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文献综述英语狄更斯作品中儿童形象的分析一、前言部分（说明写作的目的，介绍有关概念，扼要说明有关主题争论焦点）查尔斯·狄更斯（Charles Dickens）（1812－1870）是英国19世纪最伟大的批判现实主义作家。
在他的小说中,有一类值得我们永远记住的形象———“在伦敦迷雾、盗窟贼窝、暴君学校、后母家中众多的孤独可怜、游荡迷惘、挨打受辱、危险濒临、惊悸不安”的孤儿、苦儿、弃儿、流浪儿、低能儿、小乞丐———他们完整准确地展现了作者的精神世界,并且深入人心地牵动着读者的情思。
英国作家乔治.奥威尔曾说过:“英国作家中,没有一个能比狄更斯更好地描绘童年。
”因此，对于狄更斯作品中儿童形象的分析，历来讨论和研究的文献都层出不穷。
我从中国知识资源总库中的期刊获知，其中包括《从狄更斯笔下的儿童形象看其人道主义思想》（楚雄师范学院附中）《狄更斯笔下的儿童形象》（上海师范大学）《狄更斯笔下的两个儿童形象——谈奥列佛退斯特与大卫科波菲尔》（常州工学院）《狄更斯的儿童情节及其笔下的儿童形象分析》（赣南师范学院外国语学院）《狄更斯作品中的儿童教育》（沈阳工业大学泉州师范学院），这已经充分说明国内相关学者对狄更斯作品中儿童形象的共性与规律都有了一定的注意，研究也在不断深入。
本文通过对这些相关文章的分析与总结，希望对狄更斯作品中的儿童形象有个总体上的了解。
二、主题部分（阐明有关主题的历史背景、现状和发展方向以及对这些问题的评述）百年来，在批评家的笔下，狄更斯的声望起起落落，但是，不管怎样，单凭其描写的众多深入人心的儿童形象，就足以成就其在文学史上不朽的地位了。
连狄更斯的反对者萨克雷也不得不承认他给孩子们“以天真的欢笑，以美而无暇的篇章。
”马克思在《英国资产阶级》一文中列举了英国杰出的小说家，狄更斯的名字更是名列榜首。
而某种程度上，狄更斯的文学成就与其作品中的儿童形象是相辅相成，互相成就的。
（一）狄更斯作品中儿童形象的划分朱挺柳，郑克鲁教授（2003）关于狄更斯儿童形象提出了自己的想法，首先，他们肯定了狄更斯在儿童形象的创作中，取得了独创性的成就。
狄更斯小说中的儿童观淦珊【摘要】查尔斯·狄更斯(1812-1870)是十九世纪英国最杰出的小说家之一.儿童形象在狄更斯的创作中占有极其重要的地位.在世界文学史上,他是第一位倾注了极大精力创造儿童形象的大作家.在儿童形象的创作中,他取得了独创性的成就.这篇论文主要是描写查尔斯·狄更斯笔下的苦难儿童形象,从这些作品中我们可以发现狄更斯对儿童的关注.这与他不幸的童年经历有关,他希望能借助他的作品引起人们对许多儿童的悲惨遭遇的同情和关心.狄更斯认为尊重孩子无辜和纯洁的天性是爱护和保护孩子的基础.他是一位十分杰出的描写儿童苦难的作家,《雾都孤儿》就是其中的代表作.【期刊名称】《江西化工》【年(卷),期】2017(000)005【总页数】2页(P144-145)【关键词】儿童;狄更斯;《雾都孤儿》【作者】淦珊【作者单位】江西省化学工业高级技工学校,江西南昌330039【正文语种】中文查尔斯·狄更斯是英国19世纪伟大的现实批判主义作家，他是继莎士比亚之后最具影响力的现实主义作家。
狄更斯出生在英国南部一个贫穷的家庭，他10岁就开始当童工养家，他的父亲是英国海军军需处职员，但是他的父亲却因负债被捕入狱。
狄更斯生活的巨变发生在他12岁那一年。
为了节省开支，狄更斯一家全部迁入监狱，只有狄更斯在外工作，当他领到薪水时，他会带着食物去监狱探望家人们。
在他的父亲重获自由之后，狄更斯进入一间私立学校学习。
然而他认为学校里粗暴的教育会毁了儿童。
狄更斯做过各种各样的工作，例如：律师事务所的学徒，办公室通讯员以及审案速记员。
他在1832年成为了一名报社记者，为他将来的写作生涯积累了许多生活素材。
狄更斯终于1870年6月9日。
狄更斯在《雾都孤儿》第一版的序言中写道：我相信我是每个孩子都喜欢的父母，没人能像我一样爱着他们，但是像所有父母一样，在我心中有一个最爱的孩子，他的名字就叫《雾都孤儿》。
这部作品中的主人公奥利弗是一个富裕家庭的私生子，他在这个冰冷的世界遭遇了许多曲折。
从狄更斯作品中的儿童形象看其人道主义思想狄更斯不仅是伟大的批判现实主义作家，也是一位人道主义者。
以儿童视角进行观察与写作是狄更斯作品的特色。
本文选取了狄更斯流浪儿三部曲：《雾都孤儿》、《大卫科波菲尔》以及《远大前程》作为研究对象，分析这三部作品中主要的几位儿童形象身上所体现的人道主义精神。
这三部作品有着许多共同的特点：它们描写的都是关于社会底层的儿童，要么是孤儿，要么在很小的年纪被遗弃，经历了常人难以想象的困苦生活。
乔治·卢卡奇是20世纪最有影响的西方马克思主义批评家之一。
现实主义问题是他文学批评所关注的一个焦点。
他首先承认文学是对现实的一种反映。
同时他也强调，这种反映不是一种简单的表面的镜像，而是对客观现实更深刻、更全面的反映。
在他看来几乎所有优秀的文学作品都是现实主义的，他认为一个伟大的现实主义作家应当描写他真正看到的，而不是描写他情愿看到的事物。
基于上述理论，本文通过分析狄更斯三个阶段时期作品中人道主义的成长历程，研究狄更斯如何反映与批判维多利亚时期社会的丑恶现象，从中作者试图找到狄更斯人道主义思想的根源以及狄更斯本人童年梦魇对其笔下儿童形象的创作所产生的影响。
本文首先阐释了此项研究的意义和主要内容,然后介绍了近年来国内外对狄更斯作品人道主义的研究成果。
第三章介绍了早期马克思主义文学批评的形成，主要阐释了乔治·卢卡奇的反映论。
第四章主体部分结合当时的社会背景分别阐释了狄更斯流浪儿三部曲是如何反映并抨击当时的资本主义社会的丑陋现象，尤其是对当时教育制度的批判，对虐待儿童的控诉。
最后本文介绍了狄更斯人道主义的意义及其不足之处。
基于上述研究，作者得出以下结论：狄更斯人道主义思想在他三个创作时期中不断觉醒，从最初对资产阶级盲目的乐观和幻想到最后理性的无情的批判。
狄更斯人道主义的核心是成为人，他认为人与人之间的友爱应当成为社会的主旋律。
狄更斯之所以对维多利亚时期儿童苦难生活的描写入木三分是因为狄更斯本人同样经历了悲惨的童年，他笔下的小奥利弗、小大卫以及小皮普正是狄更斯本人童年的真实写照。
狄更斯小说中的儿童形象分析摘要出生于1812年的查尔斯·狄更斯，是英国19世纪杰出的小说家。
在狄更斯的创作中，他倾注了极大的精力创造儿童形象，并取得了独创性的成就。
他所创造的儿童形象大致可分为尝尽人生磨难的儿童、悲惨命运的儿童以及理想化的儿童三类。
狄更斯对儿童充满了同情与关注，是想呼吁社会关心儿童的成长和需要，旨在引导社会向着美好的方面发展。
关键词：狄更斯小说儿童形象命运中图分类号：i106文献标识码：a查尔斯·狄更斯一生描绘了九十多个儿童形象，儿童形象在他的创作中取得了独创性的成就。
如《奥立弗·退斯特》中的小蒙克斯、诺亚·克雷、南茜；《尼古拉斯·尼克尔贝》中的小瓦克福·斯奎尔斯；《老古玩店》中的耐儿、小雅各；《马丁·朱述尔维特》中的苏菲亚；《大卫·科波菲尔》中的小大卫、汤米·特拉德尔斯；《荒凉山庄》中的小埃丝特·萨默森、《双城记》中的小露西、小查尔斯；《艾德温·德鲁德疑案》中的小罗莎·布德等。
这些儿童形象大致归为饱经人生磨难的儿童、悲惨命运的儿童、理想化的儿童三类。
一饱经人生磨难的儿童形象这类儿童形象包括大卫·科波菲尔、弗洛伦丝、匹普与保罗等。
狄更斯通过对自身一些相似经历的描写，深刻体现了他对孤苦儿童的倾心的关爱与怜惜。
狄更斯在三十八岁的时候创作了《大卫·科波菲尔》，由于童年做童工的可怕经历，狄更斯以一种近乎宗教的畏惧心来看待自己的童年，他把这些回想描写出来仿佛是一种解脱。
在他的小说《大卫·科波菲尔》中，儿童大卫·科波菲尔是个遗腹子，但由于母亲与佣人佩戈蒂对他的关爱，他在孩提时代是非常幸福的，但自母亲与吝啬、残忍的摩德斯通先生再婚后，小大卫就不得不跟快乐再见了，他的家庭从此失去了祥和与幸福。
他清楚地记得这种悲惨生活开始的时间：“灰蒙蒙的下午，天气寒冷，预示着大雨即将到来”。
狄更斯作品中的儿童形象特色摘要狄更斯长于用儿童视角去观察生活或表现理想。
本文对狄更斯的《老古玩店》《董贝父子》中的儿童形象进行了分析，狄更斯在儿童文学中，写出了人物行为的心理依据和审美特征。
关键词狄更斯；《老古玩店》；《董贝父子》；儿童形象狄更斯是公认的维多利亚时代最伟大的作家，他真实生动描绘了十九世纪初叶的英国社会生活。
他所刻画的儿童形象很大程度上反映了狄更斯自己的童年生活和自己所处的那个时代。
他的作品增加了儿童素材，运用儿童视角去观察生活、表现理想，这也使他成为那个时代最具影响力的良知代言人。
在刻画的立场上，贯穿于他的儿童作品的基调是他对儿童充满同情，这一点在他的作品中随处可见。
《老古玩店》的前三章是以“我”的口吻叙述的，虽然小说中的“我”不完全等同如狄更斯本人，但毕竟烙上了作者本人的思想印记。
“我”第一次见到耐儿的外祖父是这样说的“想到孩子们差不多还在吃奶的时期就开始学习生活的方法，我心里就感到难过。
这样不只扼杀了他们的信心和纯朴——上帝赐给他们的两种优良平品德——并且是在他们还没有能够分享我们的享受之前，就要求他们分担我们的忧患了。
”作者认为童年应该是无忧无虑的，看到耐尔小小年纪便懂事稳重，心里是隐隐作痛的。
他在作品中很少指责儿童，相反对他们是满怀关怀和赞扬，儿童是青春纯洁的象征。
“看到室内的鲜花，绿枝掩盖着爱鸟的小笼，清爽和青春的气味好像悉索地流过沉闷的老屋，回旋在女孩子的头顶上，真使你感到愉快。
”一、外形的美丽与本真的率性狄更斯笔下的儿童，女孩形象多半是美丽的。
比如说《老古玩店》中的耐尔，在蜡像馆工作的时候，作者有一段对她的外貌描写。
“女孩子长得很美，配上她那种温柔和怯生生的态度，在这样的一个乡僻的地方很能引动视听。
