Charles Dickens and the Victorian Era The Poor, The Orphans and The Fallen

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

Charles Dickens and the Victorian Era

The Poor, The Orphans and The Fallen

FAKEERBACUS-ELMNSHELENI BIBI AYESHA

11/23/2013

Fakeerbacus-Elmnsheleni B. Ayesha November 2013

2 | Dickens and The Victorian Era The Poor, The Orphans and The Fallen

Acknowledgement

I wish to express my gratitude to all those who supported me. I also thank my tutor for her

guidance.

Fakeerbacus-Elmnsheleni B. Ayesha November 2013

3 | Dickens and The Victorian Era The Poor, The Orphans and The Fallen

Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

Literature Review ....................................................................................................................................... 6

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 9

CHAPTER ONE: Charles Dickens Biography ...................................................................................... 10

CHAPTER TWO: Perspective of others on Charles Dickens works ................................................... 14

CHAPTER THREE: The Poor and The Orphans ................................................................................. 16

CHAPTER FOUR: The Fallen ................................................................................................................ 20

CHAPTER FIVE: Dickens - reformer, moralist and activist ............................................................... 23

CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................................... 26

BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................... 29

Fakeerbacus-Elmnsheleni B. Ayesha November 2013

4 | Dickens and The Victorian Era The Poor, The Orphans and The Fallen

Abstract

This research focuses on Charles Dickens‟ representation of the underprivileged in the British

society during the Victorian Era. The socially disadvantaged members that will be under

discussion are the poor, women and children, who are of major concern in Dickens‟ selected

texts namely Bleak House, Great Expectations, Hard Times and Oliver Twist. It is evident that

Dickens noted the impact of industrialisation on the Victorian society as it created a massive

urban development, leading to a higher class division.

Initially, the English society consisted of the aristocracy, the landed gentry and the servants who

belonged to the lower class. The influx of industrialization created a further division of these

classes in which there emerged the capitalists or bourgeoisie, who were the industrialists like Mr.

Bounderby in Hard Times, and the working class, who were the...