Category: Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens

• Charles John Huffam Dickens was a male English novelist during the Victorian era whose poetic, comic and florid literature remains iconic up to date.
• He was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire by Elizabeth nee Barrow and John Dickens. His father was a Navy Pay Office clerk that educated Charles at William Giles School, Chatham.
• His father was imprisoned Marshalsea Prison in 1824 following his debts while his family moved there as Dickens was left to work in Warrens Shoe Blacking Factory.
• He experienced child labor at the age of twelve to support his family but later learnt shorthand and worked as a court reporter at Doctors Commons while during his leisure time, he would read a lot of literature.
• He started his own writing as a social activist against social ills evident in his lectures, writing and talks.
• The 19^th century author gained an international recognition due to his unique literary style of Gothic romance involving realism and fantasy that handled the social issues in the contemporary society.
• Dickens died in 1870 at Gads Hill Place following a stroke and was buried as Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey contrary to his wishes (Hotten et al., 1870).

George Eliot

• George Eliot is the pen-name used by Mary Anne Evans, a female English novelist during the Victorian era. Her male penname was meant to add seriousness to her work, avoid women stereotype and evade public scrutiny following her personal romantic relationship with a married man, George Henry Lewes.
• She was born in 22 November, 1819 in Warwickshire as the third daughter of Robert Evans and Christiana Evans who were local farmers.
• She gained private education but stopped schooling at nineteen, following her mothers death in 1839 and moved to Coventry with her father from 1841 to 1849 where she continued reading books and learn Italian and German.
• She moved to London and in 1850 and wrote for Westminster Review where she became an editor for two years.
• She however caused a scandal due to her relationship with George Henry Lewes in 1851 that detached her from family and friends. She adopted the pseudo-name when she started writing in 1856 and in 1869 he started to write Middlemarch that made her more famous, although it upsets the modern feminists.
• She remarried John Cross (20 years younger) in 1880 after Lewes death in 1878 and became ill after being married for seven months.
• She died in her sleep on 22 December 1880 and was buried at Highgate Cemetery besides Lewes (Hardy, 2006).

Samuel Butler

• Samuel Butler was born in Nottinghamshire, England in December 4, 1835 as the first-born male of Rev. Thomas Butler and Fanny Worsley. He had a background of clerics and therefore, that was his likely career but he defied his Anglican upbringing.
• He schooled at Shrewsbury and later in St Johns, Cambridge in 1854-1858 where he achieved a First in Classics. He aspired to be an artist irrespective of his fathers wishes and he moved to New Zealand in 1959 where he wrote and published some of his work that made him renowned as an iconoclastic Victorian writer. His work involved analysis of Christian orthodoxy and evolution as well as historic criticism.
• He moved back to London in 1864 to do farming as he wrote for Christchurch Press and learnt Darwins views on origin of species which he wrote in The Press, a New Zealand newspaper to compare biological and machine evolution.
• After returning to England in 1864 he pursued his artistic dream by joining the Heatherleys School of Art and later, the Royal Academy School 1869-1876.
• In 1898, he translated among other works, the Iliad and in 1900, the Odyssey. The way of flesh disregards the hypocrisy eminent during the Victorian era with a utopian satire.
• He passed on, June 18, 1902 at Cliffords Inn due to pernicious anemia and intestinal catarrh. He was cremated at Woking and buried at St. Pauls Church, Convent Garden in England (Raby, 1991).

Edward Morgan Foster

• Edward Morgan Foster was a male English novelist born on 1 January 1879 at Dorser Square, London as a sole son to Edward Morgan Llewellyn Forster and Alice Clara.
• His real name as per registration was Henry Morgan Forster but confusion during baptism swapped Henry with Edward and often referred to as Morgan.
• He started writing when he was six and joined the Tonbridge School and later, Kings college, Cambridge where he enjoyed intellectual freedom as a member of Apostles and left with a Bachelor of Arts in 1900.
• His great aunt, Marianne Thornton left him money that gained him financial freedom to tour various parts of the continental Europe, including the Mediterranean which would later inspire his writing.
• He printed some of his work in 1904, in the Independent Review and wrote for The Athenaeum, a London journal. He broadcasted for BBC Radio and a recognized person of British Humanist Association that earned him a Benson Medal in 1937. He was honored in 1946 as a fellow of Kings college and in 1953, a Companion of Honor and a member of Order of Merit in 1969.
• He was a homosexual and had a romantic relationship with Bob Buckingham. They lived together as he experienced various strokes that would eventually cause his death on 7 June 1970 at the Coventry (Moffat, 2010).

Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

• Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell was female British novelist in the Victorian era. She involves details of social classes particularly the poor.
• She was born on 29 September 1810 in Chelsea, London as the eighth born of William Stevenson and Elizabeth Holland.
• She was the only surviving child and was left with her aunt Hannah Lamb in Knutsford, Cheshire following his mothers death and his fathers financial hardships and illness.
• She later moved to live with the Unitarian, William Turner who was a distant relative in New castle who influenced her religious values and charity. She met William Gaskell while in Manchester to pay a visit to Turners daughter and married him on 30th august, 1832.
• In Manchester, the local Unitarian chapel where Gaskell ministered consisted of impoverished industrial workers and she initiated charity work and writing some literature on m the socio-economic issues facing the residents that caught immediate attention in the Victorian society. She was also inspired by her sons death and as a result identified herself with the poor. In 1854, North and south was published and made her famous due to her distinct style of gothic stories.
• She died on 12 November 1865 Holybourne, Hampshire following a heart attack and was buried in graveyard of Brookstreet chapel, Knutsford (Easson, 1979).

Thomas Hardy

• Thomas Hardy, a male English poet and novelist was born on 2 June 1840 at Bockhampton, England by Thomas Hardy Sr. and Jemima Hand.
• He spent his childhood adventuring the countryside that made him to love nature.
• He joined a local school at the age of eight and later studied classical literature, German, Latin, Greek, French and Italy.
• When he was sixteen, he qualified as an architect from the mentorship of his father and went to London in 1862 where he worked on Church architecture. Here, he used his leisure time in the theatre, art galleries as well as opera and was inspired to write poetry. He published his first novel in 1871 that was unsuccessful but his other literature became popular.
• He met Emma Lavina Gifford in 1870 and married in 1874. Following Emmas death in 1912, Hardy remarried Florence Emily Dugdale in 1914.
• His work has been influenced by naturalism movement in his writing that depicts Romantic, Realistic as well as Enlightenment elements like the supernatural. He also involved religion, sexual values and aspects of rural life in his work.
• He passed on, 11 January 1928 at Dorchester due to pleurisy where his cremation took place and was later buried at Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey (Hardy, 2007).

George Meredith

• George Meredith is a male English poet and novelist at the time of Victorian era, born 12 February, 1828 at Portsmouth, Hampshire.
• He belonged to a working-class family and educated randomly at Moravian School, Germany and never acquired higher education.
• He became an apprentice lawyer when he was seventeen but later abandoned it to engage in articles writing. He read for Chapman and Hall publishers and worked as a freelance journalist for London magazines and newspapers.
• He married Mary Ellen Nicolls in 1849 when he was twenty one, separated in 1858 and remarried in 1864 to Marie Vulliamy and lived together in Surrey until Marie died from cancer in 1886.
• George Meredith has been cited as being witty both in his romantic writing, content and language that has timely psychological view and gender parity. Additionally, he is viewed as a conversationalist and a good, comic story teller.
• His work gained him financial independence e.g. The egoistic that became a hit for his condemning self-centeredness.
• He died in Box Hill, Surrey on 18 May 1909 following his age as well as health complications that had crippled him for long (Forman, 1970).

William Makepeace Thackeray

• William Makepeace Thackeray was a male English novelist born in 18 July 1811 in Calcutta, India by Richmond Thackeray and Ann Becher.
• His mother left India after the death of her husband and moved back to London where Thackeray joined Charterhouse and Trinity College, Cambridge but dropped in 1830 following his addiction to gambling where he lost his inheritance and left with no degree.
• He studied law in 1831 to 1833 at Middle Temple, London and engaged in unsuccessful investment over the National Standard.
• He studied art in Paris and engaged in journalism and worked for The Constitutional as a French correspondence. The publication of the newspaper halted and Thackeray returned to London in 1837 and wrote for various journals and newspapers such as The Times and Punch magazine.
• He married Isabella Shawe, an Irish woman from a humble background and bore three girls who lived with Thackerays mother after she had a mental breakdown in 1840.
• He started writing novels and Vanity Fair was published in 1847. In 1859 he worked as an editor for Cornhill Magazine. In his writing, he was fond of immoral characters that reflected the issues apparent in the Victorian society.
• He died on 24 December 1863 due to stroke and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery (Benjamin, 1992).