一般成人开始对这个明眸皓齿的女郎感到兴趣，一二十个男孩子简直拼命地爱上了她，经常把包好了的花生和苹果，用正楷写上姓名，留在蜡像馆门口。
”大有“行者见罗敷，下担捋髭须。
少年见罗敷，脱帽著悄头。
狄更斯笔下的儿童形象英国伟大的批判现实主义作家查尔斯・狄更斯在塑造的各色人物形象当中，儿童形象是作家组织故事脉络的中心，他们身上带有作家童年时代饱受凌辱和摧残经历的影子，被作家寄予了无限的希望，他们的身上折射出作家的人道主义思想光辉，成为了狄更斯小说作品中最为闪亮的部分。
本文将从狄更斯本人的童年经历入手，深入分析狄更斯作品中儿童形象的特点。
19世纪的英国，正是工业革命完成、英国走向强大的资本主义工业强国的重要时期。
庞大的英吉利帝国在全球各地占据殖民地，号称日不落帝国，是英帝国的全盛时期。
也正是由于中产阶层和工人阶级的兴起，英国人改变了立法、选举等各方面的制度，资产阶级国家的雏形逐步形成，资产阶级在社会生活中的地位不断提高。
但是在经济快速发展的同时，英国社会产生了大量的社会问题，特别是工业化过程中，资产阶级和工人阶级从过去的利益共享的关系逐渐演变为由于经济利益分配不均而产生的对立阶级。
机械生产地位的逐步提高更使得工人逐渐由生产的主体沦为机器的附属。
对经济利益的追求使得资产阶级企业家想法设法地盘剥工人，甚至雇用大量妇女和童工以压低成本，同时却不能保障工人的生命安全，工伤事故不断，特别是童工的待遇极差，严重影响了儿童的身心成长。
可以说，这是一个最好的时代，这是一个最坏的时代。
在这样的背景之下，狄更斯的作品向受苦受难的儿童投去慈爱的目光，同时揭露社会的黑暗和不公，展现了其人道主义思想。
与狄更斯笔下的很多儿童形象一样，狄更斯的童年经历是十分悲惨坎坷的。
狄更斯出生在英国朴茨茅斯的波特西地区，他的家庭十分贫困，父亲原是海军中一个小职员，依靠微薄的薪水支撑全家的开销，由于子女众多，家庭逐渐开始入不敷出，依靠借债勉强度日。
后来，狄更斯一家辗转迁居伦敦和查坦木，父亲更是因为负债无力偿还，在狄更斯10岁这年全家被关进马夏西债务监狱，这无疑对狄更斯产生了极为深远的影响。
为了谋生，他12岁时出外寻求工作机会，挑起了维持家庭生活的重担，他在一家皮鞋油作坊当上了童工，依靠在当街的玻璃窗中劳动当活广告挣钱养家糊口。
成人世界的舞者――狄更斯笔下的儿童形象-最新年精选文档成人世界的舞者――狄更斯笔下的儿童形象查尔斯?狄更斯是英国维多利亚时代最伟大的文学家，他的伟大之处不仅仅在于他给世人留下了许多传世佳作，更重要的是他的作品中透露出来的人道主义思想，即以“仁”和“爱”为核心的“圣诞精神”。
他所宣扬的人道主义思想在他笔下的儿童形象上得以充分体现。
狄更斯在他的作品中塑造的儿童形象多达上百个，其中，有一闪而过的配角，更有令人难忘的儿童主人公，这些儿童主人公大部分都是贫苦儿童。
他们就像一个个舞者，在成人的世界里舞蹈。
对他们来说，“世界的残酷的现实以及它的许多最坏的不幸――饥渴、寒冷和贫困――从他的理性的黎明时代起他就痛切地感到了：虽然具有儿童时代的‘形体’，却没有儿童时代的轻快的心，欢畅的笑和发亮的眼睛。
”正是这些儿童的不幸遭遇、早熟畸形的性格和心灵的创伤，构成了狄更斯笔下儿童世界的惨淡色调。
从出身遭遇、个性特征和形象意义的种种不同，我们可以把狄更斯笔下的儿童群象划分为以下四类。
一、流浪的舞者――家庭与社会的弃儿作为家庭的弃儿，《雾都孤儿》中的奥列佛颇具代表性。
奥列佛是一个私生子，母亲刚刚生下他便撒手而去，他又成了孤儿，只好在暗无天日的济贫院当童工。
他是不幸婚姻的产物，但他又渴望家庭的温暖和精神上的安慰。
在奥列佛的身上，我们还可以看到一定的反抗精神，他的行动多少从侧面触及了新贫民法的虚伪性，反映了当时的儿童要求起码的生存权利的愿望。
所以他得到了圆满的结局，在作者的安排下，他历尽艰险，最终得其所求。
这样的“大团圆”结局，证明了狄更斯始终坚信“善”能冲破重重厄运，最终战胜“恶”，这不能不说是其人道主义思想的反映。
其实，绝大多数弃儿都没有奥列佛式的福分，他们得靠自己的挣扎和奋斗才能得以生存。
行文间，作者常常运用幽默、诙谐的笔调，流露出对他们的同情。
靠扫垃圾为生的“可怜的乔”便是社会弃儿的典型。
这个孤苦伶仃，孑然一身的孩子无意之中被卷入贵族家庭的隐私，遭到警察的驱赶，甚至贫民窟都不容他栖身。
外国文学研究2013·3狄更斯小说中的儿童形象浅析张冬平19世纪英国小说家查尔斯·狄更斯一生中为世人留下大量的长、中短篇小说，其中大部分长篇小说都被列入世界名著之列。
狄更斯以敏锐的目光透视了英国由封建社会向资本主义社会过渡时期的社会生活的各个方面，并对当时社会做了批判性的深入分析，展示了维多利亚时期英国社会的广阔画面，描绘了那个时代众多普通人的生活。
狄更斯在小说中生动而鲜明地刻画了形形色色、栩栩如生的人物，不难发现儿童是他着力塑造的一类人物形象：有童年时代经历了各式各样考验的奥列弗·退斯特，不幸早逝的小耐儿，艰苦生活、积极进取的大卫·科波菲尔等等。
狄更斯对儿童形象的塑造几乎贯穿了他的整个文学生涯，并把主人公的童年作为主要的描写对象。
狄更斯笔下的儿童都是在黑暗、残酷的社会苦苦的挣扎，虽然他们没有儿童时代应该有的轻松的身心、快乐的笑容，却没有失去儿童独有的纯洁、善良的心灵，这在《奥列弗·退斯特》中表现得尤为突出。
奥列弗·退斯特是一个如同天使般纯洁、善良的小男孩儿，他在社会最底层的救贫院中生活，没受过良好的教育与管教，又不幸身陷贼窟，但仍能保持着一颗天使般的心，丝毫没有给他纯洁、善良的心灵蒙上灰尘。
刚逃离棺材铺的奥列弗还没踏上伦敦的街道就被掳进贼窟，在贼头费金的引诱下，被迫行窃，后被布朗罗先生救下，并给了他无微不至的照顾，这使奥列弗有了向善之心。
在帮布朗罗先生送东西时被费金带走后，奥列弗对费金说的话让人记忆深刻：“那位善良的老先生，我发烧，险些死去了，他将我领到家中，细心地照顾我，请求你们，将书给他送回去，把书和钱都给他送过去，你们让我一生待在这里都行，求你们将东西还给他。
他会认为是我盗的……”这些话让读者看到了奥列弗的善良、知恩图报的心和他极力想维护自己的尊严。
奥列弗是善良的，却不幸落入贼帮，但是他却没有被贼们“污染”，依旧是保持着他的善良纯洁，他宁愿死也不愿做贼。
摘要查尔斯·狄更斯（1812－1870）是十九世纪英国最杰出的小说家之一，也是第一位倾注了极大精力创造儿童形象的大作家，他塑造的许多儿童形象在世界文坛上有着不可超越的重要意义。
本文通过分析他的三部代表作品《雾都孤儿》、《大卫·科波菲尔》、《远大前程》中的儿童形象，探讨这些形象与作者的密切关系。
首先这类儿童形象的塑造都与狄更斯的个人经历特别是童年经历或所处的社会背景有关；其次，通过这些儿童形象的塑造，狄更斯在反映其童年经历的同时，也记录了社会的黑暗，并且展示了他对资产阶级黑暗性不断觉醒的过程。
本论文试图从比较分析的角度，从三部作品中抽取有代表性的章节进行研究，分析他个人经历与三位主人公的联系，体现出他对笔下儿童的深切情感，并得出狄更斯在塑造儿童形象方面的共性。
关键词：狄更斯；儿童形象；分析；共同特征ABSTRACTCharles Dickens(1812-1870)is one of the most outstanding English writers in the nineteenth century. He is also the first writer who devoted himself to the creation of children‘ imagines. The images of children created by Charles Dickens play a very important role in the world literature. By comparison, this paper discusses the relationship between the author and these images. Firstl y, the creation of these children‘s images has a close connection with Dickens‘ personal experience and social background; secondly, by the creation of these images he reveals the darkness of society, and shows his growing awareness of the darkness of the capitalism. Through the analysis, this paper draws the common features in Charles‘ creation of children‘s imagines. And through the research of the representative chapters, the deep emotions between Dickens and his children can be vividly shown.Keywords：Dickens; Children‘s images; Analysis; Common FeaturesContents1. Introduction (1)1.1The introduction of the author (1)1.2The introduction of children‘s images (1)2. Analysis of the three main children’s images in Dickens’ novels (3)2.1Oliver Twist: Dickens‘ own want in his childhood (3)2.2David