Hard Times #321420

A wealthy merchant devotes his life to a philosophy of rationalism, self-interest, and fact. He raises his children, Louisa and Tom, according to this philosophy and never allows them to engage in fanciful or imaginative pursuits. As his children grow older, Tom becomes a dissipated, self-interested hedonist, and Louisa struggles with deep inner confusion, feeling as though she is missing something important in her life.