Anthony Trollope

• Anthony Trollope was a male English novelist during the Victorian era, born 24 April 1815 at Bloomsbury, London by Thomas Anthony Trollope and her mother Frances Milton
• . He had a miserable childhood due to his familys impoverishment that affected him when among his aristocratic classmates who bullied him due to his low social status. This made him to contemplate suicide when he was twelve.
• He schooled at Harrow School and later in Winchester College which were elite public schools.
• His family initially moved to America in 1827 and business failure returned them to Harrow and later forced to move to Belgium in 1834 due to debt. His father died in 1835 and his two siblings in 1836 leaving his mother to support the family through writing.
• While he was nineteen, Trollope worked as a postal office clerk and in 1841, he worked as postal surveyor in Ireland, which earned him several tours and was able to fund his literature.
• He married Rose Heseltine and had two sons.
• He is said to be the greatest novelist of the 19^th century. His work reflected the socio-political and gender issues in the society. His realistic approach to the Victorian culture is evident in his work as he remained sensitive to gender issues and other social ills.
• He died on 6 December 1883 and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery of London (Trollope, 1947).

References

Benjamin, L. S. (1992). William Makepeace Thackeray: A Biography. London: Reprint Services Company.

Easson, A. (1979). Elizabeth Gaskell. London: Routledge.

Forman, M. B. (1970). George Meredith. New Delhi: Mittal Publications.

Hardy, B. N. (2006). George Eliot: A Critics Biography. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.

Hardy, F. E. (2007). Thomas Hardy. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Limited.

Hotten, J. C., Sala, G. A., & Stanley, A. P. (1870). Charles Dickens: The Story of His Life. New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers.

Moffat, W. (2010). E.M. Forster: A New Life. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Raby, P. (1991). Samuel Butler: A Biography. Iowa: University of Iowa Press.

Trollope, A. (1947). An Autobiography. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Introduction

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens deals with the aspirations and ambitions of the protagonist and narrator, Pip, to improve his status in life and create conditions for better living. (Dickens).

Pip is a seven year old orphan boy who is being reared by his older sister, Mrs. Joe, and her husband, Joe, a blacksmith by occupation. The opening scene depicts the poor boy grieving over the tombstones of his parents and younger siblings. Suddenly, a convict called Magwitch accosts him and threatens to kill him unless he brings food and a file to cut the chain on his legs. The terrified boy steals these items from his home and delivers the food and file to the criminal. In his own words, I am afraid to think of what I might have done, on requirement, in the secrecy of my terror. (Dickens, 13 ).

Subsequently, the local police apprehend the convict. However, he saves the boy from punishment at the hands of his sister by saying that he had broken into the house of Joe and stolen these items. Some time later, the boys uncle, Pumblechook, takes him to the wealthy Satis House, where he meets Miss Havisham and another young girl named Estelle. Although Estelle behaves coldly and disdainfully with Pip, he falls in love with her. He visits the mansion often, but later on, is given only the work of a laborer in the house, although he longs to be a wealthy gentleman. (Dickens).

Miss Havishams diabolical plans

Havisham had been jilted by her lover, Compeyson, on the marriage day, and she now nurses a deep hatred for men and yearns revenge. She wears an old faded wedding gown, stops the clocks to the time when she was jilted, and is keeping the wedding banquet ready for years, to wreak vengeance on people. Unknown to Pip, she is actually using Estelle to pretend to woo Pip in order to avenge her own fate. However, to the outside world, especially Mrs. Joe, she is the immensely rich lady who lives a life of seclusion. (Dickens and West, 14, Line.11).

He now seeks training in Joes blacksmith shop and he dislikes the work but must go on, and is tutored by Biddy, a lady school teacher. In the meantime, Mrs. Joe is viciously attacked by a violent laborer, Orlick, and becomes a mute invalid.

Pip- Beneficiary of large sum of money

Later on, Pip comes to know that he has been made a beneficiary to a large sum of money by some unknown benefactor. Blinded in his infatuation for Estelle, he believes that the money has been offered by Miss Havisham so he could rise to some status, to marry Estelle. He sets out to be a gentleman and moves to London in order to pursue education and better position in life. He meets Herbert, whose father helps him to groom up as a gentleman. Orlick again comes into his life, but is sent away by Herbert and others. Mrs. Joe, his sister, meanwhile dies and a grief stricken Pip attends the funeral. He is now regretting his desire for a more comfortable lifestyle and his infatuation with Estella. (Great Expectations).

Pip realizes Estelles guiles

One day, a surprise visitor meets Pip who is none other than the convict, Magwitch. Pip, to his astonishment, realizes that his secret benefactor was Magwitch and not anybody else. He seeks protection from Pip against the police and his former accomplice, Compeyson and wishes to flee the country. Pip now also comes to understand that both Havisham and Estelle had been deceiving him. &. Miss Havisham adopted Estella and raised her to wreak revenge on the male gender by making them fall in love with her, and then breaking their hearts. (Dickens). Moreover, before Magwitchs escape, Estelle had married a good for nothing upper class hoodlum, Drummie, whose misconduct later caused Estelle a lot of troubles and miseries.

Pip pays a visit to the Satis House, where he finds a remorse-filled Miss Havisham, who seeks his pardon for her misdeeds. Pip pardons her, but accidentally her clothes catch fire and she is severely burnt, and remains a cripple till her death.

Pip loses all the bequeathed wealth

Meanwhile, it is time for seeking Magwitchs escape. Pip is called to the marshes where he accosts the vindictive Orlicks, who wishes to kill him. Pip is saved by the timely presence of Herbert and others. In the ensuing fight between Compeyson and Magwitch, the former is drowned and the latter is arrested by police. At this stage, Pip also comes to know that Estelle is really Magwitchs daughter. Magwitch later dies after atoning for his sins, and Pip becomes a pauper, falls sick and Joe comes to nurse him. The old ties are rebuilt and Joe also informs that Miss Havisham is dead and her fortune has been willed to Herbert. Biddy has educated Joe. At this stage, Pip wishes to leave London and settle down after marrying Biddy, but by then, Joe had already married her.

Reunion of Estelle and Pip

Finally, Pip decides to immigrate to some other country. Returning after a long lapse of time, he finds that Satis Estate is in ruins; Estelle has been treated cruelly by her husband, but he is now dead. Estelles cold and indifferent attitude is now changed into sad warmth and they are now united, perhaps never to part ways.

Conclusion

In this novel, Dickens has delved on the emptiness and gloom of Victorian high class society; he wishes to state that material wealth and happiness are two different things. Pip, the protagonist wished to become a gentleman of the 19th century in order to be the equal of Estella. (Great Expectations-Novel).

Again, if one were to consider the character of people, the convict Magwtich was a kind person, who was very grateful to Pip for having provided him food when he was desperately seeking to escape from the clutches of the law. He provided money to Pip to become a gentleman.

The hypocrisy of contemporary society is evident in that rich and wealthy people, like the characters of Havisham, Estelle and Drummie, are unhappy and despised and finally have to suffer a lot for their misdeeds. The author postulates the idea that it is not wealth by which one should judge people, nor money makes them happy but their self belief and efforts to better their own lives and seek contentment for themselves and others.  In the end, Great Expectations is an unforgettable tale about fate, and how a chance encounter between an orphan named Pip and an escaped convict radically and arbitrarily alters the lives of everyone around them. (Book Clubs / Reading Guides).

Annotated Bibliography

Book Clubs / Reading Guides: Introduction. Penguin.com (USA). 2009. Web.

This source draws parallel between the life of the author (Charles Dickens) and this celebrated novel. It speaks about the maturing of a young innocent boy, his rise from lower rungs of society to gentlemanly and aristocratic levels through his association with people like Herbert, his lover Estelle. This source is important because it explores the relationship of the protagonist with various other people, and the great expectations of Pip, based on grand dreams of a young boy, his ambition to become a gentleman and his amorous adventures which however, finally ended on a happy note.

Dickens, Charles., and West, Keith. Great Expectations. Nelson Thornes. 2001.

This source gives factual account of the play and details the story of Great Expectations right from the time the protagonist visits the grave of his parents and siblings, till the time of his meeting with Estelle. At one level, the story is about the morality and naivety of Pip, as compared with the devilry and wickedness, first of the criminal, next Estelle as a puppet in the hand of fiendish Miss Havilsham. At another level it explores the love-hate relationship of Estelle and finally, what Charles Dickens the author, wishes to state is that good may often be conceived in bad elements, and often what appears good may in fact be destructive.

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. Kessinger Publishing. 2004.

This source traces the development if the story. This source is important because it gives us the gist of the occurrences of incidents, characters and the plot of the story.

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. Spark Notes. 2009.

This source provides the reader with the necessary details about the novel and its settings. The hero, Pip is infatuated by Estelle, whose mistress, however wishes to use her for satisfying her own revengeful motives against men. Charles Dickens explores the duplicity in mind of the rich mistress and the apparent innocence of the hero, Pip. The source also reminds of the own struggling childhood days of the author.

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations Study Guide: Short Summary. Grade Saver. 2009.

The importance of this source is that it underlines the conflicts that rages in the mind of hero in that he is torn between his conscience and his love for Estelle.

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations:Themes, Motifs & Symbols: Ambition and Self-Improvement. Spark Notes. 2009.