Copperfield: Dickens‘ own sufferings in his childhood (5)2.3Great Expectations: Dickens‘ growing awareness of c apitalism‘s darkness (7)3. The comparison of three children’s images in three novels (10)3.1 The similarities of the three children (10)3.1.1 The circumstances (10)3.1.2 The tragedy childhood (10)3.2 The relationship between Dickens and the three children (11)3.2.1 The similar childhood experiences (11)3.2.2 The sympathy for the children and the criticism for social evils (11)3.2.3 The common styles in children‘s images figuring (12)4. Conclusion (13)Acknowledgements (14)References (15)1. Introduction1.1 The Introduction of the AuthorCharles Dickens(1812-1870)is one of the most outstanding English writers in the nineteenth century. He was born in Portsmouth, England on 7th, February, 1812, but he spent most of his childhood in London and Kent where he based many of his novels. When he was nine，he went to school but had to leave when he was 12 because his dad was put in prison for being in debt. When he was 15，he left school and went to work as a legal clerk in a solicitor's office. In 1836 he decided to write his own stories under the name of Boy. They were called the“Pickwick Papers”[1]which were like comics for adults. Charles continued to use his books to tell about the bad conditions that the working classes and poor people had to live with. As well as writing he took an interest in the theatre and in 1847 became manager of a touring theatre company. Charles Dickens wrote many famous novels all his life, he is probably the most popular author in England.1.2 The Introduction of Children‘s Images in His NovelsCharles Dickens‘ work s enjoy great popularity among people and can stand the test of time. Even in 21st century, his works are still widely read, continuously translated into many languages and adapted into films and TV series. Dickens‘ vivid description creates many lifelike characters, which impress the readers deeply in their memory after reading.Among children‘s images created by Charles Dickens, deserted children play the most significant roles. It is important to point out that the creation of the deserted children has a close rel ationship with both Dickens‘personal experience and social background, especially his childhood experience. His fiction attracts many readers. These children were described so vividly that as if they were really alive in the world.―Dickens appeals to the common experience of the reader.‖ [2]So the reader is easily able to identify the different images in his different novels. For example, of all his works, David Copperfield is considered to be his most autobiographical. In this novel, Charles creates an orphan just like him, and through this character, he describes the memory about his own childhood and expresses the sympathy for the poor people. And in Great Expectations he really puts his own heart and soul into his characters by weaving his own experiences into his works.Philip Collins writes ―Great Expectations,indeed, though overtly autobiographical than David Copperfield, is a more searching and self-critical account of Dickens' own inner impulses.‖[3]It is almost as if there is a real possibility that Pip, or someone like him, actually existed. Another example is in Oliver Twist. Oliver is a kind of children that orphans or half-orphans who are deserted, or simply neglected. He lacks warm family love when he is very young. All of the deserted children in the novels have a miserable childhood and long for care and love from adults. As Charles‘ own childhood experience is miserable, he can contribute to his views on social reform, and his compassion for the lower class, especially the children.2.Analysis of the ThreeMain Children’s Images in Dickens’ Novels2.1Oliver Twist: Dickens‘ Own Want in His Childhood“Please, sir, I want some more.”The master was a fat healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralyzed with wonder; the boys with fear.“What!” said the master at length, in a faint voice.“Please, sir, ”replied Oliver,“I want some more.”The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle, pinioned him in his arms, and shrieked aloud for the beadle.The Board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr. Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said: “Mr. Limpkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!” There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.“For more! ”said Mr.Limpkins .“Compose yourself,Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?”“He did,sir,”replied Bumble. “That boy will be hung,”said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. “I know that boy will be hung.” [4]In this scene, a hungry boy is asking for more claims universal admiration. The poor boy‘s image is vividly appearing on the paper. And this situation evokes in the readers a strong sense of sympathy towards the boy and a strong sense of horror against the system. This is one of Charles‘ famous novels which is entitled Oliver Twist.Oliver Twist, published in 1838, is one of Charles Dickens's best-known and well-loved works. After it was published, it was popular among England. ―Dickens used the characters and situations in the book to make a pointed social commentary, attacking the hypocrisy and flaws of institutions, including his society‘s government,its laws and criminal system, and its methods of dealing with poor people.” [5]Interestingly, he did not suggest any solutions; he only pointed out the suffering which caused by these systems and their deep injustice. Dickens basically believed that most people were born good but that their good impulses could be distorted by social evils.The scene of Oliver‘s asking for more is Dickens‘ recall of his chil d labor‘s life. As the author of the novel, he knew clearly about the cold impersonality of the workhouse system. His childhood suffering dominates the whole style of his writing and the whole view to society later. ―Dickens used his artistic talents to sp eak for the silence, to fight for the oppressed, and to champion those defeated.‖[6]Meanwhile he showed his great sympathy for the miseries and hardships suffered by the working class people. According to Doris Alexander, Dickens―knew that early circumsta nces shape character and that character, in turn, shapes reactions to later circumstances.‖[7]And in many ways, that character successfully drew attention and sympathy from their readers. In Dickens‘ works he gave children a voice that they desperately needed, yet never had before. Maybe some readers will wonder why Dickens always makes the world weigh so heavy on the little shoulders of his characters. The main reason is that he wanted to protest against the injustices toward children that he saw in his own childhood. He used his own experience to illustrate what these children needed and what they were missing. His childhood‘s recall has totally reflected in Oliver Twist.Oliver Twist is also Dickens‘first novel that focused on a child hero, whose experiences expressed Dickens‘ psychological want in childhood. Throughout the novel, Dickens used Oliver‘s character to challenge the Victorian age‘s evil. He was tortured and mistreated in the workhouse at his early age, later was thrown together with the band of thieves, he suffered a lot of pain but his kind nature remained unchanged. Dickens tried to create a child who did not present a complex picture between good and evil—instead, he was goodness all the time. What carried Oliver through life and away from the poverty was his good nature. Dickens himself had to work in the workhouse as young as Oliver. As a deserted child, Dickens hungered for love and help from adults. So in Oliver Twist, Dickens created several kinds encounters to offer help which freed Oliver from sufferings and dangers to a penniless and hopeless child. From these images, we may see Dickens himself as a lonely and deserted child who is eagerly expecting kind encounter with good-hearted men by whom he will be offered help. So these happy encounters are author‘s psychological want in his childhood.In the novel Oliver understood the life forms well, and this helped him fit the society better. He began his life misery enough—orphaned, underfed, unloved, beaten, apprenticed, fed the scraps the dog scorns, and made to sleep in the shop with the coffins at night. We are impressed deeply by the description of workhouse and undertaker‘s shop through Oliver‘s view .In his eyes the world was cruel and awful. ―Dickens draws strictly from hisobservat ion from Oliver‘s view, giving us the very truth in despite of sentiment.