Charles Dickens Influence On The Christmas Carol

On February 7, 1812 one of the world’s greatest writers was born. Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England to John and Elizabeth Dickens. Dickens wrote many books and plays that are still read and performed today. One of his most iconic characters is Ebenezer Scrooge from the book turned play “The Christmas Carol”. Charles Dickens had an interesting life and many accomplishments. Although many early critics persisted that his works are “shapeless” , many critics today do not agree with that idea. Modern- day critics, now see Dickens novels as brilliant and complex “denunciations of the bourgeois society that corrupts its members.” (Draper 895).
Charles had the ability to express himself through words and plays. Some have
compared Dickens to another great British novelist, the great William Shakespeare and “an accidental giant of literature.” (Magill 530). Charles Dickens was born in early 1812.
His father was a clerk in the Navy Pay office, Dickens character Mr. Micawber in the novel “David Copperfield” was inspired by his father. Due to the work of his father, the family moved around often causing stress and, eventually, debt. In 1817, the whole family moved to Chatham. In 1822, however, the Dickens family moved to Camden Town, a malnourished, tiny town in London. In 1824, John Dickens was sent to prison for debt owed. That same year, Charles Dickens left school to go work in the dilapidated, rat-infested Blackening Factory sticking labels next to the Thames River. Pedestrians had the opportunity to glance in the many dirt-covered windows to see Charles degration. Dickens later stated, “How could I be so easily cast away at such a young age?” To make matters worse, Elizabeth Dickens, an inspiring teacher, along with Dickens six siblings went to live in a cheap and smelly little house in Camden Town, but left Charles behind to work. In March of 1825, after brutal embarrassment and a battle with depression, Charles Dickens was sent back to school. When Dickens was 15, however, he again was pulled out of school, to work as an office boy. Fortunately, the job became an early chance to launch his writing career. In 1829, Dickens went to journalism
school. When Charles Dickens met Maria Beadnell in 1830, the two began an epic love affair.
In 1833, the two split after Maria rejected Dickens. That same year, under the pen name Boz, Charles first article, “Dinner at Popular Walk” appeared in ‘Monthly Magazine’. On April 2, 1836, Charles Dickens rapidly married Catherine Hogarth. Together the two produced ten children. In 1836, the same year as his marriage, ‘Sketches by Boz,’ a collection of newspaper that Dickens had written previously. These “sketches” launched Dickens to fame. During this time, Charles became interested in acting and directing. He wrote two plays and a pamphlet on popular issue, and one very dear to Dickens heart, how the poor should be able to enjoy the Sabbath, and he resigned from the newspaper, the Charles undertook to edit a monthly magazine called Bentley’s Miscellany. From 1837-1839 Dickens wrote his second novel “Oliver Twist”. Thus, Dickens had to install two installments every month leaving Charles exhausted. In 1842, Catherine and Charles Dickens travelled to America; the trip was described in the short series of notes “American
Notes.” In 1855, Charles met with his first love Marie Beadnell for some comfort. His marriage was falling apart and rumors were swirling that Dickens was having an affair with his sister-in-law. Maria was happily married and, again, refused Dickens in love. Charles got his revenge on her, by making her the garrulous character of Flora Flinching in his novel ‘Little Dorrit’. In 1856, Dickens bought the gentleman’s home Gad’s Hill. He had admired the home since he was a young boy. Two years later, in 1858, while directing a play Dickens met young actress Ellen Ternan and separated from his wife. Unfortunately, in the Victorian era, divorce was frowned upon so Dickens continued to live with his wife for the remaining twenty years until they both died. Some say that the two were generally happy, they just grew tired while others say Charles left Catherine, who was aging and fat, for Ellen, a woman in her late teens, early twenties. In 1860, Walter Dickens, Charles Dickens son, and Elizabeth Dickens, his mother, both died month’s apart causing Dickens health to decline steadily. In 1865, Charles, fifty-three, looked twenty years older. He had lived too intensely. Refusing to slow down, Dickens became the 16th president of the Birmingham and Midland Institute. On June 9, 1870, one of the world’s greatest writers died. Charles John Huffam Dickens died of heart failure. Upon his death, Dickens left behind an unfinished mystery novel, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” which was later published as left. People have made life-size statues of Dickens and people today are still admiring his books and plays. Charles Dickens had an interesting life and many accomplishments.