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When James Harthouse first arrives in Coketown, he has virtually no aspirations except to cure the boredom in his life. His affluent background has rendered many things meaningless for him, and his equally bored younger brother suggests that he get involved with the “hard Fact fellows” in order to occupy his time. The careless way in which Harthouse moves through Bounderby and Gradgrind’s worlds reinforces Dickens’s disdain for the upper class, especially as his behavior begins impacting Louisa’s life. Harthouse first meets Louisa when Bounderby introduces her as his wife. Until this moment, he easily managed to charm his way into everyone’s good graces. The cold attitude that Louisa displays toward him, on the other hand, does not falter when Harthouse attempts to talk himself into her favor. Intrigued by the fact that she responds so differently to him than everyone else, he begins to develop feelings for her. Harthouse’s history of boredom, however, implies that his affections are likely inauthentic. Pursuing Louisa becomes yet another activity to occupy his time rather than a meaningful attempt to connect with her.
Harthouse’s obsession with Louisa furthers many of the novel’s major plot points, and the outcome of these developments highlights the consequences of his reckless and selfless ways. He plays a major role in driving Louisa and Bounderby apart by showing her kindness that her husband never could. While there is certainly a manipulative aspect to the way in which he inserts himself into her life, his presence nevertheless contributes to Louisa’s growing realization about the limitations of a purely fact-based life. She begins to open up to him because of how he consoles her about Tom, the only person that she genuinely cares about. Between Mrs. Sparsit’s vengeful influence and Louisa’s unwillingness to commit adultery, however, Harthouse’s plan to win her love ultimately fails. Sissy, coming to Louisa’s defense, demands that Harthouse leave town, and he does so without having to sacrifice anything truly meaningful to him. Meanwhile, the breakdown that Louisa has in the aftermath of Harthouse’s declarations of love emphasizes the serious consequences of his actions. He may not be acting maliciously, but his disregard for the well-being of others renders him an unsympathetic character.
