ndividuals as they are. Each of the characters know something is absent from inside of their soul, but no one can figure out the exact missing piece. Yet to the reader it is an easy puzzle to solve, for a person is never complete without the ability to imagine and dream. With the many gaping wholes in the society, such beliefs cannot be maintained without some disaster. It is the lack of vibrancy and energy that that comes along with the unforgiving facts that cause a town such as this to lose its steam and collapse. Thomas Gradgrind finally comes to this realization when his prized daughter, Louisa, confesses to him in a fit of anxiety. She dispelled the information of all of the pain and heartache that the system had brought upon her. Because of this sudden candidness of his daughter, Thomas takes to heart what she has to say. He reflects back on the mistakes of his past and is finally able to see the need for balance. Gradgrind can now start to incorporate the use of imagination and creativity into his life, as well as the lives of others around him.By showing the extreme side of the spectrum in Hard Times, Dickens is able to express what an important role that equilibrium plays in society. Not only today but for years to come, people will be attempting to figure out a common balance point for which they can finally be at peace with themselves. Therefore, it must be remembered that in order to achieve the equilibrium that is desired, one must keep an open mind in order to prevent drifting too close to one extent or the other....
