The Fiction and Journalism of Charles Dickens - 4554 Words

The Fiction and Journalism of Charles Dickens Readers of Charles Dickens journalism will recognize many of the authors themes as common to his novels. Certainly, Dickens addresses his fascination with the criminal underground, his sympathy for the poor, especially children, and his interest in the penal system in both his novels and his essays. The two genres allow the author to address these matters with different approaches, though with similar ends in mind. Two key differences exist, however, between the authors novels and his journalism. First, humor, which is an essential element if many of Dickens novels, is largely absent from his essays recommend specific medicine. However, as this paper will suggest, the authors†¦show more content†¦Explaining this difference may be the fact that such a reasonable, open perspective is fitting for a serious essay but would have failed to advance his themes in fiction like Oliver Twist or to capture the emotional attention of his readers. While suggestions that improvements in workhouses have been made between the writing of Oliver Twist and the publication of this essay of the same period convincingly argues against such a supposition. Among those characteristics of the 1850 workhouse applauded by Dickens were the robust looks of the children, the pleasant confidence of the members of the infant school, and the cheerful and healthy aspect of the girls school (Philip and Neuberg 109). This measured acknowledgment that all is not wrong in the workhouse contrasts with the way Dickens introduces Twists workhouse experience. If this he writes that the parish authorities magnanimously and humanely resolved that Oliver should be farmed, or, in other words, that he should be dispatched to a branch-workhouse some three miles off, where twenty or thirty other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws rolled about the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing, under the parental supervision of an elderly female who received the culprits at and for the consideration of sevenpence-halfpenny per small head per week (Oliver Twist 48). The tone of this workhouse description here is, of course,Show MoreRelatedA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens1293 Words   |  6 PagesCharles Dickens presents many short stories and novels. He is greatly known for his short fiction and later theater play, â€Å"A Christmas Carol†. In one short story, a reader could describe it as Charles â€Å"other† Christmas story, an elderly narrator reminisce of holiday past. There is a range of appeal in the story itself from comforting memories of loved toys to leaving the reader with an eerie feeling of various childhood haunts. The reader’s analysis of Dickens use of vivid detail together with hisRead MoreThe Reflection Of Charles Dickens Great Expectations1590 Words   |  7 Pages The Reflection of Charles Dickens in Great Expectations Introduction: The general definition of reflection is† to bring or cast as result â€Å". Dr. Harvey from Macquarie University define reflection as â€Å"an intended action, it depends on the past actions, present actions, and future actions.† In this paper we will see the reflection in â€Å"Art†. Art is the reflection of the identity and personality, for example in painting, drawing, writing, and many more. 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Dickens died happy in the middle class and Pip died happy in the middle class. The connection Dickens makes with his life to Pip’s life is undeniable. If readers understand Dickens and his upbringing then readers can understand how and why he created Pip’s upbringingRead More Charles Dickens Essay2085 Words   |  9 PagesCharles 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. 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However during the 1930s Huxley underwent a transformation in his style of art. In his 1936 Eyeless inRead Moreessay on dickins journey to niagra3989 Words   |  16 PagesDickens felt transported by the sublimity of  Niagara Falls  when he visited it on his 1842 journey to the  United States  and Canada. In a letter to Forster (26 April 1842), he said of Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian side of Niagara) that It would be hard for a man to stand nearer God than he does there (Letters 3: 210). Dickens proceeds to  effuse  over the beauty and majesty of the falls in a passage that forms the chief part of his description of his experience in American Notes, although the letterRead MoreBritish Literature Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pagessociety 3. 17th century John Milton – is the figure of this period his masterpiece is â€Å"Paradies Lost† – is about the revolt of Satan against Heaven and God 4. 18th century In the 18th century there is a big development of the society and economy, journalism, novels and drama developed very much. Literature became very popular. Jonathan Swift – was a sharp critic, he wrote satirical pamphlets on all unfair events in British society. His most popular work is Gullivers travels – allegory of Lemuel Gulliver’s