Though born in a working class milieu, Pip wishes to seek self improvement and education to better his lot. This is very much in line with Charles Dickens own life. Pips visit to Satis House and sight of its opulence and wealth, and the lovely Estelle reinforces this belief. Although he was not well educated and working in blacksmiths trade, he longer to be in the company of rich and successful people. This source accounts for the gain and final loss of his wealth which was bequeathed by a criminal.

Great Expectations: Great Expectations Summary: The first stage of Pips Expectations. E Notes. 2009.Web.

The moral of the story is well figured in this source. It narrates the incidents and happenings that eventually lead to Pip amassing a fortune provided by the criminal and losing it when the criminal is caught and imprisoned. However, the good traits of the criminal in terms of his gratitude towards Pip, albeit his wickedness stands out as moral message that there is good even in evil people.

Great Expectations-Novel: What are the Paradigms Pip Found Himself Challenging?. E Cheat: Its Not Cheating, Its Collaborating. 2009. Web.

The apparent paradox of wealth and how it is sought by a poor boy is depicted. He decided to educate and become gentlemanly to win his lady love. Charles Dickens introduces the typical stereo type Victorian male in this novel, complete with false pride ( Miss Havisham) a good hearted criminal (Magwitch), a lover torn between her love and her mistress (Estelle). At another level, it also seeks out the true meaning of happiness and contentment in this novel, whether it is derived by wealth or good, simple living as professed by Pip and his brother- in- law, Joe.

Introduction

In Sketches by Boz, Charles Dickens takes the reader on a journey through London using language mastery and different literary stylistic devices. The reader can tell that the citys untidiness inspired Dickens to write this work. On numerous occasions, the author sounds disoriented as he tours the city of London. The story is mostly descriptive and the speaker starts by narrating the appearance presented by the streets of London an hour before sunrise on a summers morning (Dickens 38). This paper discusses the ways in which the experience of feeling disoriented or claustrophobic in London has been depicted by considering the ways in which Londons untidiness has inspired Sketched by Boz by Charles Dickens.

Londons Untidiness

In the eyes of Dickens, London is a messy place whether in the morning or at night. This disorderliness spreads from the street corners, through business establishments and transport systems to institutions, such as criminal courts. Dickens seems disoriented and lost in the murkiness of the city. During the summer, one would expect the sunrise to bring liveliness and radiate happiness as people wake up to pursue their dreams across the city unless someone is claustrophobic. However, Dickens paints a dull picture of London on a summers morning. He states, There is an air of cold, solitary desolation about the noiseless streets& (Dickens 38).

A noiseless street is supposed to be calm, but Dickens conjures an image of coldness and desolation. This contrast can only be explained by the fact that the streets are untidy and perhaps the multitudes of people who throng them during the day cover this mess. For instance, if a street is littered, one may not notice the dirt when masses of people are passing by. However, if the same street is deserted, it becomes easy to see the inherent mess and disarray.

Dickens tries to conjure the image of a disordered city throughout the story and this assertion is sufficiently supported by what the author says. He posits, The last drunken man&has just staggered heavily along&the last houseless vagrant whom penury and police have left in the streets, has coiled up his chilly limbs in some paved comer. The drunken, the dissipated, and the wretched have disappeared&the stillness of death is over the streets (Dickens 38).

This passage points to different aspects of an untidy city, which can easily evoke a feeling of disorientation. First, a drunkard loiters across the street and a vagrant coils at a paved corner. The vagabond represents street families, which is an indicator of untidiness and disorderliness. If the city of London were orderly, street families would have a place to sleep. The stillness of death that hangs over the streets could be interpreted in several ways.

First, the uncollected garbage may create a breeding ground for different pathogens, which would ultimately cause deadly diseases leading to the loss of life. On the other hand, Dickens could be talking of criminal elements on the streets, which could cause harm or death in a flash. The author could also be talking about poorly constructed buildings and structures that could easily crumble and bury people alive. Regardless of what Dickens sees in London, he is sure that death hangs over the streets, and this feeling evokes claustrophobia.

As the day breaks, the messiness of the city is compounded. Market carts start rolling along and Rough, sleepy-looking animals of strange appearance, something between ostlers and hackney-coachmen, begin to take down the shutters of early public-houses (Dickens 39). The Covent-garden market is chaotic with animals, such as donkeys and horses, competing for limited space with human beings. The pavements are strewn with waste. In order to give a clear picture of the untidiness of London, Dickens says,

Men are shouting, carts backing, horses neighing, boys fighting, basket-women talking, piemen expatiating on the excellence of their pastry, and donkeys braying. These and a hundred other sounds form a compound discordant enough to a Londoners ears and remarkably disagreeable to those of country gentlemen who are sleeping at the Hummums for the first time (39).

From this passage, the disorderliness of London stands out conspicuously and the reader can understand the experience of feeling disoriented in the city. Similarly, it suffices to argue that this messiness and disarray inspired Dickens to write Sketches by Boz.

Dickens also explores the untidiness caused by buildings and structures across the city of London. For instance, he discusses one building, which he says is a sample of the rest, in detail to highlight one of the many failures of the city. He notes, The house went to ruin&the paint was all worn off; the windows were broken, the area was green with neglect and the overflowing of the water-butt; the butt itself was without a lid, and the street-door was the very picture of misery&the unfortunate house looked more wretched than ever (Dickens 47).

This description of a city house paints a picture of an untidy city that London was at the time, which probably inspired Dickens to compile this work. If, as claimed, the house was a representative of hundreds of others, then the city was a wretched place to be, and anyone visiting it would feel disoriented or claustrophobic. The throngs of people and the sight of ruined buildings are enough reasons for any visitor to feel entrapped, hence the claustrophobia.

The public transport in London is in disarray and Dickens chooses omnibuses to discuss this point. He says, We are not aware that it has ever been precisely ascertained, how many passengers our omnibus will contain. The impression on the cads mind evidently is that it is amply sufficient for the accommodation of any number of persons that can be enticed into it (Dickens 108). In other words, there are no rules governing the number of passengers that an omnibus can carry. If the rules exist, then they are not followed. This aspect introduces another level of disorderliness as it endangers the lives of commuters because, in case of an accident, the casualties of an overloaded bus would be many.

The omnibus men simply disregard any form of moral obligation. From time to time, some passengers confront the omnibus men, and this showdown normally leaves other travelers amused, which encourages Dickens to document such encounters. He confesses, &and to wish, as we walk away, that we could impart to others any portion of the amusement we have gained for ourselves (Dickens 110). Well, the author went on to write about these subjects to impart to others his experiences in the city of London.

Finally, the institutionalized messiness seems to have inspired Dickens work. First, due to the lack of opportunities, the youth have turned to criminal activities. Dickens recounts a time when he meets a boy having been released from the courts, after spending a long time in prison, for committing some petty theft. One wonders why would a boy spend years in prison for petty theft, but it points to the institutional disorderliness of the courts. Therefore, prodded by curiosity, Dickens enters a criminal court to investigate how matters are handled. Unfortunately, Every trial seems a mere matter of business. There is a lot of forms, but no compassion, considerable interest, but no sympathy (Dickens 154).

It suffices to conclude that the criminal courts are messed up, and while complainants go to the system for justice, the convicted are supposed to undergo reformation in jails. One can only imagine the inhumane nature of the prisons if they are an extension of the courtroom that the author has described in the above passage as lacking compassion and sympathy. Dickens continues, There were other prisoners  boys often, as hardened in vice as men of fifty  a houseless vagrant going joyfully to prison as a place of food and shelter, handcuffed to a man whose prospects were ruined, character lost, and family rendered destitute by his first offense (216). These passages conjure images of a disorderly court system, and Dickens is inspired by such incidences to write his stories.

Conclusion

The untidiness and mess across the city of London inspired Charles Dickens work and especially Sketches by Boz. In this book, the author focuses mainly on the chaos and disorderliness that are characteristic of different aspects of the city. The mess of the city causes the author to lament that the stillness of death hangs on the streets. At the market, animals, people, and waste materials compete for space, thus compounding the problem of untidiness. Dickens draws heavily from the messiness of London to compose his chef-doeuvre works, such as Sketches by Boz.

Work Cited

Dickens, Charles. Sketches by Boz. Baudrys European Library, 1839.

Introduction

This paper will briefly discuss irony as used by Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities. Irony can be said to be coincidences which are interesting but surprising at the same time. Ironical instances are contradictory in most cases. Irony as used in this work of art (A Tale of Two Cities) will be discussed in three forms: verbal, dramatic and situational irony.

Verbal Irony

Words can be used to express irony. This happens when words used do not mean the direct meaning but rather the opposite. The author (Dickens) used verbal irony in A Tale of Two cities quite well in many instances. In the book we see Mr. Lorry referring to himself as being business minded-he tells Miss Manette that he is one; Miss Manette, I am a man of business (Dickens 21). At this point Mr Lorry depicts a very different image of himself from what we see at the end of the story. At the end Mr. Lorry is not a business man as such but a very kind fellow who is very friendly. Another instance of verbal irony appears when the messenger refers to Jerry Cruncher as a honest business man; it wouldnt do for you, Jerry. Jerry you honest tradesman, it wouldnt suit your line of business (Dickens 12).

