The Function of Mrs. Sparsit in Charles Dickens' Error Hard Times. In Charles Dickens' novel Hard Times the character of Mrs. Sparsit is a secondary figure that plays an important role in determining the lives and actions of the novel's primary characters. As this essay will argue, Mrs. Sparsit represents a classic example of the malevolent gossip whose bitterness drives her to attempt to ruin the reputations of those around her. Pages: 3 Bibliography: 1 source(s) listed Filename: 19009 Function Charles Dickens.doc Price: 26.85