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 Dickensâ 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 Dickensâ 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...