Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens
1812- 1870

He was a 19th Century wrtier of novels, novellas, short stories, poetry, and plays. The most prominent and established writer in the Victorian Era. He had to work in the factories when his dad was thrown in jail. They went from having money to no longer having money. He was a court reporter.

1833
- Published "A Dinner at Poplar Walk" in a monthly magazine
- Began to gain wealth
- Only wrote one play
- Family began to look to him for financial support
- Considered Anti-Semitic, especially in Oliver Twist "The Jew"/Fagan
- Considered to be Racist (according to Modern Critics)
- Died June 9, 1870 from Brain Hemmorage

Works
-Based on his life experiences
     - David Copperfield, Oliver Twist
- "The Old Curiosity Shop" features his sister-in-law's death
- Wanted to educate population of society through his works

Oliver Twist
- Monthly Serial
     - Most of his works were monthly serials
- Published monthly during 1837-1839

Hard Times
- Divorce is frowned upon
     - No longer a part of society
- Science vs. Literature portrayed by ladies
     - Louisa = facts
     - Sissy = imagination/fancy
- Old Money vs New Money again

Bounderby
- What extent can he be held accountable?
- Less sympathetic of others
- If he can do it, anyone can
- Guilty before trial
- Scapegoating the workers and then firing, especially in case of steven
     - Getting fired is almost a death sentence
          - No one would be willing to hire you

Blackpool
-The union worker is a sleeze, even though Dickens is against the factory system
     -Blackpool is trying to cause trouble, almost as bad as Bounderby
          - People who join his union will make him have power

Josiah Bounderby of Coketown
- translates to "Fire of God, Bound-by, Industrialization"
     - How do the names contribute to the overall work?

Gradgrind
- Nose to the grind

Sissy (Cecelia = blind)
- She has feelings, therefore she's 'wimpy'
- Gradgrind attempts to change Sissy's personality, but is not successful
- Most moral
- Naive
- Innocent
- Compassionate
- Leader

James Harthouse
- Wants own way
- Manipulative
- Spoiled, selfish, privledged
- Dresses well
- Their speaker listened to because pretty
- Bored
- Tries to seduce the boss's wife
- Wants to conquer the wife/ temptor

Louisa
- void
- A child = 15,16
- Wife = void
- Lets other pour tea
- She doesn't care about marriage, wants to help brother
- Self-sacrificing
- Loving-selflwss
- Good sibling/ family member
- Divorcee
- Willing to help brother avoid jail

Tom
- Louisa's brother
- A welp
- Annoying, mooch
- Selfish
     - Allows sister to sacrific for him
- Bets/ Gambler
- Thief

Stephan Blackpool
- Loss
- Sacrificial

Sissy vs. Bitzer
- Star pupil bs least favored