Charles Dickens summary, Appunti di Inglese

Scarica Charles Dickens summary e più Appunti in PDF di Inglese solo su Docsity! CHARLES DICKENS LIFE Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812, he was the second of eight siblings. He had a really unhappy childhood since his father was imprisoned for debt. He was forced to work ten-hour days in a blacking factory, making shoe polish. He began his career as a journalist and in 1833 become the parliamentary reporter for The morning chronicle. He published many novels initially as instalments in magazines and then as complete novels He also wrote for the theatre and performed in front of Queen Victoria in 1851. He married and had ten children. He died in 1870 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. THEMES Charles Dickens's novels range from entertaining and humorous to sad and emotional. Thanks to his inventiveness he created whole worlds of characters. He expressed sympathy with the oppressed and indignation against social injustice. His novel Oliver Twist was published between 1837 and 1839 and it is his most famous and popular novel that marks the beginning of social criticism. Through the story of an orphaned boy, the novelist touched upon the exploitation of children and the cruelty of the workhouses. DICKENS’ PLOT Dickens had to write under the pressure of both his publishers and his own need for money. He did a serial publication (he had to publish very often) and this implied that he had to maintain the interest of the reader from one episode to another. To do so he ended each episode with a dramatic turn of events to provide suspense. This explains the abundance of climaxes and improbable coincidences. Dickens's novels often portrayed caricatures of the characters to embody particular vices or virtues rather than real-life people with psychological depth. A CHRISTMAS CAROL In "A Christmas Carol" the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge is an old rich man who just cares about himself. He is visited by three spirits who show him glimpses of the past, present, and future. In this experience he understands that it’s time for him to change. "A Christmas Carol" serves as a powerful social commentary and a moral allegory, conveying several significant themes and messages. 1. he highlights the possibility of redemption, it is never too late to change. 2. the Importance of empathy and compassion. 3. he wants to redefine Christmas beyond materialism and commercialism. 4. it shows the reality of social inequity and poverty. HARD TIMES "Hard Times" is a novel set in Coketown, a fictional industrial town during the Victorian era. It explores the harsh realities of industrialization, the impact of utilitarian philosophy, and the dehumanization of individuals in a society driven by economic efficiency. The story follows several characters. Through its social commentary critiques the detrimental effects of a mechanized society and advocates for the importance of compassion. GREAT EXPECTATION "Great Expectations" is a coming-of-age novel that follows the life of Pip, an orphaned boy raised by his harsh sister and her blacksmith husband in rural England. One day, Pip encounters an escaped convict in a graveyard and this will lead to a chain of events that will shape his future. Through a mysterious benefactor, Pip receives a substantial fortune and moves to London to pursue his "great expectations." There, he becomes entangled in a web of deceit. As Pip navigates the complexities of wealth, social class, and unrequited love, he learns valuable lessons about the true nature of friendship, loyalty, and self-worth. Ultimately, the novel explores themes of ambition, identity, and the consequences of one's choices, while providing a scathing critique of Victorian society. OLIVER TWIST Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse. He is an orphan, the son of an unknown father, and his mother dies in childbirth. Conditions in the workhouse are terrible and the boys constantly suffer from hunger. When Oliver asks for more food he provokes a furious reaction from the officials. Oliver runs away to London, where he becomes involved with a gang of thieves, led by Fagin. He is arrested and he accounters any sort of misadventure. It emerges that a member of Fagin’s gang, Monks is Oliver's half-brother. Both are sons of a wealthy father, who left most of his fortune to Oliver's mother. Monks plotted to kill Oliver to get the entire inheritance. In the end Oliver receives his share of his father's inheritance and is adopted by Mr. Brownlow. Oliver can finally enjoy a peaceful life in the countryside, free from the cruelty of the workhouse and the wickedness of Fagin's criminal gang. Against this background Oliver stands out as a child with a pure heart and a determined spirit. This is not the transformation of a young criminal into a gentleman, Oliver's happy ending comes as a result of the discovery of his true identity. Dickens's description of the cruelty and hypocrisy of Victorian England does not lead to any reform or change in the Victorian mindset Oliver simply returns to his rightful status. SOCIAL CRITICISM AND WORKHOUSES Through Oliver Twist, Dickens expressed his anger at the living conditions of the poor. He also wanted to express the iniquity of the Poor Law of 1834, which dictated that public charity was to be administered through workhouses. The primary purpose of workhouses was to deter people from seeking public assistance by providing them with harsh and austere conditions. In Victorian England the wealthy aristocratic class did not have to work for a living, while the growing middle class saw hard work as a moral virtue. Poverty was seen as a sin and under the terms of the Poor Law, poor people could only receive assistance if they lived and worked in workhouses. It circulated the myth that people who were poor it was because they didn’t work hard enough. Conditions were as harsh as possible to discourage the poor from relying on public charity. Children were forced to do hard physical work.