Reading further in the book Jerry Cruncher is not portrayed as a honest business man as portrayed in that statement above. He is seen lying to his son by not telling him what he does but just telling him that he goes to fish thus he does not disclose his business to his him. Another verbal irony comes out through Monsieur Marquis who claims that he can take care of his son. This is quite ironical because Monsieur Marquis cannot even take of himself. Monsieur Marquis ends up killing Gaspards child and he is killed by Gaspard because of that. Another verbal irony appears in the way Sydney Carton and Stryver are referred to. Stryver who is referred to as a fellow of delicacy is proved to a fellow of no delicacy at the end of the story while Sydney Carton who was referred to as a fellow of no delicacy is proved to be a fellow of delicacy at the end of the story. It should be noted that what Sydney Carton did for Darney proved him a fellow of delicacy.

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is the type which comes out when there is a contradiction between what the reader thinks and the character knows. When the author writes about the French revolution the readers have the feeling that the revolution will bring positive changes. In actual sense the revolution is seen as reign which does not bring any good thing but terror.

Another instance of dramatic irony is displayed through the life of Carton. The reader is likely to view Carton to be drunk for the rest of his life. It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known (Dickens 364). Carton replaced Darney at the guillotine because they took after each other very much. Using the advantage of close resemblance Carton is able to save Darney from the guillotine by appearing in the court and then taking the guillotine.

Another dramatic iron occurred when Dr. Manette was convicted and sent to prison. This took place when the note he sent concerning Evermonde brothers landed on the wrong hands and instead of the brother going to prison for the crime of rape he instead was convicted and imprisoned for eighteen good years.

Situational Irony

Situational irony occurs when the end result is quite different from the expectations of the reader. The situation of Dr. Manette is a good example of situational irony. Dr. Manette brings revolution but dramatic turn of events has him locked up in the prison. At the end we see Dr. Manette being a father in law to a son of one of the Evermonde brothers. This is unexpected as Dr. Manette was imprisoned because of the Evermonde brothers. The desire of madam Defarge to kill Dr. Manette can also be viewed as ironical. Madam Defarge wishes to kill Dr. Manette because he had become a brother in law to one of the Evermonde brother who was involved in the crime of rape. This is quite ironical because in the real sense Dr. Manette was imprisoned wrongly.

Conclusion

Charles Dickens used irony so well to enhance the reading of the book. The author applied all the three forms of iron as discussed above to make the book quite interesting. Iron played an important role in bringing out suspension in the book. It is also used cleverly to keep the reader glued to reading the book. It is obvious that the author tactfully used the iron to make the book quite interesting.

Work Cited

Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Macmillan, 1989. Print.

Pip is a short name for Phillip. The name stuck to him after he was unable to pronounce his name properly. He could say Pip only. He was an orphan brought up by his sister and her husband. Joe, on the other hand, was a blacksmith who married Pips sister. He is good looking and mature. He was an easy going, foolish, sweet tempered, mild, good natured dear fellow& (Dickens 7), Pip thought. Pip and Joe were similar in characters yet have different personalities. Charles Dickens uses Pips and Joes differences in character to communicate his message to the reader through their experiences and virtues.

Joe enjoyed great freedom and inner self-worth that Pip had never experienced up to the closing stages of the novel. For instance, when Joe paid a visit to Pip in London, Pip set up a dismal situation. Joe declared with dignity, Pip, dear chap, life entails so many things combined which calls for peoples attention in an appropriate manner. Joe was not similar to Pip since he lacked false constraints of social barriers.

Pip s character is significant in the novel; he also plays a leading role and his actions craft the plot of the novel. His thoughts and attitudes shape the mind of the reader. Developing and understanding Pips character was the most profound step in Great expectation. Joe was honest and simple blacksmith who lived in the marshes.

Pips principal traits of character were a result if his undeveloped, romantic idealism and his intrinsically first-class scruples. Pips focus was to perk up and realize any encroachment in ethics, education, and social matters. Joe was a blacksmith; and they thus differed in thinking which made Pip leave for London to become a gentleman.

Joe was always kind and trusted person. Pip admired Joes character as a boy. They stayed apart for a long time before seeing each other. This may be associated with their differences in characters. When Pip fell ill, Joe nursed him and covered all his debts. While, on the other hand, Pip left Joe in the rear in quest for Estella, totally ignoring the last.

Joe was concerned and caring. When Joe saw that Pip was not participating in their normal competition, he got worried and exclaimed loudly. Joe told Pip to hide behind the door when he realized that Mrs. Joe was coming to punish him. Pip went out to the churchyard making his sister worried about him. She then went out to look for her with a cane, Tickle. He also passes Pip to the chimney in an attempt to cover him with his leg so he would not receive more beatings from Mrs. Joe. Most times when there was gravy, Joe would add some pints to Pips plate.

They began to see each other as equals due to the sufferings they experienced together as cited from the book, where it is said Joe and I being fellow sufferers and having confidences as such, Joe imparted a confidence to me& (Dickens 9). Mrs. Joe gave them similar shares of loaves showing that she took them as equals. Later, they competed biting for their slices (Dickens 9). Pip always treated Joe as a huge species of child and no more than my equal (Dickens 8). He also referred to Mr. Pumblechook, Joes uncle, as his own uncle. This shows how people in similar circumstances may end up uniting despite their differences in characters.

Pip was reserved. He feared the old convict. He got threatened that if he did not take food, his heart and liver would be eaten. He ate his loaf and stole more food and kept it to give it to the old man. He got uneasy after stealing foodstuffs from the sisters house (Dickens 13). He thought everyone knew about his theft. He even said to an ox, I could not help it, sir! It was not for myself I took it! (Dickens 12). Joe, on the other hand, was the husband to Mrs. Joe, yet he received her intimidation. Joe was not able to hide his fears; he even asked if he could take Pip with him as they accompanied the soldiers in pursuit of the convicts.

Pip and Joe shared a deep friendship and helped each other where they could. However, their friendship could be one of the outcomes of their differences. Pip felt guilty that he stole Joes food from the house. However, he was afraid to tell the truth since he feared losing Joe as his friend and companion. He admitted that he had acted as a coward for not doing the right thing (Dickens 32). Despite getting tired, Joe carried Pip on his back most the time when they were pursuing the convict. Pip was also willing to help Joe in his own way to improve his reading after he had realized that Joes reading was at the infant stage (Dickens 35). These show their special bond and comfort they felt while being around each other.

Joe and Pip had different experiences in life. Joe had parents who were constantly arguing during his childhood. He missed school due to these problems, started blacksmith work and married Mrs. Joe, who attacked and treated him harshly. Pip, on the other hand, was an orphan who stayed in his sisters house, received good opportunities for education but failed in wooing Estella. When he repented and decided to marry Biddy, he found her already married to Joe.

Joe was faithful to Pip while Pip stole from him and neglected him as he strived to win Estellas love. Joe, on the other hand, covered Pips debts although he left for London to be a gentleman forsaking him. He went to London to nurse Pip who was ill and eventually forgave him. This shows his good nature and true friendship towards Pip.

Their views and reasoning are different from each other. Joe shared with Pip the reasons why he had not acquired education when he had been young. He told him how his dad got drunk and then caused their mothers fight. Their mother escaped with them to another place and worked hard to take them to school. Their dad followed them and caused a scandal in public. That made the owners of the place where they were living in give them up to their father. (Dickens 36) This disrupted Joes learning process. When Joe thought that his father had done such things out of love for them, Pip differed in opinion. He did not express his opposite opinion to Joe.

Pip was drowning in debt despite having much money from Abel Magwitch. Joe had been more rational in managing his finances despite being a simple blacksmith. He even acquired enough money to offset Pips huge debts.

Pip was able to travel widely and experience a more liberal lifestyle in an attempt to meet all his ambitions while Joe did not. Joe was comfortable with his life and settled as a blacksmith. Pip was also quick tempered. He knocked the wall in anger after he was unable to reveal his anger. He preferred to keep them to himself and only hit the wall. In contrast to Joe, he was calm, collected and indifferent towards his problems. He accepted them without questioning or seeking redress.

Dickens used Pip and Joe in his novel as a way to relay messages to the readers of the novel. He hoped that, from the virtues of Joe and Pip, readers would understand his intended message.

Being good to all people is a virtue that should be valued. Pip helped the old convict and felt apologetic that he got arrested again. He took him food without knowing him as they were total strangers and had never met before. The old man later named him as a benefactor to a large sum of his money. Pip got rewarded for his selfless action of agreeing to take some food to the old man. Joe was a faithful friend to Pip. Even after being abandoned by Pip, he nursed him and paid his debts off. He displayed a notion that one should be with his/her friends through thick and thin. Pip did not shy away from apologizing to Joe and even set to Egypt to work hard and pay for Joe.

Joe was married to a wife who ruled over him and looked down upon him. However, he was good, patient and always obliged to her instructions without dispute. It was unfortunate that Mrs. Joe was attacked when Joe and Pip were away and far from the house. Joe was eventually able to remarry again and settle down.

