Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens!
Why this Victorian novelist’s work is still relevant today
Dickens is a towering figure in English literature. He is the most celebrated author of the 19th century, still considered a model for writers today and studied on English Literature courses at schools and universities throughout the Anglosphere.
On the other hand, many complain that his writing style is too challenging, too old-fashioned and actually puts students off reading.
So, on the occasion of his 212th birthday, I’ll try to persuade you why, despite these difficulties, Dickens’ work is still worth reading all these years later.
Why Do Some Modern Readers Not Like Dickens?
Firstly, those who point out that Dickens is tough to read are not wrong.
When tutoring high school students towards their English exams, I found that many struggled to understand what Dickens was talking about. This wasn’t their fault and it wasn’t Dickens’ fault either.
The world has changed a lot in the almost 200 years since Dickens was active. As a result, everyday objects, items of clothing and modes of transport which were commonplace in Victorian England are alien to teenagers in the 20th century.
While this causes stress for students preparing for exams, it does not need to be a problem for casual readers. When picking up a novel by Dickens or one of his contemporaries, a quick Google search can provide us with the context we need.
I say all this to make it clear that there’s no embarrassment or shame in struggling with Dickens, it’s perfectly normal. But it does not need to be a barrier between us and a good story.
The Expectation Gap
The second barrier to enjoying Dickens seems to be the gap between modern expectations of story pacing and how novelists before the mid-20th century wrote.
Nowadays, we expect a story to start with a bang and carry us from one dramatic moment to another, leading up to the final climax. Older novels tend to build much more slowly, taking time to introduce characters and describe the setting before any significant plot developments take place.
One structure is not better than the other, they’re just different.
But when we approach a book expecting to be carried away by drama and cliffhangers and instead receive lengthy descriptions of a quiet little village, we end up disappointed.
The solution is simple: we adjust our expectations. Go into a Dickens novel expecting a slower pace than you’re used to reading and you’ll probably enjoy the story more than you would have otherwise.
But why are Dickens’ books even worth reading today?
Our society dedicates a lot of time and energy to discussing issues like equality, poverty and what it means to be a good person. So did Dickens and his peers.
Through his novels, Dickens brought attention to the suffering and unfair treatment of the poor in Victorian England. Oliver Twist tells the story of the of an orphan boy exploited by those with more wealth and power. A Christmas Carol focuses on similar themes, arguing that becoming rich by exploiting others is not a recipe for happiness or a good life.
We can fall into the trap of thinking that things are worse now than ever or that no one in the past cared about helping the disadvantaged. Reading old books is a great antidote to this: we can step right into another era and its own problems and discussions of equality and morality.
Dickens’ novels offer a window into the mind and world of a man who championed many of the ideals we cherish today. They can remind us of just how far we’ve come in terms of achieving equal rights and protections for the vulnerable. And they can remind us that one author really can change the world.
