Charles Dickens Influences

Charles Dickens Influences
Thesis: Charles Dickens is one of the most influential authors throughout literature today. His works influenced literature by relating social issues in his
time to the themes of his stories. This inspired future writers to relate social issues to the themes of their stories.
Importance to Literature while Living
Rise of Dickens as an Author
Influences of Dickens' Works on Social Issues II. Literary Works and Characters
Impact of Literary Works in Literature
Character Impact on Literature III. Impact on Literature After Death
Dickens' Connections in His Stories Through Modern Culture
Influence on Future Authors and AdaptationsCharles Dickens Charles Dickens...show more content...
Dickens has influenced other novelists such as John Irving and Tom Wolfe through the themes of his stories which inspired them to write about
themes that relate to the elements of society during their time (O'Rourke 1). Dickens also advocated for stronger copyright laws in England to
prevent theft of written works (Jones and Sach 2). Dickens' works have been depicted in over 300 film and television adaptations (Lenard 346).
Dickens works have been influential in many ways by expressing his stories in future works and adaptations while his advocacy for stronger copyright
laws helped paved the way for stronger protection of author's
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

Who Is Charles Dickens?
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was born February 7, 1812, in Ports Mouth,
Hampshire. In his infancy his family moved to Chatham, where he spent his happiest years and often refers to this time in his novels (1817–1822).
From 1822 to 1860 he lived in London, after which he permanently moved to a quiet country cottage in Glads Hill, on the outskirts of Chatham. He
grew up in a middle class family. His father was a clerk in the navy pay office and was well paid, but his extravagant living style often brought the
family to financial disaster. The family reached financial "rock bottom" in 1824. Charles was taken out of school and sent to work in a factory doing
manual labour, while his father went to prison...show more content...
Within a few months Pickwick was the rage and Dickens was the most popular author of the day. During
1836, he also wrote two plays and a pamphlet, he then resigned from his newspaper job, and undertook the editing job of a monthly magazine,
Bentley's Miscellany, in which he serialized Oliver Twist (1837–1839). By this time, the first of his nine surviving children had been born, He had
married Catherine, eldest daughter of a respected journalist George
Hogorth (April 1836).
Novels
His first major success was with The Pickwick Papers. They were high spirited and contained many conventional comic butts and jokes. Pickwick
displayed, many of the features that were to be blended in to his future fiction works; attacks on social evils and the delight in the joys of
Christmas. Rapidly thought up and written in mere weeks or even days before its publication date, Pickwick contained weak style and was
unsatisfactory in all, partly because Dickens was rapidly developing his craft as a novelist while doing it. This style of writing in a first novel, made
his name know literally overnight, but created a new tradition of literature and was made one of the best know novel's of the world.
After The Pickwick Papers were published in 1837, he put together another novel, Oliver Twist. Though his artistic talent is very much evident, he
refrained from using the successful formula used in The
Pickwick

Charles Dickens Contributions
Introduction,
Charles John Huffam Dickens; (7 February 1812–9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best–known
fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his
lifetime, and by the 20th century critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
School–jobs,
Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal
education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories, and non–fiction articles, lectured and
performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Books,
Charles Dickens books were, The Pickwick Papers–1836, Oliver Twist–1837, Nicholas Nickleby–1838, The Old Curiosity Shop–1840, Barnaby
Rudge–1841, Martin Chuzzlewit–1843, Dombey and Son–1846, David Copperfield–1849, Bleak House–1852, Hard Times–1854, Little Dorrit–1855,
The Tale of Two Cities–1859, Great Expectations–1860, Our Mutual Friend–1864, The Mystery of Edwin Drood–1870.
Early Years,
Charles John Huffam Dickens was born at 1 Mile End Terrace, Landport in Portsea Island, the second of eight children of John Dickens and Elizabeth
Dickens. His father was a clerk in the

Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was a social critic and English writer. Dickens generated some of globe's most renowned fictional characters. He is
viewed as the most remarkable writer of the Victorian period. Dickens' works, during his life, enjoyed exceptional popularity. By 20th century,
scholars and critics called him a literary genius. Dickens' short stories and novels continue to be popular. Dickens was born in Portsmouth in England.
He was forced to drop out of school following his father's imprisonment. His early poverty compelled him to succeed. Throughout Dickens' career, he
wrote 15 novels, many short stories, five novellas, as well as non–fictional articles. Dickens, for 20 years, he edited a "weekly journal," performed and
lectured extensively. Dickens was also an inexorable letter writer, as well as campaigned vigorously for kid's rights, education, along with other social
reforms.
Dickens' became famous with his 1836 "The Pickwick Papers" serial publication. Dickens became a global literary celebrity because of his satire,
humor, as well as a keen observation of society and character. Dickens' novels were published in weekly or monthly installments, and he also pioneered
the narrative fiction serial publication that was the dominant method of Victorian publication. Dickens was deemed as the colossus of literature of his
age. Dickens' novella, "A Christmas Carol" published in 1843, is among the most influential literature ever written. A Tale of Two Cities
,

Charles Dickens Essay
Charles Dickens was an astounding author and titan of English literature throughout the Victorian era. Dickens was remarkably known for his early
years, his career, and his life tragedies. During his career Dickens achieved worldwide popularity, winning acclaim for his rich storytelling and
memorable characters. Dickens will forever be remembered as a literary genius who changed the world with his vivid novels and his superb stories.
Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in the Mile End Terrace in Portsmouth England (Sahlman 1). His father, John, was a
clerk in the navy pay office and was stationed in Portsmouth, at the time being. John was a very friendly, good natured, well read man, and a loving
husband....show more content...
He worked there for several months and lived on his own throughout that time. Dickens found himself frightened by the horrific conditions of the
factory. His experiences there led him to write some of his most famous works. (Hunter 67). As Dickens grew older, he began to develop an
interest in fine literature and theatre. He also enjoyed viewing various plays at several theaters throughout London. (Johnson 10). He would
sometimes pay theater managers to allow him to appear on stage (Peare 30). Dickens soon realized his true intuitions about the career path he
wanted to follow throughout his life. Dickens's creative imagination and exceptional writing style gained him much fame as he entered the spotlight
for the first time. (Levine 154). In December of 1833, Dickens published his first story entitled A Dinner at Polar Walk. The following year, he
became a political journalist, reporting on parliamentary debates and traveling across Britain to cover election campaigns. During the time when
Britain was the major economic and political power of the world, Dickens highlighted the life of the poor and disadvantaged at the heart of the
empire. A great deal of his journalism, in the form of sketches in periodicals, formed his first collection of pieces titled Sketches by Boz. (Hunter 69).
The publication of these articles led to the creation of his first novel, The Pickwick

Essay A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
In the book ' A Christmas Carol', Dickens describes the poor, how they were treated unfairly and how they were thought as animals rather than human
beings. Dickens portrays the rich as ignorant and selfish people that think they are bigger than the world itself. Charles Dickens new a lot about poverty,
as his parents were not earning enough money to pay of debts, which meant that Dickens himself had to leave school at the age of 12 to work in a
factory. He had a terrible experience; he had felt what it was like to be poor, to have no hope for the future and worked long hours in a dirty factory.
Charles dickens used Scrooge to symbolize the minority of the population that are...show more content...
He sees his lack of providing for the family has caused the death–to–be for Tiny
Tim, as he has done nothing to stop it, therefore he is part responsible. Seeing how the Cratchit's live makes Scrooge realize that he has caused
poverty and that he is also the reason Tiny Tim could die. Scrooge reluctantly allows his clerk,Bob Cratchit, to take the Christmas day as a paid holiday.
For Scrooge the idea of paying a man not to work seems an insult, and Christmas represents nothing but an "excuse for picking a man's pocket every
twenty–fifth of
December." In the first stave, Bob Cratchit asked to have Christmas day off and Scrooge wasn't too pleased with the idea but compromised and said, '
but I suppose you must have the whole day. Be here all the earlier next morning.'
Scrooge has a young nephew called Fred who was introduced into the novel in a joyful manner, which was soon changed by Scrooge. Fred was
extremely merry as it was Christmas and tried to share his joy with his uncle, but did not happen, 'A merry Christmas, uncle!' scrooge replied. '
Bah! Humbug!' Scrooge wonders how someone so poor, Fred, could be so happy, ' what reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough.' Scrooge
and Fred were both at it, but Fred did not get angry once and still wished Scrooge a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
As soon as Fred left, two 'portly gentlemen' walked in. These two men were charity workers that go around the town

