Theme: Social Class

Article 1

In Charles Dickens’ work, there are similar trends that appear throughout each of his novels. Whether it be poverty, criminal activity, or self-improvement, they all have significant impacts on the book. Social class in particular, plays a big role in his novels and encompasses all of the other themes. In both Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, Dickens reveals the inner workings of the 19th century English class system by maneuvering the main characters through the various levels. 

Both of these book have a similar storyline where the main characters start out as young orphan boys who, as they grow up, gradually climb the social ladder of english society with the help of wealthy benefactors. There are characters in the novels that represent the very bottom, the middle, and the very top, and each one has a different impact on the main character as they are shaped throughout the book. The criminals of the lower classes test their morals, while the members of the upper class educate them. 

During the Victorian Era in England, there were very distinct social classes. By exploring the various social classes Dickens also invokes the themes of poverty, criminal activity, and self-improvement. There was a very large gap between the upper class, the middle class, and those living in poverty. The conditions for those living in poverty were extremely harsh and Dickens brings to life the terrible conditions in which the poor had to endure. The workhouse and the boys’ home in Oliver Twist depict the undesirable life as an orphan. Dickens shows us that life as an orphan still wasn’t the worst fate when he described in great detail, a rundown, poverty-stricken neighborhood in Oliver Twist saying, “The houses on either side were high and large, but very old, and tenanted by people of the poorest class…. A great many of the tenements had shop fronts; but they were fast closed, and mouldering away; only the upper rooms being inhabited. Some houses, which had become insecure from age and decay, were prevented from falling into the street, by huge beams of wood reared against the wall, and firmly planted in the road; but even these crazy dens seemed to have been selected as the nightly haunts of some houseless wretches, for many of the rough boards which supplied the place of door and window, were wretched from their positions, to afford and aperture wide enough for the passage of a human body. The kennel was stagnant and filthy. The very rats, which here and there lay putrefying in is rottenness, were hideous with famine.” (Oliver Twist, pg 81). Dickens’ goal is to make the reader aware of the reality of the poverty people lived in at this time in England’s history. This passage contributes in showing the huge gap between the social levels at the time. 

Along with poverty comes criminal activity. In both of Dickens’ novels the main characters get involved with criminals who test their own moral values. Even though they try as hard as they can to escape being associated with the criminals, they keep getting dragged back into the situations. This is where the idea of self-improvement comes into play. In order to get away from the life of poverty and into the upper class, the characters must attain higher education and establish connections with the elite. The novels follow the journey of the characters gaining their higher status in society.

In the end, the books show how social class ultimately is not as important or rewarding as relationships and self worth. Through exploring the social classes, Dickens’ is able to exploit the corruption and poverty of the time and the gaps between classes of people.