An Introduction.

 
English writer and social critic Charles Dickens composed, arguably, some of the world’s greatest pieces of fiction literature of the Victorian period. Rest assured the majority of British book worms will have found their nose firmly buried into a Dickens novel at some point of their life. At the heart of every home library, Dickens has brought comfort and joy to many households for generations. But what made Dickens’ words resonate so powerfully with the majority? Perhaps it was how vividly he articulated the stories of the everyday underdog, or the imagery used to express emotion. Coming from a home where his father lived beyond his means and was subsequently jailed for debts, Dickens himself had experienced both what it was like to have a mouth full of turkey and a belly full of gruel.  


Subjectively, Dickens’ most powerful passages are those that employ the use of food imagery to depict the tone of the setting in terms of emotion or prosperity. Dickens got his first bout of success after his novel Oliver Twist was published in 1838, containing one of the most recognized lines in Victorian Literature “Please Sir can I have some more?” Not only does the quote directly relate to food but perhaps is reminiscent of struggles that the novelist faced himself. Throughout this blog I want to explore Dickens’ use of food within his literature, how it has changed the way the reader perceives food and the impact his words have had on society in the context of food.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Conclusion.

To conclude, after researching the ways Dickens’ use of food within his work I have discovered that he frequently employs food as a representation of the social class of characters; food as status is a major theme which can be seen throughout many of his novels. He also uses food as a setting, if multiple character’s attend a meal it gives a valid excuse for as to why characters may be seen in the same location at the same time. Thus opening up the narrative for action; for example, the degradation of Pip during Christmas dinner, or Scrooge witnessing the impoverish representation of the Cratchit’s family meal. Further still, Dicken’s tends to use food to embody a character; for example, Peggotty’s body is compared to apples which represents her status as a cook (the provider of food) and even sheds light on how the character’s physical appearance may be (red and plump). Dicken’s utilizes food as a physical descriptor, social status and emotive exploration. Every r...
Read more

How Dickens shaped Christmas through food.

Image
A Christmas Carol - How Dickens shaped Christmas. 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens has integrated itself into every Christmas British home. The tale of how a rich but selfish man named Scrooge discovers compassion after three spirits show him the poor conditions the lower classes survive in. Repeatedly Dickens employs the topic of food as a catalyst to depict power (or lack thereof). The Cratchits' dinner is famously used as a symbol of poor status. The family's expression of positive energy is brought to the readers attention as "the two smaller Cratchits'" come "tearing in screaming" as they prepare to eat their meal, starkly juxtaposing the actual description of the "eked out" portions; in this way, it is obvious that they scarcely indulge in a sit-down meal, a rare occasion to perhaps even have hot food. Scrooge witnesses Bob Cratchit give a toast to him, " I'll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast...
Read more