How Did Charles Dickens Influence Society
Is it possible for one man to change the world? Many believe that it is, and it has been proven countless times that one man can have a great influence
on society. Many, however, seem to forget that these people were influenced themselves. An example of one person who had a great influence on
society is Charles Dickens. Dickens changed society through his countless writings which were influenced by his early life and career.
First, Dickens' early life influenced his writing style. At a young age, Dickens was forced to work in a boot–blacking factory because his family was
heavily impoverished (Bio.com [1]). However, later in life, Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, which illustrates his negative view of child labor by
assigning the job of a chimney

Charles Dickens Accomplishments Essay
Charles Dickens is known as one of the world's most popular English writer, he is known for stories such as Great Expectations, Bleak House,
Oliver Twist, A Christmas Curial and more. Throughout Dickens's life all he wanted was to become successful; as a child, he worked hard to support
his family. Although he struggled growing up he was determined to follow his dreams. Dickens started out writing newspaper articles and gradually
started writing his own books in series. He was such an excellent writer that people couldn't wait to see what storyline he'd created to happen in his next
chapter.
Charles Dickens was born in a time of both change and impoverishment. Throughout the 19th century, it became harder and harder for people to
survive. In the late 18th century and early 19th century, "cities were dirty, unsanitary, and overcrowded" (Life). In fact, the cities were so
overwhelmed that they "had no place for the poor." "In order for the less...show more content...
"The Industrial Revolution also created a huge demand for female and child labor"(Life). It was at this time when Dickens was pushed by his
mother to quit school and start working, due to his father being thrown in jail. Because Dickens fell into the lower income category, keeping a job
and even working in the jobs he did keep, was hard for him. It was actually stated in an article that "life for the poor and working classes continued
to be filled with challenges. Wages for those that worked in factories were low and working conditions could be dangerous," (Industrial Revolution
2). This was during the time where children and adults were dying due to working in dangerous work environments. On top of them having a
dangerous job, they were not expected to work there long, especially if they weren't skilled workers. "Unskilled workers had little job security and
were easily replaced" (Industrial

The age of enlightenment flowed into every pore of Charles Dickens being, it not only gave him fame, it gave him pleasure and even pain. Yet it also
gave him a sort of super power that allowed him to decisively express his criticism on significant topics such as the Industrial Revolution and perhaps
as equally important the French Revolution and how these issues created unfavorable side effects on society. Likewise his abilities delivered a voice for
the neglected and overlooked lower class of his time. Charles Dickens was beyond just another upper or middle class spectator giving his analysis of
what was being witnessed; he was a part of it. In eighteen–twelve Dickens was born into a middle class family, it is well known that his father worked
in the navy pay office and was nicely paid. However his father like most modern Americans lived outside of his earnings. As a result his father's
creditors had him imprisoned at the Marchalsea in Southwark, London; during that time it was a custom to allow his family to join him.
Unfortunately for Dickens that would not be the case (Wikipedia 2017) At the age of twelve Dickens was required to leave school to work ten–hour
days in a warehouse where he would help earn enough money to aid in the early release of his father. The exhausting and usually cruel working
environment left a permanent mark on his spirit. Consequently this life changing event would become an undeniable influence for his fiction and
essays, becoming the substance

