Hard Times opens with Gradgrind's call for facts. As a novel, Hard Times is obviously a piece of fiction. What does this suggest about Dickens?

Hard Times opens with Gradgrind's call for facts. As a novel, Hard Times is obviously a piece of fiction. What does this suggest about Dickens?

Dickens is impartial to the emphasis of fact or fancy.

Dickens cares more for imagination and fancy than straight facts.

Dickens favors facts over any type of imagination that fancy provides.

Dickens is poking fun at those who believe facts are the source of intellectual pleasure.