Ph. D. Thesis
Class Consciousness in the Novels of Charles Dickens
Kim, Wey Hyun
Department of English Language and Literature
Graduate School
Yeungnam University
( Supervised by Professor Huh, Sang Moon )
Abstract
The belief in social and eco...
Ph. D. Thesis
Class Consciousness in the Novels of Charles Dickens
Kim, Wey Hyun
Department of English Language and Literature
Graduate School
Yeungnam University
( Supervised by Professor Huh, Sang Moon )
Abstract
The belief in social and economic progress and a sense of crisis over the loss of traditional values coexisted in the Victorian age in which Charles Dickens lived and wrote his novels. The change of economic relationship due to industrialization led to the rise of the middle class as a ruling class and the change of class order in Victorian society. With the formation and rise of a middle class, class consciousness began to emerge, and Victorian society was reorganized as class based society. Dickens described the aspect and meaning of this society through his novels. The aim of this dissertation is to reveal and analyze the characteristics and transition of class consciousness in Dickens’s novels.
Oliver Twist is representative of the poor in the first half of Oliver Twist, but he is described as a middle-classed gentleman with natural morality in the second half. It is said that this shows writer’s limitation of class consciousness. Though the novel shows sharp insight and analysis, some critics argue that Dickens found a solution to the problems of society in the viewpoint of middle class. The middle class of the time adopted an unpopular stand by expanding their rights by means of alliance with the aristocratic class, but they had not only confidence that they could accomplish social progress for themselves but also have the entrepreneurial ideals of early Victorian capitalism. Idealized characters such as Rose and Brownlow in Oliver Twist are members of the middle class, but they have different viewpoints from the board members of the workhouses. The portrayal of ideological differences of characters from the same class undoubtedly informs us of Dickens’s class attitude. His empirical understanding and sympathy for the poor in the description of workhouses and slums are obvious proof of his social recognition and class attitude.
When Dickens wrote David Copperfield, the problems of Victorian society on the hidden side of its superficial security resulted from the organizational contradiction of the society, and they made easy categorization and its solution impossible. The situation of the time and Dickens’s recognition is reflected in David Copperfield. The critical mind of mankind stems from individual greediness and the defects of institutions in his early novels, but from individual hasty impulse and unrefined ideals in David Copperfield. The writer deals with the problems of the society not in social dimension but individual dimension in the novel, and accepts the value of the ruling class in the novel. The social success and self maturity of the hero are in accordance with the value criterion of the middle class, and they are depicted specifically and practically in the novel. As the novel has autobiographic factors, David’s social success is described in detail. Consequently, a reconciliation with society and the uncritical acceptance of the ruling order which are revealed in David’s behavior demonstrate a retreat of Dickens’s class consciousness.
The end of the 1850s and the early of the 1860s, considered the golden period of the Victorian age, was dominated by an optimism throughout society. The blind pursuit of wealth and the desire to live the life as a gentleman led to conservatism in Victorian society, resulting in stability and prosperity in middle Victorian age. In spite of the social and economic prosperity, the reason why Dickens felt crisis consciousness and held a pessimistic view of the society was that he gained an insight into industrialization, capitalization and the ideological reinforcement hidden in them. Dickens recognized the social ills of the time as incurable, structural problems and could not regard the society optimistically. In Great Expectations, Dickens’s depiction of the impact of the industrial society is not confined to specific regions or groups. He shows that it is impossible for individuals to escape the influence. In short, Dickens’s class consciousness is intensified in proportion to the pessimistic vision of Victorian society.
In Oliver Twist, the criticism on utilitarianism, evangelicalism, middle class and the optimistic view of the lower classes verify that Dickens is a popular writer. In David Copperfield, the retreat of class consciousness is shown in Dickens’s lack of social criticism, and his acceptance of established order. In Great Expectations, Victorian society is presented as a massive industrial society, and social criticism is deepened and ubiquitous. Therefore, the intensified hospitality toward ruling class and ruling order acts as the cause which strengthens the belief in the subjugated class and their value.