Optimism is a virtue. Joe thought his dad cared for them. He thought so because his dad always tracked them down and made a row demanding them to return to him even though he was a drunkard. Optimism helped him to accept his illiteracy without blaming either of his parents. Optimism helps one see the bright side of everything and be at peace with each oneself and the others.

Too much ambition can mislead an individual. Pip was overcome by ambition. He had celebrated expectations. This made him forget his faithful friends in pursuit of his own interests when attracted by Estella. He also began overspending since he did not accept his social class. This eventually accrued to an immense debt. This shows that one should live within ones means.

Joe and Pip were friends, companions and business partners when Pip worked for Joe as an apprentice. They were from different backgrounds, with different physical characteristics and behavior. They lived through many events, good and bad as described in the novel. These differences made them part for a long time as Pip moved to London while Joe was left in the marshes. They were eventually able to show that helping others, working hard, being ready to apologize and correcting ones mistakes are real virtues.

Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. Great expectations. London, England: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Introduction

This paper will briefly discuss irony as used by Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities. Irony can be said to be coincidences which are interesting but surprising at the same time. Ironical instances are contradictory in most cases. Irony as used in this work of art (A Tale of Two Cities) will be discussed in three forms: verbal, dramatic and situational irony.

Verbal Irony

Words can be used to express irony. This happens when words used do not mean the direct meaning but rather the opposite. The author (Dickens) used verbal irony in A Tale of Two cities quite well in many instances. In the book we see Mr. Lorry referring to himself as being business minded-he tells Miss Manette that he is one; Miss Manette, I am a man of business (Dickens 21). At this point Mr Lorry depicts a very different image of himself from what we see at the end of the story. At the end Mr. Lorry is not a business man as such but a very kind fellow who is very friendly. Another instance of verbal irony appears when the messenger refers to Jerry Cruncher as a honest business man; it wouldnt do for you, Jerry. Jerry you honest tradesman, it wouldnt suit your line of business (Dickens 12).

Reading further in the book Jerry Cruncher is not portrayed as a honest business man as portrayed in that statement above. He is seen lying to his son by not telling him what he does but just telling him that he goes to fish thus he does not disclose his business to his him. Another verbal irony comes out through Monsieur Marquis who claims that he can take care of his son. This is quite ironical because Monsieur Marquis cannot even take of himself. Monsieur Marquis ends up killing Gaspards child and he is killed by Gaspard because of that. Another verbal irony appears in the way Sydney Carton and Stryver are referred to. Stryver who is referred to as a fellow of delicacy is proved to a fellow of no delicacy at the end of the story while Sydney Carton who was referred to as a fellow of no delicacy is proved to be a fellow of delicacy at the end of the story. It should be noted that what Sydney Carton did for Darney proved him a fellow of delicacy.

Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is the type which comes out when there is a contradiction between what the reader thinks and the character knows. When the author writes about the French revolution the readers have the feeling that the revolution will bring positive changes. In actual sense the revolution is seen as reign which does not bring any good thing but terror.

Another instance of dramatic irony is displayed through the life of Carton. The reader is likely to view Carton to be drunk for the rest of his life. It is a far, far better thing that I do than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known (Dickens 364). Carton replaced Darney at the guillotine because they took after each other very much. Using the advantage of close resemblance Carton is able to save Darney from the guillotine by appearing in the court and then taking the guillotine.

Another dramatic iron occurred when Dr. Manette was convicted and sent to prison. This took place when the note he sent concerning Evermonde brothers landed on the wrong hands and instead of the brother going to prison for the crime of rape he instead was convicted and imprisoned for eighteen good years.

Situational Irony

Situational irony occurs when the end result is quite different from the expectations of the reader. The situation of Dr. Manette is a good example of situational irony. Dr. Manette brings revolution but dramatic turn of events has him locked up in the prison. At the end we see Dr. Manette being a father in law to a son of one of the Evermonde brothers. This is unexpected as Dr. Manette was imprisoned because of the Evermonde brothers. The desire of madam Defarge to kill Dr. Manette can also be viewed as ironical. Madam Defarge wishes to kill Dr. Manette because he had become a brother in law to one of the Evermonde brother who was involved in the crime of rape. This is quite ironical because in the real sense Dr. Manette was imprisoned wrongly.

Conclusion

Charles Dickens used irony so well to enhance the reading of the book. The author applied all the three forms of iron as discussed above to make the book quite interesting. Iron played an important role in bringing out suspension in the book. It is also used cleverly to keep the reader glued to reading the book. It is obvious that the author tactfully used the iron to make the book quite interesting.

Work Cited

Dickens, Charles. A Tale of Two Cities. New York: Macmillan, 1989. Print.

Pip is a short name for Phillip. The name stuck to him after he was unable to pronounce his name properly. He could say Pip only. He was an orphan brought up by his sister and her husband. Joe, on the other hand, was a blacksmith who married Pips sister. He is good looking and mature. He was an easy going, foolish, sweet tempered, mild, good natured dear fellow& (Dickens 7), Pip thought. Pip and Joe were similar in characters yet have different personalities. Charles Dickens uses Pips and Joes differences in character to communicate his message to the reader through their experiences and virtues.

Joe enjoyed great freedom and inner self-worth that Pip had never experienced up to the closing stages of the novel. For instance, when Joe paid a visit to Pip in London, Pip set up a dismal situation. Joe declared with dignity, Pip, dear chap, life entails so many things combined which calls for peoples attention in an appropriate manner. Joe was not similar to Pip since he lacked false constraints of social barriers.

Pip s character is significant in the novel; he also plays a leading role and his actions craft the plot of the novel. His thoughts and attitudes shape the mind of the reader. Developing and understanding Pips character was the most profound step in Great expectation. Joe was honest and simple blacksmith who lived in the marshes.

Pips principal traits of character were a result if his undeveloped, romantic idealism and his intrinsically first-class scruples. Pips focus was to perk up and realize any encroachment in ethics, education, and social matters. Joe was a blacksmith; and they thus differed in thinking which made Pip leave for London to become a gentleman.

Joe was always kind and trusted person. Pip admired Joes character as a boy. They stayed apart for a long time before seeing each other. This may be associated with their differences in characters. When Pip fell ill, Joe nursed him and covered all his debts. While, on the other hand, Pip left Joe in the rear in quest for Estella, totally ignoring the last.

Joe was concerned and caring. When Joe saw that Pip was not participating in their normal competition, he got worried and exclaimed loudly. Joe told Pip to hide behind the door when he realized that Mrs. Joe was coming to punish him. Pip went out to the churchyard making his sister worried about him. She then went out to look for her with a cane, Tickle. He also passes Pip to the chimney in an attempt to cover him with his leg so he would not receive more beatings from Mrs. Joe. Most times when there was gravy, Joe would add some pints to Pips plate.

They began to see each other as equals due to the sufferings they experienced together as cited from the book, where it is said Joe and I being fellow sufferers and having confidences as such, Joe imparted a confidence to me& (Dickens 9). Mrs. Joe gave them similar shares of loaves showing that she took them as equals. Later, they competed biting for their slices (Dickens 9). Pip always treated Joe as a huge species of child and no more than my equal (Dickens 8). He also referred to Mr. Pumblechook, Joes uncle, as his own uncle. This shows how people in similar circumstances may end up uniting despite their differences in characters.

Pip was reserved. He feared the old convict. He got threatened that if he did not take food, his heart and liver would be eaten. He ate his loaf and stole more food and kept it to give it to the old man. He got uneasy after stealing foodstuffs from the sisters house (Dickens 13). He thought everyone knew about his theft. He even said to an ox, I could not help it, sir! It was not for myself I took it! (Dickens 12). Joe, on the other hand, was the husband to Mrs. Joe, yet he received her intimidation. Joe was not able to hide his fears; he even asked if he could take Pip with him as they accompanied the soldiers in pursuit of the convicts.

Pip and Joe shared a deep friendship and helped each other where they could. However, their friendship could be one of the outcomes of their differences. Pip felt guilty that he stole Joes food from the house. However, he was afraid to tell the truth since he feared losing Joe as his friend and companion. He admitted that he had acted as a coward for not doing the right thing (Dickens 32). Despite getting tired, Joe carried Pip on his back most the time when they were pursuing the convict. Pip was also willing to help Joe in his own way to improve his reading after he had realized that Joes reading was at the infant stage (Dickens 35). These show their special bond and comfort they felt while being around each other.

Joe and Pip had different experiences in life. Joe had parents who were constantly arguing during his childhood. He missed school due to these problems, started blacksmith work and married Mrs. Joe, who attacked and treated him harshly. Pip, on the other hand, was an orphan who stayed in his sisters house, received good opportunities for education but failed in wooing Estella. When he repented and decided to marry Biddy, he found her already married to Joe.

Joe was faithful to Pip while Pip stole from him and neglected him as he strived to win Estellas love. Joe, on the other hand, covered Pips debts although he left for London to be a gentleman forsaking him. He went to London to nurse Pip who was ill and eventually forgave him. This shows his good nature and true friendship towards Pip.

