James Harthouse

Thomas Gradgrind

Harthouse cultivates a polite acquaintance with Gradgrind to gain proximity to Louisa and exploit the family's vulnerabilities.

Louisa Gradgrind

Harthouse attempts to seduce Louisa, preying on her emotional emptiness, but she ultimately rejects his advances.

Sissy Jupe

Sissy sees through Harthouse's manipulation and confronts him, forcing him to leave Coketown and abandon his pursuit of Louisa.

Thomas Gradgrind

Harthouse cultivates a polite acquaintance with Gradgrind to gain proximity to Louisa and exploit the family's vulnerabilities.

Thomas Gradgrind

Harthouse cultivates a polite acquaintance with Gradgrind to gain proximity to Louisa and exploit the family's vulnerabilities.

Louisa Gradgrind

Harthouse attempts to seduce Louisa, preying on her emotional emptiness, but she ultimately rejects his advances.

Sissy Jupe

Sissy sees through Harthouse's manipulation and confronts him, forcing him to leave Coketown and abandon his pursuit of Louisa.

Louisa Gradgrind

Harthouse attempts to seduce Louisa, preying on her emotional emptiness, but she ultimately rejects his advances.

Sissy Jupe

Sissy sees through Harthouse's manipulation and confronts him, forcing him to leave Coketown and abandon his pursuit of Louisa.

Book the Second: Reaping

A wealthy and idle gentleman who becomes intrigued by Louisa and seeks to disrupt her life.

Effects in the Bank

A stranger who arrives with a letter from Mr. Gradgrind, inquires about Mr. Bounderby and his wife, and displays a languid, gallant manner.

II: Mr. James Harthouse

Introduced as a bored gentleman who has tried various pursuits and now enters politics under Gradgrind's patronage, displaying a cynical and detached worldview.

The Whelp

Acts as a tempter, skillfully drawing out Tom's confidences and exposing his moral weakness with an air of negligent amusement.

Men and Masters

A London gentleman present as a spectator, introduced by Bounderby as a 'Parliament gentleman' to witness the dialogue.

Gunpowder

Harthouse ingratiates himself with the Bounderbys, using his cynical philosophy to charm Louisa and probe her vulnerabilities.

Explosion

Strolls with Louisa in the garden, discusses the robbery with Bounderby, and shows a lazy, ironic attitude.

Hearing the Last of It

Observes the tension between Louisa and Bounderby, and the Sparsit action throws him and Louisa more together.

Mrs. Sparsit's Staircase

Whispers with Louisa in the garden, rationalizing the bank robber's actions.

Lower and Lower

Declares his love for Louisa; is said to be shooting in Yorkshire.

Down

Mentioned as having declared himself Louisa's lover; his influence is a catalyst for the confrontation.

Very Ridiculous

Agitated and perplexed by Louisa's sudden disappearance; he waits anxiously and later is confronted by Sissy Jupe, whom he finds disarming.

Very Decided

Mentioned as the person with whom Louisa had a conversation that Mrs. Sparsit overheard, leading to the confrontation.