Hard Times · Chapter
Sleary's Horsemanship explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Gradgrind and Mr. Bounderby visit Sleary's circus to inform Signor Jupe that his daughter Sissy can no longer attend the school. They learn from Mr. Childers that Jupe has likely abandoned Sissy due to his failing performance skills. Sissy returns with her belongings, and after tearful farewells from the circus folk, she leaves with Mr. Gradgrind, who decides to take her in. Sleary imparts his philosophy that people must be amused as well as work and learn.
Themes in this chapter
Fact vs. Fancy
The contrast between Gradgrind's rigid factual worldview and the circus's world of imagination, amusement, and emotional expression is starkly highlighted.
Compassion and Human Connection
The circus folk show genuine tenderness and care for Sissy, and Sleary's philosophy emphasizes kindness and making the best of people.
Social Class and Inequality
Bounderby and Gradgrind look down on the circus performers, yet the narrative reveals the performers' gentleness and worth, challenging class prejudices.
Characters to notice
- Sissy Jupe
Returns to the circus with her belongings, bids a tearful farewell to the company, and leaves with Mr. Gradgrind, keeping the bottle of nine oils for her father.
- Thomas Gradgrind
Visits the circus to inform Jupe that Sissy can no longer attend school; decides to adopt Sissy after learning of her father's abandonment.
- Josiah Bounderby
Accompanies Gradgrind to the circus, mocks the performers, and advises against taking in Sissy.
- Mr. Sleary
The circus master, bids Sissy farewell and shares his philosophy that people must be amused and that one should make the best of others, not the worst.
- E. W. B. Childers
Informs Gradgrind and Bounderby that Jupe has likely run away due to his failing performance, and expresses hope that they might help Sissy.
- Master Kidderminster
A young performer who plays Cupid, shows an irascible temperament, and cheekily retorts to Bounderby and Gradgrind.
Key passages
“People mutht be amuthed, Thquire, thomehow; they can't be alwayth a working, nor yet they can't be alwayth a learning. Make the betht of uth; not the wurtht.”
People need entertainment; they cannot work or study all the time. Judge us by our best qualities, not our worst.
Sleary's philosophy directly challenges Gradgrind's utilitarian emphasis on facts and work, advocating for the necessity of amusement and compassion.
“Yet there was a remarkable gentleness and childishness about these people, a special inaptitude for any kind of sharp practice, and an untiring readiness to help and pity one another, deserving often of as much respect, as the everyday virtues of any class of people in the world.”
Despite their rough appearance and lack of education, the circus folk were gentle, honest, and always ready to help each other, worthy of as much respect as any other social class.
The narrator defends the circus performers, highlighting their moral worth and challenging the prejudice of characters like Bounderby.