Charles DickensCharles Dickens1812-18701812-1870

Loyola Academy English Department

English Literature

Mr. Simon

Family LifeFamily Life Father – John DickensFather – John Dickens

Mother – Elizabeth BarrowMother – Elizabeth Barrow

Father was a Navel clerkFather was a Navel clerk

Financially comfortable and then Financially comfortable and then destitutedestitute

Parents were sent to a Debtors PrisonParents were sent to a Debtors Prison

Dickens’ early yearsDickens’ early years

Family imprisoned for debtFamily imprisoned for debt

Young Charles forced to Young Charles forced to work in shoe factory: work in shoe factory:

Warrens Blacking FactoryWarrens Blacking Factory

Mostly self-educated – Mostly self-educated – erratic schoolingerratic schooling

In 1827, he took a job as a In 1827, he took a job as a legal clerklegal clerk

He then worked as a He then worked as a reporter in courts and in reporter in courts and in Parliament Parliament

Married Life and FamilyMarried Life and Family Katherine Hogarth: not a Katherine Hogarth: not a

happy womanhappy woman

9 children9 children

Mistress: Ellen Turner- Mistress: Ellen Turner- London ActressLondon Actress

Spent much of his time in Spent much of his time in LondonLondon

Not a good family manNot a good family man

Settled down to comfortable, married, middle class life

Early Writing Career

He wrote short humorous sketches with pictures by Boz which became known as Pickwick Papers

Became famous in a short period of time and wildly popular among devoted readers awaiting his next installment

Gave numerous public readings for $$$, worldwide

Success as a NovelistSuccess as a Novelist Nickolas NicklebyNickolas Nickleby18391839 Oliver Twist Oliver Twist 18391839 The Old Curiosity ShopThe Old Curiosity Shop

18411841 Barnaby RudgeBarnaby Rudge 1841 1841 Martin ChuzzlewittMartin Chuzzlewitt 1843 1843 Dombey and SonDombey and Son 1849 1849 David CopperfieldDavid Copperfield 1850 1850 Bleak HouseBleak House 1853 1853 Hard TimesHard Times 1854 1854 Little DorrittLittle Dorritt 1857 1857 A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities 1859 1859 Great ExpectationsGreat Expectations 1861 1861

Major Themes in Dickens’ Major Themes in Dickens’ fictionfiction

Loneliness of childhood Loneliness of childhood Oppression of poverty Oppression of poverty Uncertainty of love and marriageUncertainty of love and marriage Indifference of social institutionsIndifference of social institutions Sustaining joy of family lifeSustaining joy of family life Perseverance and sacrifice in face of Perseverance and sacrifice in face of

untold hardships and injusticeuntold hardships and injustice Many autobiographical links between life Many autobiographical links between life

and writings of Dickensand writings of Dickens

ThemesThemes

DocksDocks Aristocracy- wealth, rich, land and Aristocracy- wealth, rich, land and

powerpower Child labor- Oliver TwistChild labor- Oliver Twist Family lifeFamily life Lost love and unattainable womenLost love and unattainable women Dickens’ main characters greatly Dickens’ main characters greatly

resemble himself and his liferesemble himself and his life

Most famous successful Most famous successful workwork

A Christmas Carol 1843A Christmas Carol 1843

Enduring holiday favoriteEnduring holiday favorite

Amusing elements of Amusing elements of supernatural, melodrama, supernatural, melodrama, humor, and pathoshumor, and pathos

Extremely optimistic tale of Extremely optimistic tale of redemption for Ebeneezer redemption for Ebeneezer Scrooge, archetypal miserScrooge, archetypal miser

Remains a sentimental Remains a sentimental classicclassic

Twilight of Dickens’CareerTwilight of Dickens’Career Our Mutual FriendOur Mutual Friend 1865 1865 The Mystery of Edwin The Mystery of Edwin

DroodDrood unfinished when unfinished when Dickens died suddenly Dickens died suddenly

from a stroke in June, from a stroke in June, 18701870

His death was mourned His death was mourned by thousands when he by thousands when he was buried at was buried at Westminster Abbey five Westminster Abbey five days after his deathdays after his death

The Victorian PeriodThe Victorian Period Queen Victoria 1819-Queen Victoria 1819-

19011901

At the age of 18 Victoria At the age of 18 Victoria inherited the throne, inherited the throne, she reigned for 64 yearsshe reigned for 64 years

““The sun never sets on the The sun never sets on the Queen’s empire” Queen’s empire”

the power and influence of the power and influence of Britain around the worldBritain around the world

She died a lonely rulerShe died a lonely ruler

The Industrial RevolutionThe Industrial Revolution

Villagers moved to the Villagers moved to the cities = factories = cities = factories = jobs= smoke= jobs= smoke= pollutionpollution

= backbreaking = backbreaking labor= death vs. labor= death vs. luxury side by side luxury side by side with povertywith poverty

““It was the best of time; it It was the best of time; it was the worst of times. was the worst of times.

Dickens – A Tale of Two CitiesDickens – A Tale of Two Cities

London and the TimesLondon and the Times

Dickens and ChristmasDickens and ChristmasThe first Christmas Card, Tree and Holiday TraditionsThe first Christmas Card, Tree and Holiday Traditions

Dickens legacy and links Dickens legacy and links He remains the foremost 19He remains the foremost 19thth century century

British writer of fictionBritish writer of fiction Amazing and detailed depiction of lifestyle Amazing and detailed depiction of lifestyle

and issues of a transforming industrial and and issues of a transforming industrial and urban landscapeurban landscape

Vivid and dramatic dialogueVivid and dramatic dialogue Profession as court reporter enhanced Profession as court reporter enhanced

awareness of social inequitiesawareness of social inequities http://www.underthesun.cc/Classics/Dickenhttp://www.underthesun.cc/Classics/Dicken

s/s/ humwww.ucsc.edu/dickens/humwww.ucsc.edu/dickens/ http://www.literature.org/authors/dickens-chttp://www.literature.org/authors/dickens-c

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