Dickens, Dostoevsky and Utilitarianism: a Comparison Essay Example
| Dickens, Dostoevsky and Utilitarianism: | A Comparison | | Sarah Deyyain | 9/3/2011 |
Dickens, Dostoevsky and Utilitarianism: A Comparison
Utilitarianism is the principle that every action of man must be motivated for the greatest happiness for the greatest number. It is based on the idea that whatever is useful is good and the useful is what brings pleasure to man and avoids pain (Dimwiddy). However, the novelists Charles Dickens and Fyodor Dostoevsky firmly opposed this doctrine that arose with the spread of the Industrial Revolution. Both authors believed that the new thought placed no regard on sentiments and morals. More importantly, it ignored the wellbeing of the individual in order to promote the welfare of the society; thus, creating inequality and social class disparities and consequently tragedy. Dickens and Dostoevsky, through their portrayal of characters and settings of events in their novels, Oliver Twist and Crime and Punishment respectively, illustrated that the Utilitarian principle was futile and a failure, because not only did it do more harm than good but it eventually created social chaos and human tragedy.
Dickens, in his novel of social protest- Oliver Twist, discusses the problem of Utilitarianism quite explicitly, by making the idea of utility the revolving point. Dickens witnessed firsthand the negative impacts of the so-called social reforms that came into legislation in England during the aftermath of industrialization and the utility principle, such as the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 that created the workhouses (Dimwiddy). These legislations in turn gave rise to child labour, exploitation of charity, horrible living conditions and other social problems of the century (Mitchell, Burr and Goldinger). He expresses his grim views and opposition to the theory through his sketch of superficial caricatures that are emblems of evil, and the symbolic setting of the events in the novel. For example, Mr. Bumble, whose name
Dickens, Dostoevsky and Utilitarianism: A Comparison
Utilitarianism is the principle that every action of man must be motivated for the greatest happiness for the greatest number. It is based on the idea that whatever is useful is good and the useful is what brings pleasure to man and avoids pain (Dimwiddy). However, the novelists Charles Dickens and Fyodor Dostoevsky firmly opposed this doctrine that arose with the spread of the Industrial Revolution. Both authors believed that the new thought placed no regard on sentiments and morals. More importantly, it ignored the wellbeing of the individual in order to promote the welfare of the society; thus, creating inequality and social class disparities and consequently tragedy. Dickens and Dostoevsky, through their portrayal of characters and settings of events in their novels, Oliver Twist and Crime and Punishment respectively, illustrated that the Utilitarian principle was futile and a failure, because not only did it do more harm than good but it eventually created social chaos and human tragedy.
Dickens, in his novel of social protest- Oliver Twist, discusses the problem of Utilitarianism quite explicitly, by making the idea of utility the revolving point. Dickens witnessed firsthand the negative impacts of the so-called social reforms that came into legislation in England during the aftermath of industrialization and the utility principle, such as the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 that created the workhouses (Dimwiddy). These legislations in turn gave rise to child labour, exploitation of charity, horrible living conditions and other social problems of the century (Mitchell, Burr and Goldinger). He expresses his grim views and opposition to the theory through his sketch of superficial caricatures that are emblems of evil, and the symbolic setting of the events in the novel. For example, Mr. Bumble, whose name