Impact of Industrialization in ‘Hard Times’ and ‘Modern Time’

1. Exploring the Impact of
Industrialization in
‘Hard Times’ and
‘Modern Time’
Paper 104: Literature of the Victorians
Presented at: Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi,
Department of English MKBU,Bhavnagar.

2. Personal Information
Presented by: Yashrajsinh Sodha
Enrollment Number: 5108230043
Email: yashrajsinhsodha0000@gmail.com
Batch: 2023-2025
Date: 08 November, 2023
Subject Code: 22395
Roll No: 50

3. Industrialization
● Industrialization, the process of converting to a
socioeconomic order in which industry is
dominant.
● The changes that took place in Great Britain
during the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th
and 19th centuries provided a prototype for the
early industrializing nations of western Europe
and North America.
● Cities drew large numbers of people off the land,
massing workers in the new industrial towns and
factories. (Britannica, Industrialization)

4. Hard Times
Author: Charles Dickens
Original title: Hard Times: For These Times
Country: England
Language: English
Genre: Novel
Published: Serialised April 1854 to August
1854; book format 1854
Publisher: Bradbury & Evans
(Britannica, Hard Times)

5. Modern times
Directed by: Charlie Chaplin
Written by: Charlie Chaplin
Produced by: Charlie Chaplin
Starring: Charlie Chaplin
Release date: February 21, 1936
Running time: 87 minutes
Language: English (Pfeiffer,
Britannica)

6. ● “Stephen looked older, but he had had a hard life. It is said that every life has its roses and
thorns; there seemed, however, to have been a misadventure or mistake in Stephen’s case,
whereby somebody else had become possessed of his roses, and he had become possessed
of the same somebody else’s thorns in addition to his own.” (Dickens, Ch.10)
● “Stephen bent over his loom, quiet,
watchful, and steady. A special
contrast, as every man was in the
forest of looms where Stephen
worked, to the crashing, smashing,
tearing piece of mechanism at which
he laboured.” (Dickens, Ch.11)
Situation of the workers
(Chaplin)

7. Representation of Industrialization in movie
‘Modern Times’
(Chaplin)

8. (Chaplin)

9. Comparative Analysis of 'Hard Times' and
'Modern Times'
Hard Times Modern Times
● Critiques utilitarianism
● Focuses on dehumanization of
workers
● Examines impact on education
and social class
● Character of Stephen Blackpool
● Critiques modern industrial
society
● Highlights dehumanization and
alienation in the workplace
● Explores the impact on
individuals and society
● Character of Tramp (Chaplin)
(Dickens)

10. Conclusion
● Our exploration of industrialization in 'Hard Times' and 'Modern
Times' reveals its dual nature – a force of progress and adversity.
● These works remind us of the importance of ethical industrial
practices and prioritizing the well-being of workers.
● As we navigate contemporary times, we must learn from the past
and approach industrialization with wisdom and responsibility,
balancing its benefits with its challenges while preserving our
humanity.
● We also have to consider that the growth of technology and
machinery has provided numerous facilities in the 21st century. It
has made our lives easier through advancements in healthcare,
education, and global trade. (ChatGPT)

11. References
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Hard Times". Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Mar.
2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hard-Times-novel-by-Dickens. Accessed 7
November 2023.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "industrialization". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22
Sep. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/industrialization. Accessed 7 November 2023.
Chaplin, Charlie, director. Modern Times. Charlie Chaplin Productions, 1936.
Dickens, Charles, and Marcus Stone. “Hard Times, by Charles Dickens.” Project
Gutenberg, 2013, https://www.gutenberg.org/files/786/786-h/786-h.htm. Accessed 7
November 2023.

12. References
"Exploring the Impact of Industrialization in 'Hard Times' and 'Modern Times': Chatbot
Response." ChatGPT, OpenAI, 2023, https://www.openai.com.
Pfeiffer, Lee. "Modern Times". Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Sep. 2023,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Modern-Times-film. Accessed 7 November 2023.

13. Thank You