Gradgrind's fortune was made as a hardware merchant, an appropriate representation of the cold and hard perspective he has developed. However, as the story progresses Gradgrind is influenced by reflection on his grown childrens' lives and begins to realize that his perspective of reality may not be the best. By the end of the book he reforms his reality to incorporate love and compassion.
Gradgrind's character is so important because it represents what Dickens's wants for society. Beginning with the harsh reality of how our society truly behaves, reflection and analysis of consequences society can reform our culture towards communities that exist for the benefit of the whole.
