CHARLES DICKENS

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.

In 1822, the Dickens family moved to Camden Town, a poor neighbourhood in London. By then the family’s financial situation had grown dire, as John Dickens had a dangerous habit of living beyond the family’s means. Eventually, John was sent to prison for debt in 1824, when Charles was just 12 years old.

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

1. Christmas Carol :19th December 1843
2. Oliver Twist :1838
3. Our mutual friend :1865
4. Bleak house :1853
5. Little Dorrit :1857