Hard Times Characters

Louisa Gradgrind

We watch Louisa, Gradgrind's daughter and human guinea pig, grow from about twelve to about...

Stephen Blackpool

Stephen is a power loom operator in Bounderby's factory. He married young, and his wife has since...

Thomas Gradgrind

Gradgrind is a middle-class businessman and later a Member of Parliament. More importantly, he is...

Josiah Bounderby

Bounderby is a successful capitalist who owns a factory and a bank in Coketown. He brags about...

Tom Gradgrind

Tom is Louisa's brother, and is raised in the same manner that she is. He ends up a degenerate...

Sissy Jupe

Sissy is the daughter of a circus performer, who comes to live with the Gradgrinds as a servant...

Rachael

Rachael is a factory worker who was childhood friends with Stephen's wife. She is now in love...

James Harthouse

Harthouse is a well-born young guy who is trying to get into Parliament. He's in the same...

Mrs. Sparsit

Mrs. Sparsit is Bounderby's middle-aged housekeeper. She was born into money and a high ranking...

Bitzer

As a boy, Bitzer is Gradgrind's best student. As a young man, he becomes the light porter at...

Mrs. Blackpool

There's not too much to say about Stephen's wife, Mrs. Blackpool. A few things: note that it's...

Mrs. Pegler

Mrs. Pegler is the little old woman who comes to town once a year to gaze at Bounderby. She is...

Mrs. Gradgrind

Mrs. Gradgrind is passive, sickly, dim-witted, and not very present in the novel or in her...

Slackbridge

Slackbridge is the union representative sent out to organize the workers at Bounderby's factory....