Charles Dickens Biography Essay - 926 Words

Charles Dickens, the son of John and Elizabeth Dickens, was born in Landport on 7th February 1812. John Dickens worked as a clerk at the Navy pay office in Portsmouth. He later found work in Chatham and Charles, the second of seven children, went to the local school. John Dickens found it difficult to provide for his growing family on his meager income. In 1822 the family moved to Camden Town in London. John Dickens debts had become so severe that all the household goods were sold. Still unable to satisfy his creditors, John Dickens was arrested and sent to Marshalsea Prison. Charles, now aged twelve, found work at Warrens Blacking Factory, where he was paid six shillings a week wrapping shoe-black bottles. Six months after being†¦show more content†¦Unlike most radical newspapers such as the Poor Mans Guardian and The Gauntlet, the True Sun did pay the 4d. stamp duty. Despite having to charge the heavy tax imposed on newspapers, the True Sun sold 30,000 copies a day. In his articles, Dickens used his considerable knowledge of what went on in the House of Commons to help promote the cause of parliamentary reform. Charles Dickens was pleased when Parliament eventually agreed to pass the 1832 Reform Act, however, like most radicals, he thought it did not go far enough. The new reformed House of Commons passed a series of new measures including a reduction in newspaper tax from 4d. to 1d. As a result, the circulation of the True Sun increased to over 60,000. In 1833 Dickens had his first story published in the Monthly Magazine. Using the pen-name of Boz, Dickens also began contributing short stories to the Morning Chronicle and the Evening Chronicle. These stories were so popular that they were collected together and published as a book entitled Sketches by Boz (1836). The publisher, William Hall, now commissioned Dickens to write The Pickwick Papers in twenty monthly installments. This was followed by Oliver Twist, published in Bentleys Miscellany (1837-38) and Nicholas Nickleby (1838-39), also published monthly. Dickens was now the most popular writer in Britain and over the next few years he wrote a series of popularShow MoreRelatedCharles Dickens Biography1626 Words   |  7 Pagesattention to the childhood cruelty, the less fortunate in an English society, and the unwealthy dysfunctional families of the early Victorian time period. Charles Dickens reflects these and other issues as he brings to life the realism of writing. While others were writing about the way things should be, rather than the way things were, Dickens was challenging these ideas, and argued that paupers and criminals were not evil at birth. This was an act of rebellion, for he in fact was showing the VictorianRead MoreBiography on Charles Dickens627 Words   |  2 Pagesel der Dickens was transfered several times, first to London, then to Chatham, and finally, in 1822, back to London, where the family lived in Camden Town. John Dickens was constantly in debt, and in 1824 he was imprisoned in Marshalsea debtors prison (Southwark). Charles was forced to leave school at the age of 12 and go to work in a bootblack factory to help support the Dickens family.It was his personal experience of factory work and the living conditions of the poor that created in Dickens theRead MoreCharles Dickens: A Brief Biography Essay1315 Words   |  6 Pages Charles Dickens Ruth Glancy, a world-renowned Dickens scholar, believed that Charles Dickens blended the Romanticism era, the Industrial age, and the Victorian era into unforgettable novels that still had the whimsical, imaginative part of life. Ruth conceded, â€Å" Dickens increasingly saw the need for finding and nurturing the imaginative core of life that can prevail even in the middle of the modern industrial city (Glancy 17).† Charles used his own experiences and imagination to evoke storiesRead MoreIn His Biography of Charles Dickens, Edgar Johnson Writes ‘’a Christmas Carol’ Is a Parable of Social Redemption and Scrooge’s Conversion Is the Conversion for Which Dickens Hopes Among Mankind’ Discuss.1134 Words   |  5 Pagesnovella written by Charles Dickens which illustrates a somewhat happy Christmas story that highlights the importance of being a kind hearted person. Throughout his novella, Dickens’s shows the reader his intended moral of th e story, that Scrooge’s transformation at the end of the novella is what Dickens’s hopes that our world will too surely change. This is evident throughout the novella as he depicts Scrooge (before the conversion), the main character; to stand for all that Dickens is against. He alsoRead MoreGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens984 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Dickens utilizes his life for inspiration for the protagonist Pip in his novel Great Expectations. They both struggle with their social standing. Dickens loved plays and theatre and therefore incorporated them into Pip’s life. 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 MoreCharles Dickens: Carrying a Burden of Social Responsibility705 Words   |  3 PagesCharles Dic kens: Carrying a Burden of Social Responsibility Charles Dickens’ classic novella A Christmas Carol, focuses on the social responsibility of the wealthy to help the poor and less fortunate. Dickens, having lived in poverty as a child, knew of the many struggles of the lower class of London. As an author, he made it his goal to reform England as best he could. Many of his works ran in his weekly journal, Household Words, including Christmas Stories and Great Expectations. In a ChristmasRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1669 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Dickens He was one of England s greatest authors of the 1800 s, better known as the Victorian era. The various themes and ideas of that time are perfectly showcased in his many novels and short stories, such as Nicholas Nickelby, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol. Much of the inspiration for these works came from the trials and conflicts that he dealt with in his own life. His volumes of fictional writing show the greatRead MoreEveryone Appreciates A Good, Rags, And Oliver Twist1728 Words   |  7 PagesEveryone appreciates a good ‘rags to riches’ story. Charles Dickens did as well, in fact it could be said that his own story was one of rags to riches. Dickens knew poverty, he also knew people, and how poverty can effect and change them. Over the course of his life he wrote some of the most famous and beloved stories, from â€Å"A Christmas Carol,† â€Å"Great Expectation†, and â€Å"Oliver Twist†, to â€Å"Nicholas Nickleby† and â€Å"Davis Copperfield.† Today Dickens is considered to be by many, one of the most well-knownRead More The Childhood of Charles Dickens Essay1498 Words   |  6 PagesThe Childhood of Charles Dickens      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I do not write resentfully or angrily: for I know all these things have worked together to make me what I am - Charles Dickens    Charles Dickenss tumultuous childhood did indeed shape the person he became, as well as have a definite impact on his literary career.   There are shades of young Dickens in many of his most beloved characters, including David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and of course, Great Expectations PipRead MoreCharles Dickens A Great Writer1105 Words   |  5 PagesOctober 2015 Remembering Charles Dickens Charles Dickens is a famous author who wrote numerous books which were enjoyed by many throughout the years. His books are known xquisite characters and real-life settings. Charles experienced difficult times as a young boy (â€Å"Charles Dickens† par. 7). These difficult times followed him throughout his life. He uses ideas from these struggles to express his feelings through the books he writes. The many struggles of Charles Dickens’ early childhood greatly