... important roles. These factors put together the novel Hard Times is a brilliant work of social criticism, not to mention a fascinating read. The place in which the story is set is the manufacturing city of Coketown, based on the city of Preston. Coketown is described as being a very dangerous place and to exemplify this it is compared to a jungle. Dickens associates it with "the painted face of a savage"," ... interminable serpents" and "the head of an elephant". From the "coiling serpent" we can direct the idea that Coketown is also an immoral and sinful place and the thought of the "bl...

• Word Count: 2948
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School