Charles Dickens and the Rise of the Novel: Key Authors & Social Context
Charles Dickens and the Evolution of the Novel
Charles Dickens is a pivotal author, renowned both in England and internationally. Born in Portsmouth, he spent much of his life in London and did not receive formal education until age nine. His famous novels include Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol.
A novel can be defined as:
- “A fictitious prose narrative or tale presenting a picture of real life, especially of the emotional crises in the life-history of the men and women portrayed” (A Concise English Dictionary)
- “A fictitious prose narrative or tale of considerable length (now usually one long enough to fill one or more volumes) in which characters and actions representative of the real life of past or present times are portrayed in a plot of more or less complexity” (Oxford English Dictionary)
Key Features of the Novel
Realism: Reflecting the empiricism of Descartes and Locke, emphasizing the external world perceived through our senses.
Individualism: Focusing on individual experiences, often with a single protagonist.
Focus on the Everyday: Contrasting with the romance and supernatural elements of pre-18th century prose.
Originality: Emphasizing new stories rather than recycled ones.
Blacksmith = herrero / Gentleman = caballero / Bildungroman / Inherit = heredado.
In fact / Above all / Nonetheless / Even though / Therefore
The Rise of the Novel in the 18th Century
Important dates:
- 1678: John Bunyan, a tinker and itinerant preacher, wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress while in jail.
- 1719: Daniel Defoe, a journalist and government spy, wrote Robinson Crusoe. In 1722, he wrote Moll Flanders.
- 1740: Samuel Richardson, a master-printer, wrote Pamela.
The 18th-century novel imitated the lives of men and women in society, providing a working model of life through invented characters and situations. Novelists wrote for various reasons:
- Richardson: To inculcate right conduct.
- Fielding: To reform the manners of the age.
- Dickens: To expose social evils.
- Trollope: To make money by providing acceptable entertainment.
Realism and the Novel
Realism in the novel portrays all varieties of human experience, not just those suited to a particular literary perspective. The novel’s realism lies in how it presents life, not just the kind of life it presents.
Social Conditions for the Rise of the Novel in the 18th Century
- The growth of the middle class.
- Changes in philosophy.
- Decline of patronage leading to individualism.
- Growth of reading public and literacy.
- Social consciousness, coinciding with the Enlightenment, aimed to improve society.
- The Licensing Act (1737) prohibited political issues in the theater.
Evolution of the Novel
Before the 18th century, novels often featured romance, supernatural elements, and an unrealistic tone. The first half of the 18th century saw the rise of realism. The second half introduced innovations like The Castle of Otranto (gothic novel) and Tristan Shandy (early stream of consciousness).
Jane Austen
Jane Austen, daughter of a rector, belonged to the gentry. She had seven siblings and moved to Bath. She remained unmarried and published anonymously. Pride and Prejudice, initially called “First Impressions,” is famous for its irony. Austen’s characters often reveal themselves through their actions and dialogue.
Jean Rhys
Jean Rhys was born in Dominica in 1890, daughter of a Welsh doctor and a white Creole mother.
Modernism and Postmodernism
Modernism, starting in the 1890s, emphasized subjectivity. Postmodernism is both a reaction to and a continuation of Modernism.
The Fathers and Mothers of the Novel
Daniel Defoe
– Trader, Dissident (challenging the Anglican church), Self-made man, Journalist, Government spy. He supported both Tories and Whigs.
Activity: Daniel Defoe’s The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
First-person, homodiegetic, overt narrator. The questions reflect the character’s psychology. Providence is a synonym for God. Spiritual reflections are important in his work.
Samuel Richardson
Considered the father of English literature. He was a journalist and pioneer in psychological analysis. His epistolary novels include Pamela or Virtue Rewarded and Clarissa. He included psychological analysis of the characters.
Henry Fielding
He started as a playwright but turned to novels due to censorship. He used an outside observer narrator, focusing externally on characters and male perspectives. His novels include The Adventures of Joseph Andrews and Tom Jones, known for their comedy and morality.
Aphra Behn
– Poet, playwright, translator, fiction writer, pamphleteer.
– Considered the first female professional writer.
– Firm defender of aristocracy and royalism.
– Controversial: wrote openly about sexual topics.
– Dismissed or ignored by critics until the 20th century.
Richardson vs. Fielding
Richardson focused on the emotional/internal life of characters, adding characterization and psychological complexity. Fielding used an external approach, contributing plot complexity and characters as types.
The Victorian Novel
The Victorian period (1837-1901) saw the novel become the leading literary form. Walter Scott’s death (1832) marks the start of the Victorian Age. The rise of literacy in the middle classes increased the reading public. Novels were long, dense, and often published in volumes or serial form, dealing with social issues and writers’ moral roles, contrasting with Aestheticism.
Charlotte Brontë
Critics believe her boarding school experience inspired Jane Eyre. She used the pseudonym Currer Bell. Jane Eyre combines Bildungsroman, Romanticism, and Gothic elements.