"Hard Times," by Charles Dickens evaluates and highlights the issues of the times- social and political. The story is set in an imaginary town in England called Coketown, which is home to mills and factories. The story mentions of both mill owners and the labourers and their lives. The working classes are referred to as “hands” and they have a “hard time”. The novel is divided into three books namely- sowing, reaping and garnering and in the story one would identify that each of his characters sows, reaps and garners what they have planted. The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in human history. It began in England and consequently spread throughout the European continent and beyond. Almost every aspect of human life was affected by this significant event. The steam engine, mechanized cotton gin, usage of coke etc ushered in an age of increased output. The other factors which influenced the growth of Industrial Revolution in England are: the enlightenment, agricultural revolution, the development of financial institutions such as central banks, stock markets and coal and iron deposits which were plentiful in Great Britain and proved essential to the development of all new machines made of iron or steel and powered by coal- such as the steam-powered machinery in textile factories. The expanding markets of the British Empire also meant the need for more production of goods and that meant laborious and taxing work hours for the “hands”. Dickens also highlights what the changing times meant for each of his characters. To begin with, we have Mr. Gradgrind and Mr Bounderby, who are practical man focused so much and only on “facts”. They do not believe in playing victim to human sentiment, entertaining wild imaginings or engage in recreations. On one occasion, Sissy Jupe is reprimanded for opining that painting of horses could be used as wallpaper. She is asked if it is possible for an actual horse to actually belong to a wall, still and inside a family home. On receiving a no for an answer, she is instructed to always stick to the facts, the law as the world and nature has prescribed. It was held by men like Mr. Gradrind that this balance as already established ought not to be disturbed. Mr. Gradgrind raises his children Louisa and Tom to be factual as well. On one occasion when they were caught viewing the circus, he reprimanded them and told them off. It is a calculated life that each of the two men live. Dickens takes a jab at the Utilitarian thought and actions through his characters. Utilitarianism as a prevalent school of thought during this time, they held that promotion of general social welfare is the ultimate goal for the society: "the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people." Dickens held that the quest for such a society meant rationalizing of work ethics, family life etc which only ushered in misery as the human sentiment would be obscured and pushed aside. In Coketown resided both the rich and poor. The town sheltered many children, laboring in the mills, vagabonds abandoned by their parents. And, Sissy Jupe is one such child. Born in the bleak side of the town, on being abandoned by her father, she finds refuge in the house of Mr. Gradgrind. Her education is stopped after a certain time as she her ability to grasp at facts and figures fail to fit into the “system”. This reveals a flawed and rigid education system that merely followed a ‘system’ without any concern for quality individual development. The education system much like the economy and polity remained unfair. Thus, it wasn’t an inclusive system, contrary to the utilitarian claims of “general welfare”. It made no effort to include those who were lagging behind in society- monet