‖[8]Passing from the shadow of the workhouse to that of criminal London, we can feel that London is a place of squalid mystery and terror, of the grimly grotesque, of labyrinthine obscurity and lurid fascination. He taught people a certain way of regarding the huge city, the dirty streets, accurately described and named; the bare, filthy rooms inhabited by Fagin and Sikes and the rest of them; the hideous public-house to which thieves resort. Through the directly touch with the huge city, we have a very scared impression, for instance, what the working class people eat and drink, and can smell the dish of sheep's head, flank with porter, which Nancy sets before her brutal companion. ―In Dickens‘s case, he managed to use this gruel story as a means to shift his long stored tensions into the image of Oliver Twist, producing thus a metaphoric account that could function quite like a dream.‖ [9]2.2David Copperfield: Dickens‘ Own Sufferings in His Childhood“The room was as neat as Janet or my aunt. As I laid down my pen, a moment since, to think of it, the air from the sea came blowing in again, mixed with the perfume of the flowers; and I saw the old-fashioned furniture brightly rubbed and polished, my aunt's inviolable chair and table by the round green fan in the bow-window, the drug get-covered carpet, the cat, the kettle-holder, the two canaries, the old china, the punch-bowl full of dried rose leaves, the tall press guarding all sorts of bottles and pots, and, wonderfully out of keeping with the rest, my stained and dusty self upon the sofa, taking note of everything, Janet had gone away to get the bath ready, when my aunt ,to my great alarm, became in one moment rigid with indignation, and had hardly voice to cry out, "Janet!Donkiesr!"Upon which, Janet came running up the stairs as if the house were in flames, darted out on a little piece of green in front, and warned off two saddle-donkeys, lady-ridden, that had presumed to set hoof upon it; while my aunt, rushing out of the house, seized the bridle of a third animal laden with a bestriding child, turned him, led him forth from those sacred precincts, and boxed the cars pf the unlucky urchin in attendance who had dared to profane that hallo wed gr ound.” [10]David Copperfield is the most unique book among all Dickens‘ works for its deeply personal tone; it is an autobiography of the author himself and also a history of Dickens‘emotional life. This novel was created in 1849-1850, midway in his career, just before the writing of the ―dark‖novels. In this story, Dickens describes a very lovely boy namedDavid Copperfield. ―I am within three pages of the shore,and am strangely divided, as usual in such cases, between sorrow and joy. Oh, my dear Forster, if I were to say half what ‗Copperfield‘ makes me feel to-night, how strangely, even to you; I should be turned inside out! I seem to be sending some part of myself into the Shadowy World.‖ [11]Charles Dickens wrote in a letter just before he finished the final chapter of David Copperfield. And he became intensely involved in this character while he was writing. And in 1869, the year before he died, Dickens wrote that Copperfield was still his ―favorite child.‖[12] David Copperf ield‘s whole life can be divided into three stages. In the first stage he had a miserable childhood. He was born at Blunder stone, six months after his father‘s death. David spent his happy early days with his mother, Clara Copperfield, a gentle but weak woman, and Peggotty, the combination servant and nurse. When his mother married again, to a Mr. Murdstone, his miserable life had begun. He was imaginative and sensitive, suffering more from psychic anguish than from physical abuse. David flourished and expanded under affection, but shriveled and contracted deprived of it. And in the second stage, David was packed off