Their views and reasoning are different from each other. Joe shared with Pip the reasons why he had not acquired education when he had been young. He told him how his dad got drunk and then caused their mothers fight. Their mother escaped with them to another place and worked hard to take them to school. Their dad followed them and caused a scandal in public. That made the owners of the place where they were living in give them up to their father. (Dickens 36) This disrupted Joes learning process. When Joe thought that his father had done such things out of love for them, Pip differed in opinion. He did not express his opposite opinion to Joe.

Pip was drowning in debt despite having much money from Abel Magwitch. Joe had been more rational in managing his finances despite being a simple blacksmith. He even acquired enough money to offset Pips huge debts.

Pip was able to travel widely and experience a more liberal lifestyle in an attempt to meet all his ambitions while Joe did not. Joe was comfortable with his life and settled as a blacksmith. Pip was also quick tempered. He knocked the wall in anger after he was unable to reveal his anger. He preferred to keep them to himself and only hit the wall. In contrast to Joe, he was calm, collected and indifferent towards his problems. He accepted them without questioning or seeking redress.

Dickens used Pip and Joe in his novel as a way to relay messages to the readers of the novel. He hoped that, from the virtues of Joe and Pip, readers would understand his intended message.

Being good to all people is a virtue that should be valued. Pip helped the old convict and felt apologetic that he got arrested again. He took him food without knowing him as they were total strangers and had never met before. The old man later named him as a benefactor to a large sum of his money. Pip got rewarded for his selfless action of agreeing to take some food to the old man. Joe was a faithful friend to Pip. Even after being abandoned by Pip, he nursed him and paid his debts off. He displayed a notion that one should be with his/her friends through thick and thin. Pip did not shy away from apologizing to Joe and even set to Egypt to work hard and pay for Joe.

Joe was married to a wife who ruled over him and looked down upon him. However, he was good, patient and always obliged to her instructions without dispute. It was unfortunate that Mrs. Joe was attacked when Joe and Pip were away and far from the house. Joe was eventually able to remarry again and settle down.

Optimism is a virtue. Joe thought his dad cared for them. He thought so because his dad always tracked them down and made a row demanding them to return to him even though he was a drunkard. Optimism helped him to accept his illiteracy without blaming either of his parents. Optimism helps one see the bright side of everything and be at peace with each oneself and the others.

Too much ambition can mislead an individual. Pip was overcome by ambition. He had celebrated expectations. This made him forget his faithful friends in pursuit of his own interests when attracted by Estella. He also began overspending since he did not accept his social class. This eventually accrued to an immense debt. This shows that one should live within ones means.

Joe and Pip were friends, companions and business partners when Pip worked for Joe as an apprentice. They were from different backgrounds, with different physical characteristics and behavior. They lived through many events, good and bad as described in the novel. These differences made them part for a long time as Pip moved to London while Joe was left in the marshes. They were eventually able to show that helping others, working hard, being ready to apologize and correcting ones mistakes are real virtues.

Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. Great expectations. London, England: Penguin, 1996. Print.

As one looks at past authors in British and American literature, two authors stand out among the others. These two authors are Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. Both of the authors lived during the Victorian Era (Lane 1). Their writings are very interesting and entertaining to readers because of the themes and writing styles that these authors used to convey their thoughts.

Charles Dicken’s childhood which consisted of poverty and poor working conditions had a great impact on Dickens’ writing. “His own story is one of rags to riches. He was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. The good fortune of being sent to school at the age of nine was short-lived because his father, inspiration for the character of Mr[sic] Micawber in ‘David Copperfield’, was imprisoned for bad debt. The entire family, apart from Charles, were sent to Marshalsea along with their patriarch. Charles was sent to work in Warren’s blacking factory and endured appalling conditions as well as loneliness and despair. After three years he was returned to school, but the experience was never forgotten and became fictionalized [sic] in two of his better-known novels ‘David Copperfield’ and ‘Great Expectations’” (BBC 1).

Dicken’s early life also influenced one of his very famous works, Oliver Twist. “The primary theme in “Oliver Twist” is the age-old battle between good and evil” (enotes 1). The small child Oliver in Oliver Twist demonstrates the survival of good through horrible circumstances. Some of the characters in Oliver Twist were either good or bad: “Characters like Oliver, Mr. Brownlow, and the Maylies are virtuous and those like Fagin, Monks and Sikes are evil” (1). Dickens, himself, stated that he wanted the character of Oliver “to represent the principle of good surviving through manifold adversity and “‘triumphing at last’” (2). Dickens also created characters who had good characteristics but because of bad circumstances, these characters exhibited bad behavior like Nancy and Artful Dodger. “A second theme in the book is the effect of British laws during the first half of the 1800s on the poor. This was the law of the land in England during the 1800s [sic] These laws affected the writings of Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist and many of his other novels. “Reasoning that the enactment of “Poor Laws” would save much money on the care of the indigent, the government confined those mired in poverty in workhouses, where they were starved and mistreated with no avenue of redemption” (1). Anyone who had to go into the workhouses had to live there for twenty-four hours a day, “separated from their children, parents, and spouses, and subject to rigorous discipline and arduous labor” (Gradesaver 1, 2).

So, they established the rule that all poor people should have the alternative (for they would compel nobody, not they) of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it. With this view, they contracted with the waterworks to lay on an unlimited supply of water, and with a corn-factor to supply periodically small quantities of oatmeal, and issued three meals of thin gruel a day, with an onion twice a week and half a roll-on Sundays. They made a great many other wise and humane regulations . . . kindly undertook to divorce poor married people . . . instead of compelling a man to support his family, as they had theretofore done, took his family away from him, and made him a bachelor! There is no saying how many applicants for relief, under these last two heads, might have started up in all classes of society, if it had not been coupled with the workhouse; but the board were long-headed men, and had provided for this difficulty. The relief was inseparable from the workhouse and the gruel, and that frightened people (Sparknotes 1, 2).

This description of workhouses serves to “provoke our sympathy for young Oliver and his fellow unfortunates,… and …to register Dickens’s protest against the welfare policy and practice of charity in …England…. (2). As a result of these laws, lawlessness and crime spiked many times. This had a large influence on the writings of Oliver Twist.

Thievery was another major theme throughout Oliver Twist and other Dickens’ novels. Many times, poverty drives people to commit crimes, “especially petty theft.” Dickens shows how “greed leads to petty theft” in the character of Mrs. Corney. Fagin’s mischievous boys pick-pocketed, broke into houses and even murdered. Fagin corrupted the young boys and directed them to live lives of crime. These young characters accepted thievery as a way to make a living, but most of these “criminals find betrayal and murder detestable” (Coursehero 2).

“Alienation” (1) is another theme found in Oliver Twist. “Each of the characters are alienated both from each other and society. As an orphan, Oliver is the stereotypical outcast, and, with the possible exception of Dick, the people in his life are only out for themselves” (1). Sometimes, the people who were not evil did show “moments of community and trust” (1). This did not happen very often.

The writing style of Charles Dickens is very distinct. Dickens writes poetically using “a lot of satire and consequently humor” (Severin 1). Dickens’ literary career began by writing papers for newspapers in “episodic form” (1). Severin says that Dickens used “cliff hanger endings …to keep his readers interested in his story” (1). These episodes also allowed Dickens and opportunity to “modify the plot and develop the characters” if needed (“The Victorian Era…” 4). Not only was Oliver Twist a monthly serial in Bentley’s Miscellany from February 1837 to April 1839, David Copperfield was “featured from May 1849 to November 1850” (7, 8).

Dickens not only used episodes to write his novels, but he also created “idealized characters,” who had very little “room to grow throughout…the book” (1). Dickens used these “idealized characters to contrast the other side of life…” (1). Oliver, an idealized character, goes through many trials that include an “evil orphanage and a small training center for thieves” (1). Throughout the story, Oliver is “naïve” (1). He never compromises his values even though he has to go through difficult situations (1). Those who read Oliver Twist fall in love with the character because Dickens idealized him.

Another writing style that Dickens uses in his novels, especially in Oliver Twist, is the use of “incredible circumstances” (1). For example, Oliver, grew up with a gang of thieves but eventually, he turns out to be a “nephew of a rich, high class family” (1). Dickens uses this particular writing style differently than other authors during this time period. “While other authors of the period would use the method to further their plot in their simple picturesque stories, Dickens’s took the approach that good will triumph over evil sometimes even in very unexpected ways and he used the method of incredible circumstances to show his outlook” (1).

Dickens uses symbols as a writing style “to represent abstract ideas or concepts” (“Oliver Twist…” 1). He uses the names of characters “to represent personal qualities” (1). One of the most obvious examples is Oliver Twist. Even though his last name, “Twist,” was given to him by accident, it reveals “the outrageous reversals of fortune” that will come to him later on in life (1). Rose Maylie’s name brings about images of “flowers and springtime, youth and beauty” (1). Toby Crackit’s name is lightheartedly referring to “his chosen profession of breaking into houses” (1). Mr. Bumble’s name is used to show his “bumbling arrogance” (1). Mrs. Mann’s name distinguishes her “lack of maternal instinct” (1). Mr. Grimwig’s name hints that his “superficial grimness… can be removed as easily as a wig” (1).

