Charles Dickens is widely acknowledged as the most esteemed English novelist of the 19th century. He is praised for his incredible imagination and ability to captivate readers with relatable tales of ordinary individuals facing difficult situations. Through his exceptional storytelling, he transports readers to extraordinary places. What sets Dickens apart is his adeptness at incorporating his own personal experiences into the lives of his characters, effectively intertwining their stories with his own.
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England. He was the second child of John and Elizabeth Dickens. The family belonged to the lower division of the middle class. John worked as a clerk at the Navy Pay Office, while Elizabeth lacked practical wisdom. Despite his tendency to overspend, John was known for being lively and generous.
In his later life, Dickens drew inspiration from his parents for his fictional characters Mr. Micawber and Mrs. Nickleby in the Brothers Cheeryble (Constable 25).
In 1814, John Dickens was transferred from Portsworth to London and three years later, the family moved to Chatham in order to be closer to their father’s new job. At the age of five, Charles Dickens learned how to read from his mother and developed a deep fascination for books. He eagerly consumed his father’s collection of works by Shakespeare, Cervantes, Defoe, Smollett, Fielding, and Goldsmith. The impact of these writers can be seen in Dickens’s writing style and viewpoint (Carey 6).
During this time, Dickens began attending school and excelled, which greatly pleased his father. Despite being a solitary child, Dickens had a keen observation skills and a pleasant nature. He often participated in amusing routines for his classmates. Reflecting on this period of his life, Dickens considered it the golden age (Carey 6). In his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, Dickens attempts to revive the nostalgic qualities of his youth, with its picturesque nature. According to Gary Carey, this novel portrays the joy of innocence and the playful spirit of youth during Dickens’s early years (7).
The Dickens family had to move to a run-down suburb of Camden Town due to financial difficulties. This move made them realize how good their life was back in Chatham. Dickens was taken out of school and forced to take low-paying and degrading jobs to help his struggling father provide for the family. One of the worst jobs he had was working in a blackening factory, surrounded by rough and cruel coworkers. Shortly after Dickens started working at the factory, his father was imprisoned for failing to pay his debts. He was released three months later, but this period deeply affected Dickens and led him into a state of depression. He felt abandoned and defeated by the hardships he experienced. Many of the major themes in his popular novels stem from this time, particularly evident in his renowned work, David Copperfield. This novel portrays a young man’s upbringing in a similar manner to Dickens’ own experiences (Allen 28).
Dickens experienced victimization first-hand, which influenced his sympathy for the marginalized. He was captivated by prisons and money, possibly due to his own brushes with poverty and imprisonment. Additionally, he sought to prove that his protagonists were gentlemen, possibly as a means of vindicating his own status. Moreover, Dickens saw London as both awe-inspiring and menacing, reflecting his personal encounters with the city’s vibrant yet threatening atmosphere. These experiences, which occurred during his period of independence from a young age, not only taught him crucial life skills but also fueled his ambitious drive and boundless energy in all his endeavors (28).
Although Charles Dickens had limited formal schooling, it would be incorrect to perceive him as uneducated. He believed in learning from life experiences, which shaped his entire writing career. Throughout his works, he continuously developed and experimented with various themes, many of which originated from his early life. From his early work, the Pickwick Papers, to one of his last pieces, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens consistently honed his writing abilities and established himself as the prominent Victorian novelist (Bloom 189).
The journey into manhood is a significant milestone that profoundly impacts a person’s life. Charles Dickens explores this journey in his novel David Copperfield, drawing parallels with his own life. The novel encompasses various themes, including longing for lost experiences and the humiliation of being an orphan. Dickens skillfully portrays the challenges of growing up and the advantages of a difficult childhood. These experiences influenced Dickens’ development as a writer, as they do for everyone (Brown 144). The structure of Copperfield mirrors the fluidity and coherence of a remarkable journey. Each change in setting represents a crucial step in David’s spiritual progression towards manhood. Through the variation in locations, Dickens introduces diversity and contrasts in mood. The story unfolds from Salem House to Blunderstone, emphasizing how David’s life would have been easier if he had a nurturing father figure.