to Salem House School near London. This institution was run by the ferocious Mr. Creakle, a sadist. But the worst thing is his mother and her newborn baby died and loyal Peggotty was dismissed by his stepfather, David was really lonely and deserted. He was sent to the warehouse in London, which followed, was worse. No one loved him and no one cared for him. There, half-starved, the 10-year old David labored beside slum urchins. Finally he couldn‘t stand the torture and decided to run away from the warehouse. He made his way on foot to Dover where Aunt Betsey Trotwood, his only living relative. Fortunately, his aunt took him in and sent him to Canterbury to attend a school. The next is the third stage, David experiences and comforted for his happy new start. David survived his ordeal with the moral support of several adults: the Micawbers, Aunt Betsey, and Dr. Strong, who educated him. He discovered enormous reserves of strength within, a dogged perseverance which enabled him to master the difficult art of shorthand reporting. This trait stood him in good stead when he became a writer, and was the key to his later success.Dickens figures this character very well. That is all due to his childhood sufferings. Dickens was brought up by middle-class parents. But then he was abandoned as worthless. The few shillings a week he earned barely served for his keep, so that his sacrifice seemed gratuitous, a means of getting him out of the way. The blacking factory left him with a lifelong insatiable need for recognition and approval; a degree of emotional reserve; and an obsession with cleanliness and order which he himself admitted was ―almost adisorder‖.[13]He was haunted by the experience for the rest of his life. ―Even now, famous and caressed and happy, I often forget in my dreams that I have a dear wife and children; even that I am a man; and wander desolately back to that time of my life.‖[14]The Christmas before his death, playing a ―memory game‖with his family, Dickens wrote down,―Warren‘s Blacking,30, Strand‖[15],which meant nothing to his children until his biography was published after his death.Dickens also conveys his view of education in David Copperfield. David was first educated informally at home. He learnt the ―alphabet at his mother‘s knee‖[16] and read to Peggotty from the Crocodile book, developing his imagination–―we went into the water…and put sharp pieces of timber down their throats‖[17]Dickens clearly approves of this education, so in the novel David said in retrospect that memories of this time ―recall no feeling of disgust or reluctance‖[18]Dickens contrasts the misery of David‘s education after his mother‘s remarriage; ―David w as betrayed by his own nervousness in front of the dominating Murdstones, upsetting his mother and lowering his self-esteem–he seemed to be more stupid.‖[19]This negative effect again showed Dickens‘ encouragement of a very different form of education. David was not ―stupid‖ and it was only the strict and stifling circumstances that made him feel this way. If the Murdstones were more liberal and generous in their education, the results would be totally different. Dickens‘views on education are conveyed bes t through the contrast between Betsey Trotwood‘s firmness and Mr. Murdstone. ―David never to be mean in anything, never to be false and never to be cruel.‖[20]His epic journey showed the consequences of these educational methods; David was literally escaping the moral, physical and financial imprisonment of the factory, and got the freedom to explore and develop his interests at last.2.3Great Expectations: Dickens‘Growing Awareness of C apitalism‘sDarkness“My sister,Mrs. Joe Gargery, was more than twenty years older than I, and had established a great reputation with herself and the neighbors because she had brought me up“ by hand.” Having at that time to find out for myself what the expression meant, and knowing her to have a hard and heavy hand, and to be much in the habit of laying it upon her husband as well as upon me, I supposed that Joe Gargery and I were both brought up by hand.It is a most miserable thing to feel ashamed of home. There may