Bill Sikes’s dog, Bull’s-eye, has “faults of temper in common with his owner” and is a symbolic emblem of his owner’s character. The dog’s viciousness reflects and represents Sikes’s own animal-like brutality. After Sikes murders Nancy, Bull’s-eye comes to represent Sikes’s guilt. The dog leaves bloody footprints on the floor of the room where the murder is committed. Not long after, Sikes becomes desperate to get rid of the dog, convinced that the dog’s presence will give him away. Yet, just as Sikes cannot shake off his guilt, he cannot shake off Bull’s-eye, who arrives at the house of Sikes’s demise before Sikes himself does. Bull’s-eye’s name also conjures up the image of Nancy’s eyes, which haunts Sikes until the bitter end and eventually causes him to hang himself accidentally (1, 2).

Dickens deliberately uses London Bridge to symbolize Nancy’s decision to speak with Brownlow and Rose on London Bridge. Just as a bridge links two different places together, London Bridge “represents the collision of two worlds unlikely ever to come into contact – the idyllic world of Brownlow and Rose, and the atmosphere of degradation in which Nancy lives” (2). Even though Nancy is given the opportunity to alter her lifestyle, she refuses to make that change.

Just as Dickens was considered to be the “literary colossus” of the Victorian Era in England, Mark Twain was considered to be the “literary colossus” of the Victorian Era in America (Charles Dickens – The…1). Mark Twain’s early years greatly influenced his “classic American novels” (Biography.com Editors 1). After the death of Mark Twain’s father, he and his family struggled financially – “a fact that would shape the career of Mark Twain” (1). Twain grew up in the town of Hannibal, Missouri located on the Mississippi River, “a splendid place to grow up” (2). Hannibal had steamboats, circuses, minstrel shows, revivalists and blacksmiths. Violence, however, was very common in Hannibal. In fact, when Mark Twain was nine years old, he saw a cattle rancher murdered. At the age of ten, he saw an overseer kill a slave with an iron rod. All of these life experiences, as well as “needing a source of income,” (2) influenced Mark Twain to write the “first great American novel, inspiring writers for generations, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Lane 2). The themes in this novel reflects the life experiences of Mark Twain.

The theme of slavery had a big influence on Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The setting for this novel was before the Civil War when “slavery was still legal” (The Adventures of 1). Many characters in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn “are…white slave holders, like Miss Watson, the Grangerford family, and Phelps family” (1). There are other characters in the novel like duke and the king who make money from slavery by “turning Miss Watson’s runaway slave Jim into the Phelpses in exchange for a cash reward” (1). Mark Twain demonstrates very well the theme of slavery and racism. Twain deliberately shows how the slaves were “oppressed, exploited, and physically and mentally abused” through the character of Jim (1). He gives the example of Jim who is “inhumanely” (1) taken away from his wife and children. The “white slave holders rationalized the oppression, exploitation, and abuse of black slaves by ridiculously assuring themselves of a racist stereotype, that black people are mentally inferior to white people, more animal than human” (1). A good example of this is when Jim, a very good man, was suspected to be Huck’s murderer simply because he was a black man. The following quotes show examples of racist stereotyping: “Well, he [Jim] was right; he was most always right; he had an uncommon level head, for a nigger” (2). “When they told me there was a State in this country where they’d let that nigger vote, I drawed [sic] out. I said I’ll never vote again…I says to the people, why ain’t this nigger put up at auction and sold?” (2). At the beginning of the novel, “Huck himself buys into racial stereotype…” however, by the end of the novel, Huck becomes friends with Jim and “realizes that he and Jim alike are human beings who love and hurt, who can be wise or foolish. Jim proves himself to be a better man than most other people Huck meets in his travels. By the end of the novel, Huck would rather defy his society and his religion – he’d rather go to Hell – than let his friend Jim be returned to slavery” (1).

Another theme one finds in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the theme of “society and hypocrisy” (1). From an early age, Huck Finn observes that the societal “rules and traditions” (4) were many times “ridiculous and inhuman” (4). For example, Huck’s guardian, the Widow Douglas, tries very hard to impose certain “manners and Christian values” (4) on Huck in order to “sivilize” [sic] him. Huck, however, “recognizes that these lessons take more stock in the dean than in living people, and they do little more than make him uncomfortable, bored, and, ironically enough, lonely” (4). Later on, Huck meets people who do “ridiculous, illogical things, often with violent consequences” (4). Another good example of this is when Huck meets a supposedly good family who “bloodily, fatally feud for no reason” (4). He also becomes a witness to a “drunken man get [sic] shot down for making a petty insult” (4). Huck vividly sees how hypocritical the justice system is when his father obtained custody of him. His father, Pap, was anything but a fit father. His father refused to educate Huck, beat him and put him in an “isolated cabin” (4). Mark Twain used the actions of Pap to show “a more widespread and deeply engrained societal problem, namely the institutionalized enslavement of black people” (4). By the end of the novel, Huck realizes that slavery is oppressive and that “no truly “sivilized” [sic] society can be founded on” (4).

One of the major themes of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the theme of growing up or “a coming of age story” (7). The main character, Huck, begins “as an immature boy who enjoys goofing around with his boyhood friend, Tom Sawyer, and playing tricks on others” (7). He has been raised with societal norms by Miss Watson and sees some inconsistencies with rules and regulations.

As the novel develops, however, so do Huck’s notions of right and wrong. He learns that rigid codes of conduct, like Christianity, or like that which motivates the Grangerson and Shepherdson’s blood feud, don’t necessarily lead to good results. He also recognizes that absolute selfishness, like that exhibited by Tom Sawyer to a small extent, and that exhibited by Tom’s much worse prankster-counterparts, the duke and the king, is both juvenile and shameful. Huck learns that he must follow the moral intuitions of his heart, which requires that he be flexible in responding to moral dilemmas. And, indeed, it is by following his heart that Huck makes the right decision to help Jim escape from bondage. (7).

In contrast to Tom Sawyer, Huck becomes very “morally mature and realistic” by the end of the novel (7). Just as Mark Twain’s novel themes reflect his life experiences, so does his writing styles. Mark Twain spent most of his life living in the south around the Mississippi River; therefore, Twain was very familiar with the dialect that the people used during this era. This is one reason why Twain writes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn using the dialect of “the 19th century south” (Mark Twain…1). Twain uses dialect “very cleverly throughout the book” (Twains Use of…1). The character of Jim uses a great deal of dialogue throughout the novel; his speech is “full of improper words and phrases” (1). On another occasion, Jim says, “Yes. You know that one-laigged n**** dat belongsto old Misto Brandish? Well, he sot upa bank, en say anybody dat put in a dollar would git fo’ dollars mo’ at de en’er de year” (1). Another example of this is when Jim talks about King Solomon. Jim says, “King Solemon” instead of King Solomon. These quotes show that Jim has very little education and the “inability to pronounce some words correctly” (1). Mark Twain’s “use of dialect in this novel …is truly a work of art” (1).

Another characteristic of Mark Twain’s writing style is his use of humor. In fact, Mark Twain uses different types of humor in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The first type of humor found in the novel is satire. “Religion is the most common example of Twain’s satire, which he communicates through the character Huck Finn” (Humor in Huck…1). In Chapter One and throughout the book, Twain continually ridicules prayer. Widow Douglas, for example, tries to teach Huck the importance of praying and being religious. The Widow Douglas read the Bible story about Moses to Huck. He seemed fascinated by the story and “broke into a deep sweat as he waited to find out more about the biblical figure” (1). It does not take long for Huck to lose interest in the Bible story once he finds out that Moses is dead. This example shows “Twain’s opposition to the blind faith found in church teachings” (1). Another type of humor Twain uses in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is parody. The best example of this parody is when Tom Sawyer is describing to his gang of robbers how he was able to “think of such a “‘beautiful’” oath” (1). The robbers wanted to know if Tom had gotten the idea of the oath from “‘his own head’” (1). Tom told the gang that some of it was from his head, but the narrator says that “the rest was out of pirate books and robber books, and every gang that was high toned had it” (1). This illustration shows that Tom Sawyer lives his life based on “adventure novels and in this case created an oath out of them” (1). Another type of humor in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is burlesque, “specifically through caricature” (1). Twain lampoons Huck’s father by saying that his father was “most fifty, and he looked it. His hair was long and tanged and greasy, and hung down, and you could see his eyes shining through like he was behind vines” (1).

Charles Dickens and Mark Twain unknowingly followed a similar career “route” (1). Dickens and Twain “used their stories to highlight the plight of the downtrodden, and both used the skewer of humor to deflate puffed-up authority figures” (1). Their writings were very popular because the themes and writings styles they used were extremely interesting and entertaining. Charles Dickens and Mark Twain were undoubtedly the most outstanding writers of the Victorian Era in England and in America, respectively.

Allen, M. (2013). Robert Gottlieb. Great Expectations: the Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens. Dickens Quarterly, 30(1), 69-72.

