The first character that we will discuss is Josiah Bounderby. Josiah Bounderby is from Coketown. He can be described as the villain of the novel who is driven by greed and thrives on a distorted view of the world. He is a boastful bully to the other characters in the novel. He is a man who lied to inflate his reputation as rags to riches self-made man. In fact, he never tires of making this boast. Josiah likes to tell a story that he grew up poor. According to him, his life began in a ditch or he had to live the first ten years of his life as a vagabond. However, he came from a hard working class, loving and supportive family. Josiah uses people to establish his reputation and social standing.

Mr. Josiah Bounderby is Mr. Gradgrind's closest friend. Mr. Gradgrind is a retired wholesale hardware merchant and also runs the model school. He is married to Mrs. Gradgrind who can be described as feeble-minded. Whenever, Mr. Bounderby would tell one of his horror stories, Mrs. Gradgrind would faint. They have a number of children. The eldest child is Louisa Gradgrind. Thomas Gradgrind who is known as Tom is the youngest son. He is described as a selfish and ill-natured whelp. Jane Gradgrind is the youngest daughter. Mr. Bounderby uses his friendship with Thomas Gradgrind to marry his daughter Louisa Gradgrind 20 years his senior.

Mr. Sleary is a proprietor of a horse-circus. He has a daughter called Josephine Sleary. She is a fair-haired young woman. Arguably, Mr. Sleary is probably the most virtuous businessman. The following characters are part of the circus. Mr. E.W.B. Childers and Emma Gordon are members of Sleary’s Circus Troupe. Signor Jupe is a clown in the circus. Cecilia Jupe is the daughter of Signor Jupe. Cecilia has a nickname of Sissy.

Mr. Jupe is unable to afford housing. Mr. Jupe feels that he is unable to support Sissy and believes that she will have a better life without him. He enrolls her in Mr. Gradgrind's school and abandons her in Coketown. For this reason of abandonment, Mr. Gradgrind does not evict Sissy from the school

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