character (KARE-ec-ter): a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood. The different attitudes, mannerisms, and even appearances of characters can greatly influence the other major elements in a literatry work, such as theme, setting, and tone. With this understanding of the character, a reader can become more aware of other aspects of literature, such as symbolism, giving the reader a more complete understanding of the work. The character is one of hte most important tools available to the author.
Using the definition above, characterize Sissy Jupe.
4 comments:
Tommy Campbell
Cecilia "Sissy" Jupe is a character that Dickens has used to expand upon his plot developments, and has helped to enforce ideas he has stressed through other characters. At the beginning of the story she was referenced as being "number twenty", in Mr. Gradgrinds model school. Mr. Gradgrinds stresses facts a way that he believes all should live by. Sissy is not quite capable of understanding facts at the level he expects of his students. Without using Sissy to make an example of his model students, the tone of the entire story would be different. Sissy Jupe has also been used as a primary character for the advancement of plot. When Bounderby convinces Mr. Gradgrind to get her out of his school, they travel to her house to find her. Once they arrive however they realize her father has left her and without the school she has nothing. Mr. Gradgrind feels bad for Sissy and allows her to stay in the school if she takes care of the "feeble minded" Mrs. Gradgrind. Sissy continues to struggle at the school because she is not incredibly brilliant with "facts" however she does bring a new life to Stone Lodge. When she approached Louisa saying, "It should be fine to be you, Miss Louisa." This opened up a discussion between the two of them, changing the complexion of Miss Louisa's character. All in all, Sissy Jupe has contributed to the tone of the story through other characters, most notably Mr. Gradgrind and Miss Louisa, and the overall plot development.
Kristen Cipriano
When first introuduced in Mr. Gradgrinds class, it is clear that Sissy Jupe has a mind of her own. Mr. Gradgrind immediately disapproves of her because she ventures outside written facts and toward her own imagination. She is an innocent character that clearly does not belong in such a strict environment. In the classroom Sissy must deal with being judged by Mr. Gradgrind in front of the entire class. When confronted to give the definition of a horse she cannot, making it further seem like she is trapped somewhere she does not belong. She comes from a family where her father is a circus performer meaning she has different experiences than the rest of the children. She is then taken in by Mr. Gradgrind when her father is said to have "gone away", leaving the reader almost feeling bad for the girl. When meeting Tom and Louisa Gradgrind, they become fascinated with the experiences that Sissy Jupe has had in her exciting life and has them recognize how boring their lives are. Sissy offers them a chance to wonder and use their own minds which is exactly the opposite of how they were brought up. Sissy Jupe shows a different side to the time period, a more exciting life rather than one stuck to learning and acting like a robot like everyone else. Dickens adds Sissy to lighten the mood and show a change from the other children making her stand out as a character.
KATHY MENG
I agree with Kristen Cipriano's response about what Sissy brings to the novel. Sissy contrasts with the other pupils in her Fancy and her imagination. Sissy lacks fact which contradicts Mr.Gradgrind's ideals. When she is bought to school and forced to learn facts by Mr.Gradgrind and Mr.Bounderby,she can not. However, just because she is unable to be acquianted with fact does not mean she is a bad girl. When Sissy tells Louisa the story of her and her father, it shows her responsibiliy and her love for her father. Comparing the fanciful Sissy to the factual Bounderby, Sissy has much more heart and liveliness.
Similar to Louisa, her Fancy and imagination is also suppressed by Mr.Gradgrind's schooling.She is made to think that to be successful she must focus on Facts and not think about her circus fancies. Readers can still see her Fancy when she continuously expects her father's return.
DEANNA LAGASSE
In "Hard Times", Dickens creates a factory society called Coketown, influenced by classic Vcitorian ideals. Cecilia, or "Sissy", Jupe is treated as an outcast because of her traveling circus family. She is looked at as frivolous, imaginative, rambunctious, and an overall threat to the perfect Victorian society. To add insult to injury, Sissy is also not a bright student. For example, in class, when asked to define a horse, she does not know. Even when she is taken in by Gradgrind, she does not meet expectations. However, she is not an "ordinary" outcast. Louisa and Mr. Gradgrind alike are fascinated by her differnet life experiences, which also sets her apart from the other children. Mr. Gradgrind states that he is "proud" of her hard work, even though she did not meet expectations, which is suprising. Sissy is also an innocent character, and her politness and thoughfullness is not what Vcitorian society, or Mr. Gradgrind, would have expected. Readers also feel bad for Sissy, for she knows she dissapoints the teacher in class and Mr. Gradgrind too. THis can also be seen when she is still hopeful that her dad is coming back for her, evenm though Mr. Gradgrind knows her will not. This is a stark compariosn between the two different Victorian classes, mindsets, and personalities. Also, Sissy is able to bring excitment and change into the Gradgrind's life as well, due to her stories and personality. Overall, Sissy is considered an outcast due to her family status, which is a typical trait of Victorian society. Although, she is a different outcast, as she is innocent and polite, as well as exciting, whcih shows the differneces in lifestyles and classes of the Gradgrind's and circus peoples.
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