The Life and Writing of Charles Dickens Essay
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Landport, Portsea, England as Charles John Huffham Dickens but was known as the great
Charles Dickens. After being born into a family of eight children and he being the second of eight; the family decided to move to Chatham, were
Dickens considered these years the best childhood years ever, but after a couple of years living in Chatham the family decided to move once again
but this time to London in the year 1822. There his father got a job as a clerk in the navy post office. Dicken's family was not poor nor rich, they
were just like any other family out there, a middle class family but this changed in a couple of years due to his fathers extravagant spending that they
couldn't afford to...show more content...
After the breakup Charles moved permanently to his country house called Gad's Hill in the year 1860. At that time Charles became involved in
an affair with Ellen Ternan, a young actress. The affair lasted until Dickens past away, but the affair was kept quite a good secret. (Dickens fast
facts pg.1) After all that hassle and stress Dickens continued his life on a regular basis but it was fast paced from now on. He did up to two or
three works at the same time and was really stressed out but knew he had to finish them. There were sometimes when he was barely able to stay on
top of his monthly deadlines but at the end he pulled through. These works that he finished were his weekly installments called The old Curiosity
Shop and Barnaby Rudge. Dickens didn't want to take any breaks from his writing; he really enjoyed it very much. After having written newspaper
articles and weekly installments, in his works he started writing in his novel Dombey and Son about social issues; such as education reform, sanitary
measures, and slum clearance. In the year 1850, Dickens established a weekly journal entitled Household Words, which had his works, Child's History
of England (1851–53), and Great Expectations (1860–61). While still managing on these works he was also working on these novels including David
Copperfield (1849–50), Bleak House (1852–53), Little Dorrit (1855–57), and Our Mutual Friend (1864–65). These

Charles Dickens Research Paper
The famous British author, Charles Dickens, was born on February seventh, 1812 in England (studymode.com). Charles and his family remained poor
and depressed in his early days. His father, John, was sent to prison for debt in 1824, when Charles was only twelve years old. In conclusion to his
father's imprisonment, Charles Dickens was forced to leave school to work in a boot factory to support and give guidance to his family much as
possible (www.biography.com). "After all the stress and hard work, Dickens was announced he could go back to school when his father received a
family inherence and used it to pay the debt" (unknown author, www.biography.com). A few years later when Charles was fifteen years old, his
education was pulled...show more content...
Throughout his writing career, he wrote the classic well known novels A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, Nicholas Nickleby, Oliver Twist,
David Copperfield, and A Tale of Two Cities. Leaving his last novel incomplete, which was called, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, due to the fact
that Dickens died of a stroke in 1870 (studymode.com). In 1830, Dickens falls in love with a young woman named Maria (Shmoop Editorial
Team). Marias parents disagree with this relationship and send her back to school in Paris to keep her far long away from Dickens. Dickens first
short story, "A Dinner at Poplar Walk" appears in the monthly magazine in 1833 and begins publishing more stories in the magazine over time. In
1834, Charles realized his talent for writing and writes Street Sketches, Sketches by Boz, and his novel The Pickwick Papers. A few months later
Dickens marries Catherine Hogarth and gives birth to their first child named Charles. Just after their first child was born, on of Dickens major novels,
Oliver Twist was published. In these few years the couple started growing their family. March 1839, Dickens novel that highlighted the horrible
situations in schools for poor people begins being

The Reflection of Charles Dickens in Great Expectations
Introduction:
The general definition of reflection is" to bring or cast as result ". Dr. Harvey from Macquarie University define reflection as "an intended action, it
depends on the past actions, present actions, and future actions." In this paper we will see the reflection in "Art". Art is the reflection of the identity
and personality, for example in painting, drawing, writing, and many more. Art can symbolize the personality of the painter, writer, and more. For
most writers, poets, and novelists we can see their works are mostly connected and related with their lives. One of the greatest writers in the Victorian
era was Charles Dickens.
Charles was the second child in Dickens family after his elder sister Fanny Dickens. Dickens was born in 7th February, 1812 in Portsmouth, United
Kingdom and died in 9th June, 1870.
He was an English writer and social critic. Dickens lived during the industrial revolution which was the great time of transformation in the nineteenth
century in London. He supported the social ventures such as the foundling hospital for abandoned infants. Dickens was famous for his unique and
realistic works; in addition most of his works are focused on the subject of orphans and the importance of education. For example, we have the
Character "Oliver" from the novel Oliver Twist he was an orphan child born in a workhouse, not educated and a pickpocket. Another child character is
"David" from

