Characters

Hard Times

Published 1854

Scene: Coketown (an English factory town) and the Country.

Time: About 1850

Mr. Gradgrind A believer in "facts"

Mrs. Gradgrind His wife

Louisa Their daughter

Tom Their son

Josiah Bounderby A pompous mill owner and banker

Later, Louisa's husband

"Mrs. Pegler" His mother

Mrs. Sparsit His housekeeper

Mr. M'Choakumchild A schoolmaster

Sleary The proprietor of a circus

"Signor" Jupe The clown

Cecelia Jupe His daughter. Known as "Sissy"

Stephen Blackpool
Rachel Mill workers

James Harthouse A man of the world

"Merrylegs" Signor Jupe's performing dog