Charles Dickens and the Portrait of Victorian England Charles Dickens
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Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích Pedagogická fakulta Katedra anglistiky Diploma thesis Charles Dickens and the Portrait of Victorian England Diplomová práce Charles Dickens v kontextu viktoriánské Anglie Vypracovala: Petra Čásenská Vedoucí práce: PhDr. Alice Sukdolová, Ph.D. České Budějovice 2016 Prohlašuji, že svoji diplomovou práci jsem vypracovala samostatně pouze s použitím pramenů a literatury uvedených v seznamu citované literatury. Prohlašuji, že v souladu s § 47b zákona č. 111/1998 Sb. v platném znění souhlasím se zveřejněním své diplomové práce, a to v nezkrácené podobě elektronickou cestou ve veřejně přístupné části databáze STAG provozované Jihočeskou univerzitou v Českých Budějovicích na jejích internetových stránkách, a to se zachováním mého autorského práva k odevzdanému textu této kvalifikační práce. Souhlasím dále s tím, aby toutéž elektronickou cestou byly v souladu s uvedeným ustanovením zákona č. 111/1998 Sb. zveřejněny posudky školitele a oponentů práce i záznam o průběhu a výsledku obhajoby kvalifikační práce. Rovněž souhlasím s porovnáním textu mé kvalifikační práce s databází kvalifikačních prací Theses.cz provozovanou Národním registrem vysokoškolských kvalifikačních prací a systémem na odhalování plagiátů. Datum: ………………..………. ……………………………………….. Petra Čásenská Acknowledgements I would like to express my thanks to PhDr. Alice Sukdolová, Ph.D. for her invaluable help and support towards the completion of this thesis. I also wish to thank my family and friends for their support. Abstract The diploma thesis presents Charles Dickens not only as one of the most popular Victorian writers but it also concentrates on Dickens´ description and characterization of a place and surroundings in the novels Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and Great Expectations. In the introductory part the thesis characterizes Victorian England and its social and cultural aspects. The core of the thesis is Dickens´ portrayal of London in contrast with the country environment in the selected novels. The diploma thesis tries to express Dickens´ literary evolution from the point of view of the description of the surroundings and landscape; alternatively it traces romantic features of his writings. Anotace Práce představí Charlese Dickense nejen jako jednoho z nejznámějších viktoriánských autorů, ale soustředí se především na Dickensův popis a charakteristiku místa a prostředí v románech Oliver Twist, David Copperfield a Nadějné vyhlídky (Great Expectations). V úvodu práce charakterizuje viktoriánskou Anglii a její sociální a kulturní aspekty. Jádrem práce bude Dickensův obraz Londýna v kontrastu s venkovským prostředím v uvedených románech. Práce se bude snažit postihnout Dickensův literární vývoj v líčení prostředí a krajiny, případně vysleduje romantické prvky jeho tvorby. Table of contents Introduction ...........................................................................................................................7 1. Victorian England ...............................................................................................................9 1. 1 Essential data ...............................................................................................................9 1. 2 Queen Victoria, political and state issues ...................................................................14 1. 3 Social life in Victorian England ....................................................................................22 1. 3. 1 Social class ..........................................................................................................22 1. 3. 2 Working life ........................................................................................................28 1. 3. 3 Child labour.........................................................................................................29 1. 3. 4 Family life ...........................................................................................................31 1. 3. 5 Health, diseases and medicine ............................................................................33 2. The Life of Charles Dickens ..............................................................................................36 2. 1 Birth and family ..........................................................................................................36 2. 2 Childhood in Chatham ................................................................................................37 2. 3 Childhood in London ..................................................................................................39 2. 3. 1 Child labour.........................................................................................................40 2. 3. 2 Studies at Wellington House Academy ................................................................42 2. 4 Youth and the first working experience ......................................................................43 2. 5 Adulthood ..................................................................................................................43 2. 5. 1 The first writing feats ..........................................................................................43 2. 5. 2 Personal life ........................................................................................................44 2. 6 Late years ...................................................................................................................46 3. The work of Charles Dickens in the context of the Victorian period ................................47 3. 1 General characteristics of Charles Dickens´ work ........................................................47 3. 2 Oliver Twist ................................................................................................................51 3. 2. 1 A brief plot summary of the novel Oliver Twist ....................................................51 3. 2. 2 Aspects of the Victorian era in Oliver Twist .........................................................53 3. 2. 3 Features of Charles Dickens´s life in Oliver Twist ................................................56 3. 3 David Copperfield .......................................................................................................58 3. 3. 1 A brief plot summary of the novel David Copperfield ..........................................58 3. 3. 2 Aspects of the Victorian era in David Copperfield ................................................60 3. 3. 3 Features of Charles Dickens´ life in David Copperfield .........................................64 3. 4 Great Expectations .....................................................................................................66 3. 4. 1 A brief plot summary of the novel Great Expectations ........................................66 3. 4. 2 Aspects of the Victorian era in Great Expectations ..............................................69 3. 4. 3. Features of Charles Dickens´ life in Great Expectations ......................................72 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................................74 Resumé ................................................................................................................................77 References ...........................................................................................................................80 Literary resources .............................................................................................................80 Online resources ...............................................................................................................82 Introduction This diploma thesis is concerned with the life and works of English writer Charles Dickens in context of the Victorian period in England and mainly in the capital city of England – London. The thesis tries to retrace aspects of the real and oftentimes harsh life of Charles Dickens primarily in his children´s years which enter into the connection with actualities depicted so excellently in Dickens´ writings. In the first theoretical part the diploma thesis endeavours to portray the atmosphere of Victorian England and Victorian London, to record the substance of the environment which was the fertile ground for Charles Dickens´ novels. The thesis tries to describe the biggest paradox of that period – the noticeable difference between wealthy and poor inhabitants of Victorian England regarding the living conditions and surroundings - as much aptly as it is possible. The difference was naturally the most alarming and evident in London. The aim of this part of the diploma thesis is also to cover daily life routine of the Victorian society, their occupation, education and habits. Additionally this part of the thesis is also concerned with the historical and political background of the Victorian era and its most important events. The second part of the thesis deals with the life of Charles Dickens. It tries to collect as much information about Dickens´ childhood as possible because an absolute majority of the main characters in his writings are children. It should be noted that these children do not actually experience a happy and idyllic childhood. I am convinced Charles Dickens drew inspiration for the depiction of their desperate life situation from his own experience and gloomy memories. The third part of this diploma thesis is practical. It engages in three novels by Charles Dickens carrying the