A Call to Re-characterize Miss Havisham: Why this Character in Great Expectations Deserves Our Sympathy

Growing up, I was fortunate to have an extremely close relationship with both my paternal and maternal set of Grandparents. My sweet Granny and Papa (my Father’s parents), and my wonderful Grandma and Grandpa (my mother’s parents). Though over the years, our visits have become fewer and far between simply due to life becoming more … Read more

Romanticism in A Christmas Carol and Wuthering Heights

In both novels, A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens and Wuthering Heights, written by Emily Bronte, the authors generate powerful scenarios for the reader to understand the influence romanticism has on individuals. Charles Dickens does this by taking his character through a journey that involves going through the past, present and future and suggests … Read more

Perception of Children in Victorian England: Great Expectations / The Chimney Sweeper

Life for children in Victorian Era was very different than childhood in today’s world. Especially life for young children was very cruel. The texts, Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, and “The Chimney Sweeper”, by William Blake, deal with the idea of how children were perceived in Victorian Era. Stage one of the book, Great Expectations, … Read more

Charles Dickens’ short story The Signalman

In Charles Dickens short story, “The Signalman”, he takes a conceptual and theoretical approach as he uses critical moves to suggest a mystery within the characters and the spectres portrayed. Dickens focuses on elements such as setting and environment, ambiguity, symbolism, and conflict which are employed to intensify the supernatural effects within the story. In … Read more

Great Expectations – Charles Dickens

Joe Gargery’s strong moral compass and unconditional observance of ethical codes prove him to be arguably one of the wisest characters in Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations. Joe is unfailingly compassionate towards those he loves and ensures that he only acts in ways that he sees fit to benefit others. Although uneducated and unsophisticated, Joe’s demonstrated … Read more

Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations – children’s rights

For thousands of years, families put their children to work in whatever labor was necessary for survival; only wealthy and powerful children were able to avoid this fate. In 19th Century England, children of lower class were to work long hours in factories, warehouses, and coal mines for low wages and little food. They also … Read more

Literary Response – A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens lived a life of poverty and struggle as a young boy, and his British upbringing and personal experiences as a child directly influenced his tone and underlying language in writing his novel, A Tale of Two Cities. However, later in life, Dickens became wealthier as he developed his writings and became successful. Often … Read more

How Charles Dickens Uses "Great Expectations" to Examine Social Class and Human Nature

 Charles Dickens’ renowned novel “Great Expectations” provides an intimate look into our own surroundings through the lens of the young Pip, and his lifelong quest for betterment and fulfilment through ambition, social class, and self-discovery. These thematic milestones throughout Pip’s life in the novel are exemplar of Dickens’ own life, and further, of a … Read more

Macbeth, Oliver Twist and Angela's Ashes

Macbeth The play begins with the appearance of the three witches and it then moves on to a military camp where the Scottish king Duncan hears the news that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo, defeated two armies from Ireland and Norway. After their battle with these enemy forces Macbeth and Banquo encounter the three witches … Read more

About Charles Dickens

Our essays provide examples on how to write an essay about Charles Dickens, covering many of his most famous works.

Charles Dickens is one of the most renowned authors of all time. Born in Portsmouth, England in 1812, Dickens is best known for his classic novels and works of fiction. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential authors of the 19th century, and his novels have been translated into dozens of languages and adapted for the stage, screen, and radio.

Charles Dickens began his career as a newspaper reporter, writing for several London publications in the early 1830s. He soon transitioned to writing novels, and his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, was published in 1836. The Pickwick Papers was an instant success, and over the next two decades, Dickens wrote a steady stream of bestselling novels, including Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, A Christmas Carol, and David Copperfield.

Dickens’ novels are known for their colorful characters, vivid settings, and social commentary. He often explored issues of poverty and social injustice in his works, and his characters often reflected the struggles of ordinary people during a period of rapid social and economic change. His books were immensely popular in England and America, and many of his works were adapted for the stage and screen during the 19th and 20th centuries.

In addition to his novels, Charles Dickens wrote several short stories and essays. His essay A Walk in a Workhouse, written in 1844, was a stark and honest account of the life of the poor in London. He also wrote several travelogues, including American Notes for General Circulation, which details his travels in the United States in 1842.

Charles Dickens is considered to be one of the greatest authors of all time. His novels are still widely read and studied around the world, and his works have been adapted for the stage, screen, and radio. He is best known for his classic novels, such as The Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol, as well as his travelogues and essays. His works continue to inspire readers and audiences to this day, and his legacy as one of the greatest authors in history lives on.