David is always trying to find something he lost in the past. He remembers the wonderful world of the Peggottys by saying, “It seems to me at this hour that I have never seen such sunlight as on those bright April afternoons, that I have never seen such a sunny little figure as I used to see, sitting in the doorway of the old boat…” (Copperfield 7). This passage by Dickens connects the reader to the story. David recalls the days of old and views them as the days of gold (Allen 28).
The text describes how David Copperfield’s difficult childhood experiences are portrayed in the story, reflecting Charles Dickens’s personal hardships while working in a blackening factory in London. The book allows David to relive the despair and humiliation he faced at the factory, as well as his parents’ rejection and the loss of his dreams. Through David’s life, Dickens effectively tells his own story, without seeking sympathy but rather aiming for readers to understand that a rough life does not equate to a bad one.
Manette’s time in prison continues to haunt him, affecting his mental and emotional state. Another reader may argue that the true focus of the novel is on the social and political unrest during the French Revolution. Dickens vividly portrays the harsh conditions and inequalities that existed during this time period. The third interpretation of the novel’s theme centers around sacrifice and redemption. Characters such as Sydney Carton make selfless choices in order to bring about a greater good. Despite the different interpretations, all of these themes are essential to understanding the depth and complexity of A Tale of Two Cities (Constable 24).Manette frequently succumbs to madness, a consequence of his imprisonment. The narrative also revolves around Jarvis Lorry, who, at the start of the book, is traveling to the prison to bring back the doctor (Constable 13).
Another perspective held by some readers is that this book focuses on the French Revolution. In Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities, the narrative begins in 1775, during the early covert phases of the Revolution. The story spans eighteen years and concludes with a gruesome battle, the Reign of Terror, in 1793. While the novel does not directly depict most of the significant revolution events, these occurrences significantly impact the characters’ lives. Indeed, it is accurate to assert that the events of the French Revolution, which play a significant role in shaping the novel’s setting, form its true theme (Carey 11).
The novel’s theme can be seen as a symbol according to some readers. They believe that the actions in the book are related to Dickens’s perspective on life. This group argues that the book portrays the human experience through the actions and language of its characters (Carey 12).
Regardless of how a reader approaches A Tale of Two Cities, it is a challenging book to read. However, it does become intriguing at certain points and ultimately provides the reader with an insight into the personal struggles of individuals during the French Revolution. Whether one interprets the novel as being centered around its characters, historical events, or symbolism, it is inconsequential. The intention of Charles Dickens was for the readers to relish in this novel rather than engage in disputes regarding its underlying meaning (Carey 12).
Unfortunately, many of the greatest books that have strengthened and shaped Western civilization are slowly fading away from modern life and thought. However, there is still hope. It is crucial for someone to take responsibility and ensure that literary treasures like Charles Dickens continue to inspire and enlighten younger generations (Andreola 2). We must save Dickens from obscurity and let his works move and captivate people today in ways that the Hardy Boys could never achieve. Dickens became famous by crafting stories that highlighted the differences between right and wrong in his time. Through his stories, readers are encouraged to form their own opinions and make judgments about the moral actions of the characters, as only an artist can do. Dickens skillfully portrays a moral picture of life, offering a more effective way to convey morality to children rather than simply lecturing them. This is the guidance that today’s youth need in order to develop a “moral imagination.” When diving into episodes from Dickens’s tales, readers inevitably become intimately familiar with his characters, often feeling a deep connection as they navigate through challenging situations (Andreola 2).
Terry W. Glaspey’s book, Great Books of the Christian Tradition, acknowledges that Dickens’s novels may sometimes be criticized for their excessive length and sentimentality. However, Glaspey also notes that Dickens’s works have a lasting impact on readers’ memories. The author’s remarkable ability to create unforgettable characters is responsible for the term ‘Dickensian’. Moreover, Dickens’s strong Victorian morality is a refreshing contrast to our present-day moral ambiguity. It is evident that Charles Dickens’s writing has played a significant role in contemporary literature. His characters, who embody goodness in everyday life, provide readers with a unique perspective (Andreola 3). Dickens’s life experiences have influenced his writing, and he effectively communicates the true essence of life to ordinary readers. This contribution by Charles Dickens to the literary world is comparable to stories like that of Larry Bird, a small-town basketball sensation who inspired athletes across the United States. Through his works, Dickens helps readers grasp their own identities and understand the experience of common people, primarily belonging to the middle and lower socioeconomic class.
Category: English