How Does Charles Dickens Use Of Characterization
The use of characterization in Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, aids readers in developing a sense of understanding when it comes to a
character's personality and intricacy. Dialogue, actions, and appearance all play crucial roles in vivifying the characters as unique individuals and
affect a passage by revealing details to make the story enthralling. In this particular excerpt, we follow the evocative description of two dissimilar
characters into an eerie and ostensibly daunting situation foreshadowed by these elements.I am immediately overcome with feelings of pity and
sorrow towards Pip, a young boy whose "most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things" began unpleasantly. In the first paragraph of the
excerpt,...show more content...
Dickens use of direct characterization paints a perfect picture of the prison escapee: "A fearful man, all in coarse gray, with a great iron on his leg.
A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud,
and lamed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by nettles, and torn by briars; who limped, and shivered, and glared, and growled; and whose teeth
chattered in his head . . ." The elucidation of his appearance is crucial for the readers to understand a minor part of his past and his predetermined
motivation: freedom. After all, an escaped convict is far more intimidating than a business man dressed in a nice suit, and the convict's vile attributes
drive the story forward by forcing Pip to comply with his demands. With this in mind, the use of indirect characterization is equally important in
revealing a characters true colors; the convict indirectly demonstrates his blatant apathy among human sentiments. For example, the moment he "took
me [Pip] by both arms, and tilted me back as far as he could hold me; so that his eyes looked most powerfully down into mine, and mine looked most
helplessly up into his", it is made clear that the convict is a

Charles Dickens Essay
Biographical Summary Charles Dickens is one of the most influential writers in history and was "born in Landport, now part of Portsmouth, on
February 7th, 1812"(Priestly 5). Despite being the successful writer that he was in life, Dickens had very humble beginnings and because his
Father, John Huffman Dickens, "lacked the money to support his family adequetly" , Dickens lived in poverty through out most of his childhood
(Collins). Matters only got worse, however, when Dickens's Father had to "spen[d] time in prison for debt" causing Dickens to have to "work in a
London factory pasting labels on bottles of shoe polish" (Collins). It was a horrible experience for him, but it also helped him to no doubt feel pity for
the poor, which is...show more content...
Dickens, at the beginning of his life, was very optimistic, his novels having "serious themes and plots" but also having "enough humor to keep
[them] entertaining" (Collins). Later on in life, however, Dickens writing became less lighthearted, with his "view of Victorian society, and
perhaps of the world, [having grown] darker" and his "character and plots seem[ing] to emphasize the evil side of human experience" more and
more (Collins). Since Dickens style of writing was mostly influenced by his experiences, this change in style most likely resulted from negative
experiences in his life which every person tends to experience as they get older. Dickens had to abandon some of the optimism that he had held on
to in youth, which is something that usually happens as one experience life more and the weight of the world is felt more on one's shoulders. In
Dickens case, this weight was Victorian society and all its vices which he had high hopes to escape from when on "on January 4, 1842, Dickens
and his wife boarded the steamer Britannia" to go to Boston in America (Lepore). Dickens, like most people at the time, probably had an ideal
picture of America and most likely saw the country as a paradise against some of the old world's plagues and problems. When he arrived at America
his fantasies were not met, and he would often write home saying things like "this is not the Republic [he] came to see" and how "this [was] not the
Republic of [his] imagination"(Lepore).

Charles Dickens ' Writing Career
During Dickens' writing career, he transcribed the cherished classic novels that began Dickens 's fictional achievement that began with the 1836
sequential journal of The Pickwick Papers. Within a few years, he had become a worldwide celebrity for his novels. He also edited a weekly journal
for 20 years. Dickens had written fifteen novels, five novellas, a multitude of short stories, and non–fiction articles. Dickens' became very outspoken
and lectured extensively, as he was also a remorseless letter writer. He voiced and campaigned strongly for children 's rights, education, and other
social reforms. His novels, most published in monthly or weekly segments, established the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the
central...show more content...
Defarge has a wine–shop that is owned with his wife in St. Antoine. Defarge takes Mr. Lorry and Lucie to an attic type room where he is keeping
Doctor Manette. He warns them that the Doctor have changed because of how he viewed prison when he was in there. Dr. Manette was fragile
looking and pale. He sits at the bench of the shoemaker as the shoe maker was making shoes. He has limited replies to the interrogations from
Defarge and Mr. Lorry. However, when Lucie comes up to him, he felt a nostalgia of his memories of his wife and began cry. Lucie comforts him,
and takes him to England. Time has continued and five years later, Jerry Cruncher, the bank teller, takes a letter to Mr. Lorry who is at a courthouse.
Mr. Lorry was summoned as an eyewitness for the trial of Charles Darnay, a Frenchman suspected of being a spy for France and the United States. Dr.
Manette and Lucie, are witnesses for the prosecution. During this setting, Dr. Manette has improved his mental state and has molded a relationship
with his daughter. If Darnay was guilty of treason, he would have to suffer a horrific death, and the testament of his accomplice, John Barsad, who was
a former servant. Mr. Stryver, Darnay's attorney, asks questions that specify that Cly and Barsad are the infiltrators. The plot twist or turning point in
the trial is when Sydney Carton, Stryver 's assistant, exasperates that Carton and Darnay contain similar features, that could be so similar enough to be
pairs.

