Charles Dickens aimed to convey messages about social problems in his writing and was a social reformer. Hard Times, first published in 1854, is a prime example of his ideas that with the introduction of industrialisation, humans qualities would be driven out and be reached with an utilitarian philosophy ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ where there was no place for fancy. Dickens criticises this. He believed that each human was different. He believed that people required a balance between fact and fancy to have a 'healthy' effect on society. Dickens uses contrasting pairs to show what he approves and disapproves of. One...

Dickens approves of the life of fancy more than the life of fact as he describes things such as the circus in a favourable light, unlike people such as Mr. Gradgrind, Bounderby and M'Choakumchild.

Dickens tries to make the reader think that the best way of bringing up children is to give them a balance of fact and fancy in their life. This is being threatened because of the industrial revolution. His method of criticism is effective at times, such as when Sissy moves in with the Gradgrinds, she is lost of colour and seems unhealthy.