The journal explores the resentment that Charles Dickens felt as a result of the conflict he had with how he was raised in a Victorian household and the interactions he had with actual people. The text will be of great essence in exploring the social world of Charles Dickens as it entails the theme, setting, and characters based on events and family members with whom Dickens interacted.

Andrews, A. B. (2012). Charles Dickens, a social worker in his time. Social Work, 57(4), 297-307.

The article presents a strong argument on the impact Dickens had on social justice. In the article, Andrews points out the need for members in the working class to recognize their worldview and apply it in their professional lens, which is the need for reform. The need for reform explored in the article aligns itself with Dickens’ life-long passion for reforms. The stance presented in the text would be of great essence as it will compliment my argument that everything which Dickens wrote entailed a social motive.

Arneson, R. J. (1978). Benthamite Utilitarianism and Hard Times. Philosophy and Literature, 2(1), 60-75.

In the text, Arneson disapproves the notion that Dickens was a fierce opponent of utilitarianism. The philosophy of love and compassion of Dickens differed with that of utilitarianism only in the method. Moreover, Arneson explores Dickens’s view of what drives humans. The article would be used to indicate how Dickens viewed self-interest as an aspect that governed our social relationships and the perception of an individual as good or bad.

Dahmane, R. (1998). Memory, mimicry, and the vindications of ventriloquism in Dickens’ Hard Times. The Psychohistory Review, 27(1), 37.

The article explores the experiences that Dickens underwent during childhood. Dahmane acclaims that the autobiography of Dickens emanates through the text as Bounderbay. The article would be incorporated as it provides more background on the life of Dicken’s childhood as well as an explanation of Dickens’ deep belief in compassion for the weak.

Engel, M. (1956). The politics of Dickens’ novels. Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 945-974.

The text is a reflection of Dickens’ political stand. Engel explores the anti-establishment nature of Dickens. From the text, it is evident that Dickens viewed the representative government as a failure and was against the class structure. Moreover, the article explores how Dickens was disgusted by the evil associated with the pursuit of money. The text would be used to point out Dickens’ interactions, the social realm and the leadership of society.

Garnett, R. (2013). Michael Slater. The Great Charles Dickens Scandal. Dickens Quarterly, 30(1), 66-69.

The text explores the perception of marriage in the Victorian period. From the article, it is evident that marriage preserved an individual’s image in society as Dickens’ case, where despite having an extramarital affair with Ellen Ternan, Dickens went great lengths to conceal the relationship. The article would be used in exploring the influence of the society in the marriage spectrum.

Lindsay, J. (1950). Charles Dickens: A Biographical and Critical Study. Andrew Dakers.

The book explores Dickens’ life’s critical bibliography as it entails details on Dickens’ family history and his works. The text would be of great essence in my research as it would be used to indicate how Charles Dickens incorporated aspects of his life in his literal works as the case of ‘Great Expectations.’

Perkin, J. R. (2017). John Lanchester’s Capital: A Dickensian Examination of the Condition of England. Journal of Modern Literature, 41(1), 100-117.

The text presents the notion that Dickens laid out the foundation of many social movements and literal works pertaining to social class. The text discusses the effect of Dickens’ time transcendent legacy. The text would be used to address the effectiveness of Dickens in addressing social issues in society through the usage of literal devices that are allegory and metaphors.

Spector, S. J. (1984). Monsters of Metonymy: Hard Times and knowing the working class. ELH, 51(2), 365-384.

The text presents Dickens’s presentation of the working class. The article argues that Dickens depends on his rhetorical capability to convey realism pertaining to the working class instead of carrying out research. The article presents the notion that Dickens had the desire to represent the working class. The article would be used in addressing Dickens’s will to explore aspects of the society.

Wolfreys, J. (2012). Dickens’s London: perception, subjectivity and phenomenal urban multiplicity. Edinburgh University Press.

The article presents the notion that Dickens entailed two identities that were intertwined. This presents itself by the manner in which Wolfreys depicts Dickens as a materialist historiographer for London. Dickens addressed the issue of class in society by criticizing the aspect, but how he leads his life presents a different scenario. The article would be used in the text to indicate that despite Dickens’ agenda not being clear, he was useful in making a huge impact on the globe.

References

1. Allen, M. (2013). Robert Gottlieb. Great Expectations: the Sons and Daughters of Charles Dickens. Dickens Quarterly, 30(1), 69-72.
2. Andrews, A. B. (2012). Charles Dickens, social worker in his time. Social work, 57(4), 297-307.
3. Arneson, R. J. (1978). Benthamite Utilitarianism and Hard Times. Philosophy and Literature, 2(1), 60-75.
4. Dahmane, R. (1998). Memory, mimicry, and the vindications of ventriloquism in Dickens’ Hard Times. The Psychohistory Review, 27(1), 37.
5. Engel, M. (1956). The politics of Dickens’ novels. Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 945-974.
6. Garnett, R. (2013). Michael Slater. The Great Charles Dickens Scandal. Dickens Quarterly, 30(1), 66-69.
7. Lindsay, J. (1950). Charles Dickens: A Biographical and Critical Study. Andrew Dakers.
8. Perkin, J. R. (2017). John Lanchester’s Capital: A Dickensian Examination of the Condition of England. Journal of Modern Literature, 41(1), 100-117.
9. Spector, S. J. (1984). Monsters of Metonymy: Hard Times and knowing the working class. ELH, 51(2), 365-384.
10. Wolfreys, J. (2012). Dickens’s London: perception, subjectivity and phenomenal urban multiplicity. Edinburgh University Press.

The roles of Pip (Great Expectations, Charles Dickens) and Emma ( Emma, Jane Austen) are both developed through the influences of social class, money, and the people around them. In the Novels, Emma by Jane Austen, and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the authors maintain a theme of limitations within gender equality, mostly the role of women in society at their times, both took place in the 19th century. In the earlier century a woman’s place in society was not yet equal, although higher class women were taken more seriously because they did not have the need of a man for shelter,money or support, because of their wealth. The ideal woman in the 19th century would have been a wife who took care of the house, the husband and children.

Mrs Joe (Dickens)

In Charles Dickens, Great expectations, Mrs. Joe is Pip’s sister, seen as a cruel, grumpy stern figure to both her husband and Pip. Just like any other wife she kept the household clean and take care of her husband, although she wishes to be something more than that she is, the blacksmith’s wife. She is continuously mad that in their era, the only thing the wives are seen for is their husbands social status. She shows this through her comment “Perhaps if I wasn’t a blacksmith’s wife, and a slave with her apron never off, I should have been able to hear the carols” (Dickens 20) Perhaps her anger towards her place in society is what makes her attitude towards men like her husband and brother so poor. Eventually Mrs. Joe is beaten to death by a secret character which also goes to show the place in society women held with the small amount of attention anybody gave to the situation because it was a woman it was seemingly less important.

Marriage (Austen)

In Jane Austens, Emma, women’s standards are shown through marriage. An ongoing idea in Austen’s Novel is how women must marry to be able to be financially stable and secure. Emma’s character despises this idea and wants more of a reason to marry than for social standing and wealth, for example real love, or in her case independence within herself. Emma represents the strong independent woman in the novel constantly meddling with others to push away feelings of a romantic. “”High in the rank of her most serious and heartfelt felicities, was the reflection that all necessity of concealment from Mr. Knightley would soon be over. The disguise, equivocation, mystery, so hateful to her to practise, might soon be over. She could now look forward to giving him that full and perfect confidence which her disposition was most ready to welcome as a duty.” ( Austen, 54 ) shows how Emma pushed away feelings for Mr.Knightley just because she did not want to be what she envisioned marriage to be, which was social standing, turning into property, and employment limitations. She believes she can match make for true love, and near the end of the novel after pushing her own feelings away she realise she does have feelings for Mr.Knightley after all.

Self Reflection

Both novels are themes as “coming of age” and so the characters go through parts in their lives where they must make mistakes and learn. In Emma by Jane Austen, she struggles with self growth a lot, instead she conceals the fears she has about the upcoming events in her life she must make choices about and she meddles with others lives and it sets in motion her learning to become and focus on herself. For a woman in her erra she has it very good, wealth, beauty, intelligence and youth, this causes her to ignore her self reflection and focus on empowerment of others, since she had no need to impress a man and make sure she is taken care of. ‘The real evils, indeed, of Emma ‘s situation were the power of having too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself: these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments.’ (Austen 1). A good example of how Emma demonstrates her independence is hen she takes Harriet Smith under her wing, while she tried her best to reform her into a newer, better woman in society, sharing her mind set with Harriet, ‘She would notice her; she would improve her; she would detach her from bad acquaintances, and introduce her into good society; she would form her opinions and manners. It would be a kind undertaking, highly becoming her own situation in life…’ (Austen 17). Emma clearly is trying to avoid fixing herself by keeping busy with giving others a mind and body makeover. “Mr. Knightley hopes for their marriage to be built upon honesty and equality. Emma and Mr. Knightley have been equal in ways like intelligence and social status,” ( Ramos 4 ), this shows how near the end of the novel Emma comes to truth with her feelings and mind to realize her wrongs as well and Mr.Knightley, making a shared decision about their new lives together to be truly for love.