Ph. D. Thesis
Class Consciousness in the Novels of Charles Dickens
Kim, Wey Hyun
Department of English Language and Literature
Graduate School
Yeungnam University
( Supervised by Professor Huh, Sang Moon )
Abstract
The belief in social and economic progress and a sense of crisis over the loss of traditional values coexisted in the Victorian age in which Charles Dickens lived and wrote his novels. The change of economic relationship due to industrialization led to the rise of the middle class as a ruling class and the change of class order in Victorian society. With the formation and rise of a middle class, class consciousness began to emerge, and Victorian society was reorganized as class based society. Dickens described the aspect and meaning of this society through his novels. The aim of this dissertation is to reveal and analyze the characteristics and transition of class consciousness in Dickens’s novels.
Oliver Twist is representative of the poor in the first half of Oliver Twist, but he is described as a middle-classed gentleman with natural morality in the second half. It is said that this shows writer’s limitation of class consciousness. Though the novel shows sharp insight and analysis, some critics argue that Dickens found a solution to the problems of society in the viewpoint of middle class. The middle class of the time adopted an unpopular stand by expanding their rights by means of alliance with the aristocratic class, but they had not only confidence that they could accomplish social progress for themselves but also have the entrepreneurial ideals of early Victorian capitalism. Idealized characters such as Rose and Brownlow in Oliver Twist are members of the middle class, but they have different viewpoints from the board members of the workhouses. The portrayal of ideological differences of characters from the same class undoubtedly informs us of Dickens’s class attitude. His empirical understanding and sympathy for the poor in the description of workhouses and slums are obvious proof of his social recognition and class attitude.
When Dickens wrote David Copperfield, the problems of Victorian society on the hidden side of its superficial security resulted from the organizational contradiction of the society, and they made easy categorization and its solution impossible. The situation of the time and Dickens’s recognition is reflected in David Copperfield. The critical mind of mankind stems from individual greediness and the defects of institutions in his early novels, but from individual hasty impulse and unrefined ideals in David Copperfield. The writer deals with the problems of the society not in social dimension but individual dimension in the novel, and accepts the value of the ruling class in the novel. The social success and self maturity of the hero are in accordance with the value criterion of the middle class, and they are depicted specifically and practically in the novel. As the novel has autobiographic factors, David’s social success is described in detail. Consequently, a reconciliation with society and the uncritical acceptance of the ruling order which are revealed in David’s behavior demonstrate a retreat of Dickens’s class consciousness.
The end of the 1850s and the early of the 1860s, considered the golden period of the Victorian age, was dominated by an optimism throughout society. The blind pursuit of wealth and the desire to live the life as a gentleman led to conservatism in Victorian society, resulting in stability and prosperity in middle Victorian age. In spite of the social and economic prosperity, the reason why Dickens felt crisis consciousness and held a pessimistic view of the society was that he gained an insight into industrialization, capitalization and the ideological reinforcement hidden in them. Dickens recognized the social ills of the time as incurable, structural problems and could not regard the society optimistically. In Great Expectations, Dickens’s depiction of the impact of the industrial society is not confined to specific regions or groups. He shows that it is impossible for individuals to escape the influence. In short, Dickens’s class consciousness is intensified in proportion to the pessimistic vision of Victorian society.
In Oliver Twist, the criticism on utilitarianism, evangelicalism, middle class and the optimistic view of the lower classes verify that Dickens is a popular writer. In David Copperfield, the retreat of class consciousness is shown in Dickens’s lack of social criticism, and his acceptance of established order. In Great Expectations, Victorian society is presented as a massive industrial society, and social criticism is deepened and ubiquitous. Therefore, the intensified hospitality toward ruling class and ruling order acts as the cause which strengthens the belief in the subjugated class and their value.
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