European Realism Final

Section I B. Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Fact. Fact. Fact. In a world of fact, is love, or the absence there of, overlooked? The grinding gears of Coketown bring a product down the assembly line. A worker, doing his job, sees that it is defective. Without thought, he removes it from the line, and then continues inspecting the products.

When a marriage proposal comes down the conveyer belt to Louisa, she is faced with a decision. Her childhood was devoid of fancy. Raised by the excessively logical Gradgrind, Louisa never had a chance to discover her emotions. When the decision of marriage arrives at her station, she deals with it the only way she knows how to. Logically marrying him would be a good move. Overlooking the fact that she does not love him, she accepts his proposal.

This instance also serves to foreshadow Gradgrind’s eventual realization. For a moment, he thinks he sees a kiss of the very thing he went to great lengths to shield her from, in his daughter. In order to see this, he must have momentarily lost sight of his theories and beliefs.

b. (Related to: Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev)

Gradgrind and Bazerov have similar character traits. Both of these characters have strong imbedded beliefs in which they define themselves. Both of their beliefs reject basic human tendencies. They both come to a realization that they cannot suppress these instincts, and give in to them.

D. Pere Goriot by Honore Balzac

Rastignac, an eager young student, becomes better equated with society in Paris. As he does this, its corruption robs him of his innocence. He reminisces in the community of his past. Confidant in the knowledge that his education is supplying him with, he gains the skills necessary to be a part of society, and...

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... is attempting to teach the philosophy of fact the students. He is not fond of Louisa’s answer because it is too fanciful. This example serves to enlighten the reader to the extremity of the fact philosophy. It also lets us know that the Gradgrind children have been exposed to this idea of fact since birth.

4. Fathers and Sons

Bazerov explains his views on dueling. Theoretically he believes that they are unnecessary, but practically, they have their place. This is another example of his hypocrisy. He justifies his participation in the duel, contradicting his Nihilist beliefs.

10. Pere Goriot

Balzac is describing the boarding house in Paris as one of the monsters of the deep. He is using this metaphor to help convince the reader that they are reading truth. He is saying that the other writers would have looked right over this boarding house, but he will explore it.