Penetrating through the window, sunlight illuminates the once eerie classroom. As he walks through the offices, he erases all color from the monotonous faces that learn the philosophy of facts. But for a student, the light does not fade her skin, but rather radiates the darkness of her complexion. This young girl, Cecilia (Sissy) Jupe, is an exception in a society filled with people devoid of any imagination and creativity. The environment of Coketown, described in the novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens, removes all human singularity. Sissy grows up in this industrial environment and is forced to leave the comfort of her own home when her father abandons her after her failures at work. Thomas Gradgrind, a prominent man in town who prides himself on his obedience to Coketown's de facto politics, agrees to welcome Sissy into his home. Eventually, Sissy witnesses the disassembly of the Gradgrind family, mainly Mr. Gradgrind's children Tom and Louisa, due to the strict lifestyle they observe. Throughout the novel, Sissy Jupe functions as the antithesis of the oppressive and compassionless society that Coketown engenders and grows to become the protagonist of the story through her vigilant care of the family that took her in. Sissy's characterization as a child illustrates her as a compassionate person. , and friendly young girl. Sissy's father, a circus horse trainer, fails as a performer and is emotionally withdrawn because of his collapsed performances. Before making the decision to leave Sissy and the circus behind, he often confides in his daughter. In order to cheer her up, she often reads stories about "doers" and "geniuses" (Dick... middle of paper ...... circus evokes images of color and imagination, paralleling the vitality and benevolence that only the character of Sissy possesses By inspiring Tom to take refuge in the circus, the listener observes the heroic and compassionate qualities that distinguish the character of Sissy from all others. prosperous lifestyle that no other character is afforded. Charles Dicken's characterization of Sissy, in the novel Hard Times, causes the listener to question the validity of Gradgrind's philosophy. she transforms into a heroine while maintaining her portrayal as a foil to her character's gloomy and desperate setting functions as the symbol of the ideal balance between reality and fantasy, giving the listener the feeling of assurance that people can. escape the ramifications of an industrialized community.