Charles Dickens' Hard Times Essay
Charles Dickens' Hard Times
Charles Dickens's novel Hard Times critiques the use of extreme utilitarianism as an acceptable means to governing a society in which citizens are
able to lead happy, productive, flourishing lives. "Just the facts,"19th century English utilitarianism argued, are all one needs to flourish. Those
answers that we can arrive at by way of mathematical, logical reasoning are all needed to live a full human life. Hard Times shows however that a "just
the facts" philosophy creates a community inhospitable to the needs of one another, a society nearly void of human compassion, and one lacking in
morality. Underlying the novel's argument is the Aristotelian concept that the primary purpose of government is to...show more content...
A man of realities. A man of facts and calculations...With a rule and a pair of scales, and the multiplication table always in his pocket, sir, ready to
weigh and measure any parcel of human nature, and tell you exactly what it comes to. It is a mere question of figures... (6)
Even the cloistered and mousy Mrs. Gradgrind knows "there is something – not an ology at all that [Gradgrind] has missed or forgotten" (152). In her
essay "The Literary Imagination in Public
Life" Martha C. Nussbaum writes that the "missing" element in Mr. Gradgrind's political–economic philosophy is the acknowledgment of life's
qualitative dimension (431). Exchanging the qualitative for the quantitative, the economic utilitarian measures life in statistical terms. Utilitarianism
forbids the concept of human complexity to enter its fundamentally formulaic approach to life. Thus, Cissy Jupe is not Cissy Jupe, but "Girl number
twenty," a label that rigidly defines her as a commodity. Even the town bureaucrats are subjected to their method of numerical labeling– bodies number
one through four all agree that no one should wonder (41–42).
As categorizing citizens numerically strips Cissy Jupe and others of their distinctive human qualities, Nussbaum argues that it equally creates the
possibility of over–generalizing information about individuals which results in imprecise conclusions on the true nature of people. Accordingly, before
Louisa visited Stephen's home, she knew of the working

Charles Dickens Research Paper
The Childhood of Charles Dickens
"I do not write resentfully or angrily: for I know
all these things have worked together to make me what I am" – Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens's tumultuous childhood did indeed shape the person he became, as
well as have a definite impact on his literary career. There are shades of
young Dickens in many of his most beloved characters, including David
Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and of course, Great Expectations' Pip. Like
Dickens, all three of these characters came from humble beginnings and were able
to rise above their respective circumstances to achieve success. Similarly,
Dickens' literary success is owed in large part to his unhappy...show more content...
a son" (Allen
19). This is a lofty pronouncement coming from a lowly government employee, with
neither money nor title to lay claim to. Due to this, Charles "considered
Friday his lucky day, needing to believe he had been born with great

expectations and the talent and will to realize them" (Kaplan 19).
In January of 1817, the Dickens family was transferred to Chatham, in the county
of Kent. It was here that Dickens formed his earliest recollections, residing
there from the ages four through ten. The formative years spent at this place
would later have an impact on his literary career, resurfacing as the setting
for Great Expectations. It was during this time, too, that he first saw Gad's
Hill Place, what would become his future home. He recalls his father telling
him that if he "were to be very persevering and were to work hard [he] might
some day come to live in it" (qtd. in Kaplan 23). He was unaware how prophetic
those words would be. He began his education in Chatham, and soon was
transferred to a local academy run by a clergyman. According to Kaplan, school
"fed his aspirations toward gentility . . . his sense that Gad's Hill Place and
what it represented could be his one day" (31–32). Unfortunately for Charles,
this peaceful and somewhat

Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens Essay
Essay on Great Expectations (by Charles Dickens) Explore Dickens effective "language" to create "setting" and "character" in the opening chapter of
Great Expectations. Dickens opens the theme of death early in the chapter. In the second paragraph he mentions the tombstones of Pips parents, "I
gave Pirrip as my fathers family name on the authority of his tombstone". This informs us that Pip experienced death at an early age. He goes on to
describe the churchyard and the land around continuing the themes of death, and general negativity. Pip says that, "My most vivid and broad
impression of the identity of things, seems to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening." The word vivid is used to...show more
content...
In addition he mentions "scattered cattle" implying that there is no order to this landscape, or even to the little "life" that exists there. The brilliant
phrase, "the distant savage lair from which the wind was rushing was the sea", uses language very effectively to create a powerful metaphor having
the sea as a wild beast in its lair from which the wind as running away. The quote, "and that Alexander, Bartholomew, Abraham, Tobias and Roger,
infant children of the aforesaid, were also dead", tells us that Pips family was a typical Victorian one – large with high infant mortality. This reflects
Dickens own family. Dickens like Pip was brought up near the coast – in fact his life had many similarities to Pips so much so that people have
suggested that Great Expectations is close to an autobiography of Dickens. Dickens also did not like the menial job he had when he was younger
and thought he was to good for his station, as Pip does later on in the novel. Dickens's father was imprisoned for debt at one time and Dickens and
his family were imprisoned with him. This meant that he would have met convicts and knew what they were like, just as Pip meets one in the
churchyard. Dickens uses language to give us our first impression of the convict's character before we have even seen him. First thing we get is his
voice, ""Hold your noise" cried a terrible voice", Dickens use of the word

Charles Dickens Biography Essay
Charles Dickens, the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens, was born in Landport on 7th February 1812. John Dickens worked as a clerk at the Navy pay
office in Portsmouth. He later found work in Chatham and Charles, the second of seven children, went to the local school.
John Dickens found it difficult to provide for his growing family on his meager income. In 1822 the family moved to Camden Town in London. John
Dickens' debts had become so severe that all the household goods were sold. Still unable to satisfy his creditors, John Dickens was arrested and sent to
Marshalsea Prison.
Charles, now aged twelve, found work at Warren's Blacking Factory, where he was paid six shillings a week wrapping shoe–black bottles. Six months
after being...show more content...
Unlike most radical newspapers such as the Poor Man's Guardian and The Gauntlet, the True Sun did pay the 4d. stamp duty.
Despite having to charge the heavy tax imposed on newspapers, the True Sun sold 30,000 copies a day. In his articles, Dickens used his considerable
knowledge of what went on in the House of Commons to help promote the cause of parliamentary reform. Charles Dickens was pleased when
Parliament eventually agreed to pass the 1832 Reform Act, however, like most radicals, he thought it did not go far enough. The new reformed House
of Commons passed a series of new measures including a reduction in newspaper tax from 4d. to 1d. As a result, the circulation of the True Sun
increased to over 60,000.
In 1833 Dickens had his first story published in the Monthly Magazine. Using the pen–name of 'Boz', Dickens also began contributing short stories to
the Morning Chronicle and the Evening Chronicle. These stories were so popular that they were collected together and published as a book entitled
Sketches by Boz (1836).
The publisher, William Hall, now commissioned Dickens to write The Pickwick Papers in twenty monthly installments. This was followed by Oliver
Twist, published in Bentley's Miscellany (1837–38) and Nicholas Nickleby (1838–39), also published monthly. Dickens was now the most popular
writer in Britain and over the next few years he wrote a series of popular

Charles Dickens Influences

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Charles Dickens Influences

Similar to Charles Dickens Influences (15)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Charles Dickens Influences