...The novel begins by bombarding the reader with Gradgrind's thundering words: "Now, what I want are facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life." Gradgrind does not perceive the possibility that his words have another meaning: "facts" about life...

...the form of facts. Mr Gradgrind in Dickens' Hard Times (1891) makes this viewpoint brutally obvious: "Teach these boys and girls nothing but facts. Facts alone are wanted in life." This philosophy is expounded at length by the fearsome school master, but even he eventually comes...

...to increasing wealth and well-being (Box 2.5). BOX 2.5 HARD TIMES, CHARLES DICKENS 'Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are what are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds...

...daughter. 36. " Peace hath her victories no less renowned than War." 37. "What I want," said Mr Gradgrind, "is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life." Discuss Mr Gradgrind's theory of Education. 38. " Self-govejrnment is more important than good government."...