Charles Dickens PDF

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) CHARLES DICKENS “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity” CHARLES DICKENS AN AMAZING MIND (1) Why is Charle...

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) CHARLES DICKENS “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity” CHARLES DICKENS AN AMAZING MIND (1) Why is Charles Dickens an “amazing mind”? He created a unique style called ‘Dickensian’. ‘reminiscent of the novels by Dickens, especially in suggesting the poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters that they portray’ Dickens was one of the first novelists to use writing as a tool for social criticism. He had a strong influence on the development of English language: he spread new words and promoted the use of slang expressions. CHARLES DICKENS AN AMAZING MIND (2) Why is Charles Dickens an “amazing mind”? Dickens’ plots have become very popular among filmmakers: Dickens’ novels are often defined as ‘cinematic’ because of their episodic narrative structure. His characters have become synonyms for character types: Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) = the miser Mr Gradgrind (Hard Times) = the rigid and cold-hearted. CHARLES DICKENS LIFE (1) 1812 – He was born in Portsmouth. He had a short formal education. When he was a child, he was forced to work ten hours a day in a factory after his father was imprisoned because of his debts. He started a career as a journalist using the pseudonym ‘Boz’. 1883 – He became a parliamentary reporter for The Morning Chronicle. CHARLES DICKENS LIFE (2) He became a professional writer and published an incredible number of books often based on autobiographical experiences. He travelled to America and to Italy. He and his wife had ten children. He died in 1870. CHARLES DICKENS MAIN WORKS (1) Sketches by Boz (1833-36) collection of short articles; description of the city of London. Pickwick Papers (1836-7) series of tales focused on the adventures of Mr Pickwick; typical example of Dickens’ humour; exploration of England through the eyes of a group of eccentric people. Oliver Twist (1837-9) one of Dickens’ most famous works; story of an orphaned boy; social criticism (exploitation of children; cruelty of workhouses). CHARLES DICKENS MAIN WORKS (2) A Christmas Carol (1843) ghostly story of the conversion of a miser to the spirit of Christmas; moral tale describing the importance of redemption and kindness. Dombey and Son (1846) attack against the greed for money and power. David Copperfield (1849-50) focuses on the growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood (‘coming-of-age’ novel); representation of the complexity of childhood. CHARLES DICKENS MAIN WORKS (3) Bleak House (1852-3) satire of English justice. Hard Times (1854) bearing on education; description of the effects of the Industrial revolution. Great Expectations (1860) coming-of-age novel; influence of wealth on a man’s moral status. CHARLES DICKENS DICKENS’ NOVELS Have inventive plots and many parallel stories. Are characterised by improbable coincidences, surprises and mystery. Are often set in urban environments. Have melodramatic tones. Often have a large number of characters. CHARLES DICKENS DICKENS’ CHARACTERS Caricatures embodying particular vices or virtues. Memorable characters: characterised by some peculiarity of speech, physical appearance or gesture; often caught in comic or grotesque situations. Belonging to all social classes Dickens sided mainly with the poor and the marginalised; upper-class and aristocratic characters: tend to fall into stereotypes. CHARLES DICKENS DICKENS’ PLOTS Many of Dickens’ works were originally published in INSTALMENTS: they became books only later episodic nature succession of moments of great tension the reader’s attention is always kept high dramatic turn of events suspense in the reader abundance of climaxes improbable coincidences CHARLES DICKENS SOCIAL CRITICISM SOCIAL CRITICISM Many of Dickens’ novels focus on SOCIAL CRITICISM: critical analysis of the effects of the Industrial Revolution; denunciation of the working conditions of the poor; description of the moral consequences of uncontrolled economic growth. Dickens’ aim: to denounce the social evils of the time; to make his readers aware of them. CHARLES DICKENS SETTING URBAN ENVIRONMENT Dickens’ novels = often depict urban characters lawyers; industrialists; tradesmen; shopkeepers. Main cities represented London foggy town; poorly lit; dirty; abounding in criminals and pickpockets. Coketown (imaginary town) CHARLES DICKENS Oliver Twist or The Parish Boy’s Progress (1837-1839) CHARLES DICKENS OLIVER TWIST (1) PLOT Oliver Twist: poor orphan born in a workhouse. After asking for more food, he is sent away to work. Oliver goes to London, where he becomes part of a gang of thieves. Mrs Maylie helps Oliver get out of the gang and recover. Oliver discovers he is the son of a very wealthy man. Happy ending: Oliver is adopted and lives a peaceful life in the countryside. CHARLES DICKENS OLIVER TWIST (2) MAIN THEMES Dickens criticises the BAD LIVING CONDITIONS in which the poor are forced to live under the Poor Law of 1934. Poor Law public charity was to be administered through workhouses Workhouses terrible living conditions Denunciation of VICTORIAN MORALITY and prejudices against poverty Poverty often seen as a sin HYPOCRISY of the middle-class Representation of the growth of a child through difficult moments (‘BILDUNGSROMAN’) CHARLES DICKENS OLIVER TWIST (3) A reflection on WEALTH and POVERTY Dickens’ novel = explores the impact of uncontrolled economic growth on the rich and the poor: GREED and desire for WEALTH more dangerous than poverty; can dehumanise people; reduce people’s sympathy towards others. POVERTY does not necessarily exclude the possibility of having a decent life; is not necessarily dangerous. CHARLES DICKENS OLIVER TWIST (4) OLIVER has a pure heart; has a determined spirit; is rewarded in the end thanks to his moral integrity; is the object of the love and true charity of good-hearted people who look after him. CHARLES DICKENS Hard Times (1854) CHARLES DICKENS HARD TIMES (1) PLOT The novel is set in the fictional city of Coketown. Thomas Gradgrind is an advocate of Utilitarianism. He has founded a school in which the entire curriculum is based on ‘hard facts’ and there is no space for imagination or joy. Gradgrind wants his daughter to marry a rich, old factory owner. CHARLES DICKENS HARD TIMES (2) The marriage is extremely unhappy and Gradgrind’s daughter goes back to her family. Also Tom, Gradgrind’s son, has a very unhappy life and becomes a thief. In the end Gradgrind understands that his narrow-mindedness has had a very negative impact on the life of his children and devotes himself to helping the poor. CHARLES DICKENS HARD TIMES (3) MAIN THEMES Sharp CRITICISM of the EVILS of VICTORIAN ENGLAND, such as: the hardships of the working class; the contrast between the rich and the poor. Attack on UTILITARIANISM: materialistic philosophy that excluded imagination from education; in Utilitarian schools students are: treated like numbers; forced into conformity; discouraged from expressing their own personalities. CHARLES DICKENS HARD TIMES (4) For Dickens schools and education are the two main instruments to allow the poor to: have a decent life; protect them from ignorance and degradation. In Hard Times Dickens represents what ‘bad schools’ look like: BAD SCHOOLS badly run dominated by the dry principles that control progress are instruments of slavery and dehumanisation places of coercition and subjugation CHARLES DICKENS HARD TIMES (4) – MAIN CHARACTER MR GRADGRIND Mr Gradgrind is the main male figure of the novel. He: perceives himself as a social reformer and strongly believes in the principles of Utilitarianism; has founded a school in which students are taught only ‘facts’; promotes a form of education in which students are deprived of their identity and dreams; is one of the instruments Dickens uses to convey his social criticism. CHARLES DICKENS HARD TIMES (5) – SETTING COKETOWN Imaginary industrial town, Symbolic representation of loosely based on the model of the alienation caused by the Preston (north of England). factory system. Its architecture is dominated Dominated by inhumanity by square elements and and lack of vital instincts. monotony.