination and emotions were worthless and should be rejected. Why? Because that way they could work more efficiently and earn more money, which he believed to be the best way to make them happy.

This is notable in the Chapter "Down" when Gradgrind comes to the conclusion of how his teachings has ruined Louisa's life.

--> ''Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them.''

* FunetikAksent: We have Rachel (low class Lancashire), Stephen (very Lancashire), and Sleary (pronounced lisp). The remainder, who are 'normal', are probably speaking [[BritishAccents the King's]].

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Mr. Gradgrind forced his two eldest children to learn facts all day long for everyday of their childhood, telling them that things like imagination and emotions were worthless and should be rejected. Why? because that way they could work more efficiently and earn more money, which he believed to be the best way to make them happy.

* ButtMonkey: Stephen Blackpool

** Except she ''does'' feel emtions, it's just that she was never taught how to deal with with them and tried to ignore them until they finally threatened to overwhelm her. She then turns to her father for help, which leads to a CMOH for them both.

* {{Jerkass}}: Bounderby

* WhatHaveIDone

* FunetikAksent: He have Rachel (low class Lancashire), Stephen (very Lancashire), and Sleary (pronounced lisp). The remainder, who are 'normal', are probably speaking [[BritishAccents the King's]].

* {{Fantasy-Forbidding Father}}

''Hard Times'' is a novel by Creator/CharlesDickens.