be black ingratitudein the thing, and the punishment may be retributive and well deserved; but, that it is a miserable thing, I can testify. Home had never been a very pleasant place to me, because of my sister's temper. But, Joe had sanctified it, and I had believed in it. I had believed in the best parlors as a most elegant saloon; I had believed in the front door, as a mysterious portal of the Temple of State whose solemn opening was attended with a sacrifice of roast fowls; I had believed in the kitchen as a chaste though not magnificent apartment; I had believed in the forge as the glowing road to manhood and independence. Within a single year, all this was changed. Now, it was all coarse and common, and I would not have had Miss Havisham and Estella sees it on any account.” [21]Great Expectations first appeared in Charles Dickens‘weekly journal ―All the Year Round” in 1861,and then came out in book form in 1862.One of the most important and common tools that authors use to illustrate the themes of their works is a character that undergoes several major changes throughout the story. As a book which was written in the afternoon of Dickens's life and fame, the great difference between Great Expectations and his earlier novels is the introduction of dramatic psychological transformations. He introduces the readers to many intriguing and memorable characters including Miss Havesham, Mr.Jaggers, and the benevolent convict, Abel Magwitch.In common sense, the children's world should be filled with tender care and happiness; it should be a worry-free world.In Great Expectations, however,Pip's world could not be described as such.He was an orphan living in the changing moods, cruelty and violence of his sister and Uncle Pumblechook. Such living conditions resulted in a timid and sensitive Pip. Joe was the only one who took care of Pip. He treated Pip as his dear friend and gave Pip sincerity and comfort. He led Pip to realize there was happiness and warmth in life even though his influence was too weak to combat Mrs. Joe and Uncle Pumblechook. But the false values about money and social status penetrated into Pip's world, Pip could not resist it and therefore lost balance in mind. So his simple dream changed. He vainly expected to be a gentleman, to marry Estella. Subjected to such wrong ideas, Pip lived in the gap between reality and dream.Although in such terrible circumstances, Pip's still have industrious, kind, simple element in his mind, this is mainly due to Joe. Joe was Pip's comfort and source of happiness. Joe represented the virtues of the working class. In bringing Pip up, Joe's attitude was quite different from others. He sincerely did all he could for Pip. He was Pip's fellow-sufferer. He never looked down and maltreated Pip, but protected Pip from Mrs.Joe's bullying. Pip was deeply moved by such sincere care; and therefore Pip had gratitude for Joe. The most important thing he told Pip was to be honest:"There's one thing you may be sure of, Pip," said Joe, after some rumination, "namely, that lies is lies. However they come, they didn't need to come, and they come from the father of lies, and work round to the same. Don't you tell no more of them, Pip. That ain't the way to get out of being common, old chap. And as to being common, I don't make it out at all clear. You are on common in some things. You're on common small .Likewise you're on common scholar. [22]But when Pip met Estella, he was strong attracted by her. He longed for Estella but was laughed at by this beautiful proud girl. From then on, Pip felt ashamed of his hands, of his boots, of his social status and friends. He fell into false values. His ambition to be a gentleman resulted from his hopeless love for Estella. The worship of money and was like poison. Pip was trapped in his dreams. ―It is reasonable to believe, in this case, that Great Expectation is a novel focusing on the sense of disillusionment of one‘s ideal, dream and aspiration. This echoes, however, the author‘s own traumatic experience of being disillusioned on a personal basis and eventually on a social level. His pursuit for his own identity in the society is a disillusionment that results in his constant anxiety and frustration, which underlies the motives for Great Expectation.