A GENETIC STRUCTURALISM ANALYSIS ON UTILITARIANISM IN CHARLES DICKENS’ HARD TIMES

Abstract

Hard Times is one of Charles Dickens works which becomes the satirical novel in eighteenth century. This novel criticizes the British social condition in England in the late of Eighteenth Century which is set in industrial revolution. The british society struggle to get advantages in their life. They live and do activities to reach things materially. Thus, an ideology appears among british society which is called as” Ideology of Utilitarianism”. This ideology influences the society’s idea to get more advantages in their action without thinking the consequence. I use qualitative research method for this research to examine the analysis. This research begins with the analysis of the novel and uses genetic structuralism theory. I analyse the structure of Hard Times which shows the binary opposition between some characters who apply the ideology of utilitarianism and another characters who do not apply it in their lives, the worldview of the author towards the ideology of utilitarianism and the socio-cultural condition in Britain in Eighteenth century. One of characters in Hard Times, Thomas Gradgrind applies this ideology in his daily life. Gradgrind as the utilitarian in the novel by considering his attitude and his thinking of fact in life. He instill his students the ideology to measure this life by getting some advantages. Dickens’ worldview as the author of Hard Times abuses the ideology of utilitarianism. He thinks that it gives the bad impacts for the society’s lives. they measure their actions give them benefits by getting some advantages. He explores how this ideology of utilitarianism applies through the main character in the novel Hard Times. Dickens explores the impact of the ideology of utilitarianism towards some characters in Hard Times. Especially, it gives bad impact in their social life. This utilitarianism shows the negative impact in applying it.