Recurring Themes in the Works of Charles Dickens
Motifs That Appear in Several Dickens Novels
Jun 12, 2009
Tracing themes and motifs across Charles Dickens's novels can give insight into his personal and societal preoccupations. Following is a list of some recurring motifs that appear in several of Dickens's books.
Debt
Family debt in Dickens is often linked not only to social inequity, but also to a character flaw in the father. Examples include the Trents in The Old Curiosity Shop, the Micawbers in David Copperfield, and the Dorrits in Little Dorrit.
Hypocrisy
Dickens frequently focuses on characters who preach virtues they do not practice, such as Seth Pecksniff in Martin Chuzzlewit and Mrs. Jellyby in Bleak House.
Hidden/Secret Identities
Secret identities can be used not only as a way of swindling people (Montague Tigg in Martin Chuzzlewit), but also as a means for someone to get a more accurate picture of the world around him, such as Old Martin Chuzzlewit in Martin Chuzzlewit, or John Harmon and Noddy Boffin in Our Mutual Friend. There are also numerous characters who find out an unexpected secret about their own identity or birth, such as Esther Summerson in Bleak House and Arthur Clennam in Little Dorrit.
Marital Mismatches
Marital mismatches appear in almost every Dickens novel, and are often only resolved with a death. Examples include David and Dora in David Copperfield, Paul Dombey and Edith Granger in Dombey and Son, Lord and Lady Deadlock in Little Dorrit.
Older Man/Younger Woman Pairings
Dickens generally represents older man/younger woman romantic pairings as denoting maturity and self-denial, especially on the woman's part. Examples include Esther Summerson and John Jarndyce in Bleak House, Dr. and Anne Strong in David Copperfield, and Amy Dorrit and Arthur Clennam in Little Dorrit.
Spouse Abuse
Physical abuse of women in Dickens is deplored as wicked but also linked to women learning “hard lessons.” Examples include Estella and her husband in Great Expectations, Mercy Pecksniff and Jonas Chuzzlewit in Martin Chuzzlewit, and Nancy and Bill Sykes in Oliver Twist. There are also men who suffer abuse from their wives, such as Joe Gargery and Mrs. Joe in Great Expectations.
Social Climbing
Dickens often represents social climbing as a necessary evil that takes young men away from the people who are kindest to them. Examples include David in David Copperfield, Pip in Great Expectations, and Charlie Hexam in Our Mutual Friend. He also represents a series of women who attempt social climbing for money, and are left very unhappy when they succeed, such as Lady Deadlock in Bleak House, and Edith Granger in Dombey and Son.
Child Labor
Dickens represents child labor as an evil, but especially so for sensitive children with middle class origins. Examples include Oliver in Oliver Twist and David in David Copperfield.
Ineffective Government and Bureaucracy
Dickens not only deplores government corruption, but represents its direct human cost. Examples include the legal system in Bleak House, the workhouse system in Oliver Twist, patent offices in Little Dorrit, and the education system in Hard Times.
Many of Dickens's themes are autobiographical. His own family spent time in a debtors prison, he worked as a court reporter in the legal system, and he got involved with a much younger woman while he was still married. Dickens also has many recurring character archetypes in his works.
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