Charles Dickens - A Biography - English Literature

There is something about Charles Dickens' imaginativeJohn Forster, long afterward, that he felt a deep sense
power that defies explanation in purely biographicalof abandonment at this time; the major themes of his
terms. Nevertheless, his biography shows the sourcenovels can be traced to this period. His sympathy for
of that power and is the best place to begin to definethe victimized, his fascination with prisons and money,
it.The second child of John and Elizabeth Dickens,the desire to vindicate his heroes' status as gentlemen,
Charles was born on February 7, 1812, nearand the idea of London as an awesome, lively, and
Portsmouth on England's south coast. At that timerather threatening environment all reflect these
John Dickens was stationed in Portsmouth as a clerkexperiences. No doubt this temporary collapse of his
in the Navy Pay Office. The family was ofparents' ability to protect him made a vivid expression
lower-middle-class origins, John having come fromon him. Out on his own for a time at twelve years of
servants and Elizabeth from minor bureaucrats.age, Dickens acquired a lasting self-reliance, a driving
Dickens' father was vivacious and generous but hadambition, and a boundless energy that went into
an unfortunate tendency to live beyond his means. hiseverything he did.At thirteen Dickens went back to
mother was affectionate and rather inept in practicalschool for two years and then took a job in a lawyers
matters. Dickens later used his father as the basis foroffice. Dissatisfied with the work, he learned shorthand
Mr. Micawber and portrayed is mother as Mrs.and became a freelance court reporter in 1828. The
Nickleby in A Tale of Two Cities.After a transfer tojob was seasonal and allowed him to do a good deal
London in 1814, the family moved to Chatham, nearof reading in the British Museum. At the age of twenty
Rochester, three years later. Dickens was about fivehe became a full-fledged journalist, working for three
at the time, and for the next five years his life waspapers in succession. In the next four or five years he
pleasant. Taught to read by his mother, he devouredacquired the reputation of being the fastest and most
his fathers' small collection of classics, which includedaccurate parliamentary reporter in London. The value
Shakespeare, Cervantes, Defoe, Smollet, Fielding, andof this period was that Dickens gained a sound,
Goldsmith. These left a permanent mark on hisfirsthand knowledge of London and the
imagination; their effect on his art was quite important.provinces.Dickens was very active physically. He loved
dickens also went to some performances oftaking long walks, riding horses, making journeys,
Shakespeare and formed a lifelong attachment to theentertaining friends, dining well, playing practical jokes.
theater. He attended school during this period andHe enjoyed games of charades with his family, was
showed himself to be a rather solitary, observant,an excellent amateur magician, and practiced
good-natured child with some talent for comic routines,hypnotism. One tends to share Shaw's opinion that
which his father encouraged. In retrospect DickensDickens, in his social life, was always on stage. He was
looked upon these years as a kind of golden age. Hislike an eternal Master of Ceremonies, for the most
first novel, The Pickwick Papers, is in part an attemptpart: flamboyant, observant, quick, dynamic, full of zest.
to recreate their idyllic nature: it rejoices in innocenceYet he was also restless, subject to fits of depression,
and the youthful spirit, and its happiest scenes takeand hot tempered, so that at times he must have been
place in that precise geographical area.In the light of thenearly intolerable to live with, however agreeable he
family's move back to London, where financialwas as a companion.In view of his very strenuous life
difficulties overtook the Dickens's, the time in Chathamit was not surprising that he died at fifty-eight from a
must have seemed glorious indeed. The family movedstroke. At his death on June 9, 1870, Dickens was
into the shabby suburb of Camden Town, and Dickenswealthy, immensely popular, and the best novelist the
was taken out of school and set to menial jobs aboutVictorian age produced. He was buried in the Poet's
the household. In time, to help augment the familyCorner of Westminster Abbey, and people mourned
income, Dickens was given a job in a blacking factoryhis death the world over.You may visit and for instant
among rough companions. At the time his father wasaccess to thousands of term papers. Several
imprisoned for debt, but was released three monthsthousand free papers are also offered.
later by a small legacy. Dickens related to his friend,