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| Tom Gradgrind | ||||||||
| Tom Gradgrind is Thomas Gradgrind's eldest son. His character is most storngly influenced by his father's teachings and perspectives. As close family friends, Tom is granted an aprenticeship at Bounderby's bank. However his father's influence has left him self-serving and hypocritical which supports his love for money and gambling. Eventually this perspective leads Tom to rob Bounderby's bank and implicate Stephen as the suspect. Though he does value Louisa's attention and love, Tom is too far founded in his father's ideals. Dickens uses Tom as a symbol of the consequences of our society's education system. Because Tom was raised on cold values of fact and money, he has turned into a proverbial monster that even turns on those that nurtured him. This is one the strongest symbols Dickens uses towards the theme of sowing and reaping. |
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