BIOGRAPHY
Charles Dickens, in full Charles John Huffam Dickens,(born February 7,
1812, Portsmouth, Hampshire (England) and died June 9, 1870 in Gad’s
Hill, near Chatham, Kent)
The famed
British author was the second of eight children. His father, John Dickens, was
a naval clerk who dreamed of become it rich. Charles' mother, Elizabeth Barrow,
aspired to be a teacher and school director.
Despite his parents’ best
efforts, the family remained poor. Nevertheless, they were happy in the early
days. In 1816, they moved to Chatham, Kent, where young Dickens and his
siblings were free to travel in the countryside and explore the old castle at
Rochester.
He felt
abandoned and betrayed by the adults who were supposed to take care of him.
These feelings would later become a recurring theme in his writing.
Much to his relief, Dickens
was permitted to go back to school when his father received a family
inheritance and used it to pay off his debts.
He married with Catherine Thomson on 2nd April 1836 he also had 10 children with her, for example Francis Dickens, Edward Dickens etc...
He died at his home suffering a stroke
SOCIETY
During the 19th
century life was transformed by the Industrial Revolution. At first, it caused
many problems but in the late 19th century life became more comfortable for
ordinary people. Meanwhile, Britain became the world's first urban society. By
1851 more than half the population lived in towns. The population of Britain
boomed during the 1800s. In 1801 it was about 9 million. By 1901 it had risen
to about 41 million. This was despite the fact that many people emigrated to
North America and Australia to escape poverty.
Also the
1800s the factory system gradually replaced the system of people working in
their own homes or in small workshops. In England, the textile industry was the
first to be transformed. It employed many children. Unfortunately, when
children worked in textile factories they often worked for more than 12 hours a
day. In the early 19th century parliament passed laws to restrict child labour.
However, they all proved to be unenforceable. The first effective law was
passed in 1833. It was effective because for the first time factory inspectors
were appointed to make sure the law was being obeyed.
STYLE
Dickens uses idealized characters in his books for example in Oliver Twist is an example of one of his idealized characters, during the course of the book Oliver is having many problems including an evil orphanage and a small training center for thieves. Throughout all of this Oliver is an innocent child and his values are never compromised even though he is put in very difficult situations. Seeing the ugly circumstances that Oliver so often occupies, it is no wonder that Dickens chose to idealize Oliver and give the reader something to love completely. If Dickens had not idealized Oliver the book would have been dark with very little joy in it.
BOOKS
- Christmas Carol :19th December 1843
- Oliver Twist :1838
- Our mutual friend :1865
- Bleak house :1853
- Little Dorrit :1857