During the Victorian Era, Charles Dickens was famous for his many works of literature. Dickens made a name for himself as he “addressed social ills in a light-hearted, optimistic tone” (Rahn, 2011). Charles Dickens represented the Victorian Era in each novel he wrote.
Charles Dickens
by Charles Baugniet, used under 
Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England on February 7, 1812 and lived until 1870. At a young age, Charles lived in poverty and his father was in prison forcing Charles to grow up quickly and provide for his family at the young age of 12. Dickens once said he didn’t understand, “how [he] could be so easily cast away at such a young age.” (Dickens, 2014) He learned how cruel and unfair the world could be. This sense of betrayal would be the driving force and main themes of his writings.
Oliver Twist, Dickens’ first major novel, was published in 1838 and tells the story of a young orphan living in the streets. Dickens’ time spent in poverty inspired this novel. This novel exposed the poor treatment of orphans and called attention to horrible conditions for child labor and children joining gangs. In this example, Dickens embodies Victorian literature as he points out the social injustices taking place in England.
Oliver Twist
by Richard Bentley, used under
After Oliver Twist’s success, Dickens struggled to write another novel that measured up to his Oliver Twist. So in 1842, Dickens went on a book tour in America earning over $95,000. On his tour, Dickens advocated against slavery. He took a political stance on a current issue and the people loved him, and he was famous throughout the U.S. and England. He was more popular than any previous author, giving him a sort of “rock star status” (Rahn, 2011).
After the tour, Charles wrote many notable novels including A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, and A Tale of Two Cities, all of which fit the criteria of Victorian novels. A Christmas Carol tells the classic tale of a greedy old man, who learns that the way he behaves is wrong. David Copperfield is a story which resembles his life. Finally, A Tale of Two Cities is about the French Revolution.
A Christmas Carol by John Leech, used under
A Tale of Two Cities by HK Browne, used under
Arguably his most famous work, Great Expectations was published in 1861. In Great Expectations, Dickens’ expressed his concerns involving society as the story follows the main character Pip. Dickens’ main concern was the unfairness of the social order.
Advertisement for Great Expectations in All the Year Round,
used under
Why Dickens was Revolutionary:
- He displayed the hopelessness of the people in many of his works as he described their awful living conditions in England.
- His writings called for the change of the current power balance. Dickens lived in poverty in his youth and was able to use this experience in his writings. His writings advocated for a change and that it wasn’t fair that the poor were written off.
- Dickens writings presented the readers with ethical implications. Letting them decide was was really wrong vs. right.
- Dickens work was not a product of evolution.
- Dickens sparked a change of ideals through his writing that continue to grow today.
For More Information:
Lists of Works of Charles Dickens
References:
(1860). Advertisement for Great Expectations in All Year Round. [Advertisement]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Publicité_pour_Great_Expectations_dans_All_the_Year_Round.jpeg. Public domain image.
Bentley, R. (1838). Oliver Twist. [Book Cover]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Olivertwist_front.jpg. Public domain image.
Baugniet, C. (1858). Charles Dickens. [Portrait]. http://an.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imachen:Charles_Dickens_1858.jpg. Public domain image.
Browne, H.K. (1859). A Tale of Two Cities. [Book Cover]. http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Dickens-_A_Tale_of_Two_Cities-With_Illustrations_by_H_K_Browne,_1859.jpg. Public domain image.
Charles Dickens. (2014). The biography.com website. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
Leech, J. (1843). A Christmas Carol. [Book Cover]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Dickens-A_Christmas_Carol-Title_page-First_edition_1843.jpg. Public domain image.
Pooley, E. (2004). Charles Dickens. RSA Journals Volume 151, 58.
Rahn, Josh. (2011). Victorian Literature. The Literature Network. n.pag. Retrieved April 2, 2014.