Charles Dickens Essay, Research Paper

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English novelist and one of the most popular writers in the history of literature. Dickens proved he was the best of the Victorian authors. He holds his name in English literature forever.

Early criticism says his work has no form. Present criticism accepts work as being complex. In his time he was criticized for creating caricatures rather than characters. He today has achieved a degree of popular and critical recognition. Ebener Scrooge one of his creations became a familiar English literature stereotype. Novel he wrote display comic gifts, deep social issues, and ability to create extraordinary characters (draper 895).

Born February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth to John and Elizabeth Dickens (David, “A Chronology of his life” 1). Childhood tales shaped his work (Magill 1267). Moved to London in 1814. Moved to Chatham 1816 where he was an excellent reader at four. Moved to Cadmen Town in 1821 three years later his father was arrested for unpaid debt, Dickens visited his father by walking 4 miles to the prison (David, “A Chronology of his life” 1). Had an unhappy childhood in which he worked in a blacking factor (Magill 1267). When he was out of school he worked for an attorney and wanted to be a journalist (Magill 1).

His work as a reporter and sharpened ear for conversation helped develop his

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skill for portraying his characters speaking. Dickens’ first book “Sketches by Boz,” was made up of articles he wrote for the London Evening Chronicles.

Meets Maria Beadnell in 1830 and leaves her in 1833 along with publishing “Dinner at Popular Walk” in a magazine (David “A Chronology of his life” 1). Dickens wrote about himself the mentally orphaned child in Oliver Twist. His marriage to Catherine Hogarth resulted in separation and influenced “The Pickwick Papers” (Masterplot “His Tragedy and Triumph” 1). Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist brought Dickens to fame.

Dickens was the most famous of the Victorian novelists (Draper 901).

One of the Victorian author’s best also showed the Victorian defaults of writing but, he also showed the good points. He didn’t write a good story he just told it very well (Draper 902). All his books should have been given the name the Great Expectation because they contain an expectation of everything. The one Great Expectation book followed this route but the expectation was never realized (Draper 902). Through all Dickens’ stories most of the loose ends didn’t tie up until the last chapter (Draper 901). Dickens’ stories didn’t carry a tone and were full of melodrama but proved to be effective (Draper 901). Dickens filled his storied with supernatural happenings, melancholy, and alienated characters showing off his Gothic style

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(Draper 902). Dickens put himself in his friend’s place and wrote stories. Because he was a great artist he had many moods but only one great one.

The Great Expectations was one of Dickens’ favorably criticized books. The story is related with his life. It deals with the same problems he faced when he lost Catherine and how his life was before he became rich and famous (Draper 910). The story was also based on youth’s discovery of the realities of the life (Draper 910).

His warmth and humor of his personality appeared in this piece of work. He created scenes and describes places that his readers liked (Draper 910).

Another one of his great stories A Tale of Two Cities examines the inner soul, shares how people are driven to human emotions. Displayed the French revolution along with the violence and anarchy (Draper 910). Dickens attempted to show his reader the power and dangers of a revolution.

A Christmas Carol is a story that is familiar to mostly all Americans. This story comes from Dickens being unstable (Draper 910). Shows the inside and out of poverty and riches. His main character Scrooge represents Dickens in this story and some of the problems he was going through. The character Scrooge has grown part of American Christmas. Contains different Character from some of his other stories.

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Charles Dickens showed his skills as a writer in many ways but through his trials and tribulations he proves that anyone can succeed in life and make something of themselves regardless of their background.

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