Analysis Of Hard Times In The Artistic Forms Of Problem Novel

Problem novel is a sub-genre of realism. All the novels are problem novels because they are closely related with various problems which people will face. In this thesis, the problem novel refers to the type of prose fiction that derives its chief interest from working out, through characters and incidents, some central problem. It pays attention to social reality and actual experience. In other words, a problem novel often presents a large variety of striking problems, such as social, moral, emotional and psychological problems which are laid out on the contradictions or conflicts confronted by all sorts of people in different environments. Such presentations or exposures are almost satiric, ironic and sometimes overstated to a dramatic extent.Problem novels appear almost in every country. In England, the 19th century witnessed the booming of problem novels. In order to better understand the problem novel, it is necessary to realize the artistic forms or features which exhibit in the novels. Artistically speaking, an English problem novel may exhibit four striking features: first, it usually stresses a true and direct exposure of social injustice, political corruption, human vices or absurdities, as well as the miseries and sufferings of the lower classes; second, it often gives graphic and eloquent descriptions mingled with bitter satires and ironies; third, more often, a story is told to arouse expectations, surprises or suspense in the readers; forth, vividness and allusion are imparted to the narration by the use of symbols. With all these literary characteristics, the problem novel has achieved a great deal in an artistic value and is still fascinating the readers all over the world. Charles Dickens, as one of the most conspicuous figure who had successfully led this type of fiction, still appeals to the learners of British literature for his literary seriousness and imaginative power to handle the social problems even today.Charles Dickens is an English novelist and he is good at creating problem novel. And his novels, such as Hard Times, Domby and Son, Oliver Twist are classical works. The most famous work of them is Hard Times, which was written in 1854. It is a major English representative work of problem novels in 19th century. The novel is created on the basis of careful and thorough observation and deep thinking of human being conditions in capitalist society. It is a great attack and bitter satire on moral rules of the bourgeoisie by vivid description of the actual life and typical depiction of the characterization. Hard Times describes the life in Coketown which is a town of industry. It reflects the sharp contradiction between the labor and capital, and it also exposes the decayed nature of repressing human nature of capitalist education system. It is a novel which has a great social realization and artistic appreciation values. This thesis aims to analyze Hard Times in the artistic forms of the problem novel. It researches Hard Times from a new point of view. It is meant to analyze how Dickens employs satire, suspense, expectation and symbol with concrete examples coming form Hard Times. And through the analysis of the artistic features of problem novel which exhibit in Hard Times can be better understood and absorbed.It is hoped that this research will be significant both in theory and practice. Theoretically, it tries to find the reflections of characteristics of Hard Times in the artistic forms based on the study of features of a problem novel. In practice, it will be helpful for the readers to achieve better understanding of Hard Times.