He is immensely engulfed in his philosophy of self-interest and statistics that he teaches children, including his own (Louisa, and Tom) the preeminence of a life lived based on certainty. The teachings of his strict philosophy intrigued his children to wonder what a life outside of their regime would be like. As a man who strived for perfection, Gradgrind hoped his values should bring happiness and success to his children. Sadly, he was terribly wrong. Tom eventually began to rebel and partake in smoking and gambling, and Louisa entered a loveless marriage with a man chosen by her father- Josiah Bounderby. Bounderby is a rather anomalous character and a prime example of the mind philosophy because he seems to be completely detached from human emotions. Like Gradgrind, he was a wealthy Capitalist who benefit largely from the Industrialization of England. The narrator describes Bounderby as "A man who was the bully of humility" (33). Which he continues to support throughout the novel. Bounderby's ego was intensely inflated, he called the people that worked for him "hands." He wholly believed the factory workers to be just that, and nothing more. His difficulty to see human beings as people rather than objects shows his inability of compassion. Bounderby fabricated a story of abandonment from childhood to gain sympathy from those around him. It is ironic that, a man who supposedly lives his life according to facts, is a fraud. After Bounderby's mother appears it is confirmed that Bounderby was in fact, never abandoned, but rather comforted, and loved. Thus, taking blame away from Gradgrind, for the outcome of his childrens lives. Although Bounderby came from a loving home, he turned into an evil man.
Both character ideas agreed when it came to reason over emotion. As wealthy Capitalists, they were apart of the same caste and strictly followed their philosophy. However, there was a clear difference between the two.