Charles Dicken's Novels: Literary Criticism

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(Constable 25).

In 1814 John Dickens was transferred from the post in Portsworth to one in
London. Three years later the family moved to Chatham to be closer to their
father who was working steadily at the post. Charles Dickens's mother taught
him to read when he was barely five and for the next few years Dickens lived
wonderfully, reading every book he could get his hands on. He quickly read
through his father's collection of Shakespeare, Cervantes, Defoe, Smollett,
Fielding, and Goldsmith. Every one of these authors left a mark on the young
mind of Charles Dickens which is easy to see in his style and attitude
throughout writings (Carey 6).

During this time Dickens started attending school where he excelled and pleased
his father greatly. Although he was a solitary child, Dickens was observant and
good natured and often participated in different comical routines for the class.
Looking back on this period of his life, Dickens thought of it as the golden age
(Carey 6). In ...

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way to that of his
own (Allen 28).

Dickens' sympathy for the victimized, his fascination with prisons and money,
the desire to vindicate his heroes' status as gentlemen, and the idea of London
as an awesome, lively, and rather threatening environment all reflect the
experiences he had during his time on his own. On his own at the age of twelve,
Dickens learned many necessary life skills which also developed in him a driving
ambition and a boundless energy that transferred into every thing that he did
(28).

It would be a mistake to think of Charles Dickens as an uneducated man just
because he had little formal schooling. Dickens did what everyone should do,
learn from life. His ...

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