Thoughts and reflections on Hard Times

     There seem to be many common themes brought up by critics of the Industrial Revolution. Charles Dickens, in his novel Hard Times, hits some of the main points also brought up by Friedrich Engles in his essay Conditions of the Working Class in England. Both authors (though Dickens to a lesser extent) discuss the environmental problems which plague areas with heavy industrialization. They also cover the topic of the loss of identity felt by factory workers. According to Engles, this problem stems from women taking on the role of men. When everything that makes a man (particularly the ability to provide for one's family) is taken away, nothing is left to identify him by. Dickens attributes the problem to the sheer monotony of the day to day lives of the working class. Whatever the cause, it is clear that it was a tangible problem to those who studied the subject. Both authors also seemed concerned with the demanding work hours set by the factories. Dickens in particular seems to recognize the the necessity for some relief or holiday for the workers, whereas Engles just mentions the hours as another facet of the overall problem.