‖[23]Dickens and Pip have three similarities at least: the first one is the miserable childhood; the second one is the way to fulfill the dream. As for Pip, his life changed because of a mysterious benefactor. How Dickens ended his days in the blacking factory? After his father John Dickens inherited a fortune from a Scotch cousin, he was released from prison. As he had promised, Dickens was sent to school. So to speak, Dickens began his way to be a gentleman. The last but not the least one is the growing awareness of the influence of capitalism. Pip began his adventure as a gentleman when he left the forge of Joe and lived in the circle of gentlemen in London. In the Victorian Age, London was not as good as Pip imagined. Here, Pip lost his good nature for a time and felt proud of being a dandy. He turned into a selfish, blinkered, frivolous one. He fell even deep into the illusions that Miss Havisham was his benefactor and he would marry Estella under the authority of Miss Havisham. The suddenly coming-back of Magwitch broke his illusions into pieces and made him realize his misdoings. He decided to get rid of illusions and his gentleman life.The novel charts the career of Philip Pip, from blacksmith‘s boy to polished gentleman, driven by his hope of winning the hand of his first love, Estella.He haschanged from an innately jolly and optimistic man into one who is disillusioned and pessimistic.Dickens shows his philosophic idea clearly through this novel and figure out a classic child‘s image.3.The Comparison of The ThreeChildren’s Images in Three Novels3.1 The Similarities of the Three ChildrenIn these three famous novels, Dickens created three vivid children‘s images. They are all orphans or half-orphans, have a tragedy childhood, all of them are tinged with a tone of autobiography. And comparing these children‘s images, we may find out that the circumstance and the tragedy childhood are the most similar things.3.1.1 The circumstancesFrom the three novels, it‘s evident that the three boys are boxed up by the dark and hopeless society. They lost their parents, not treated well by their keepers. However, the important plot shared by the three novels is that all the boys undergo a dramatic change of life by receiving unexpected sponsorship from either their relatives or people around them. Oliver Twist was helped by Mr. Brownlow, who turned out to be a friend of his father‘s and one who eventually got back for Twist the legacy that belonged to him. David sought help from Aunt Betsey, with whose money he received decent education until he could live on his own. Pip, on the other hand, received unexpected legacy from an anonymous ―gentleman‖, who turned out to be the criminal he once helped. They go through a lot of hardships during their life. Fortunately, despite all the hardships and torture they experience, the deserted children keep their good nature all their lives.3.1.2 The tragedy childhoodOliver Twist, David Copperfield and Pip are all orphaned children, brought up by either their relatives or governmental institutions. Twist was fatherless and his mother died after giving birth to him. David was also fatherless. He was brought up by his mother until his mother sent him away for her re-marriage. Pip was parentless; he was, from thebeginning of the story, an orphaned child living with his sister and her husband. When they grow up, all of them experience lonely and hard trips to find new hopes in life. In Oliver Twi st, Twist escaped from the Sowerberry‘s house to London due to the mistreatment he received from a charity boy Noah Claypole, who goads him to rebellion. In David Copperfield, young David made his way on foot to Dover where Aunt Betsey Trotwood, his only living relative resides. In Great Expectations, however, Pip went to London in a buoyant manner due to his inheritance of a large amount of money from an anonymous benefactor. Although the trips are not entirely of the same desperation, they have reviewed, in the same manner, about the sorrow at departure, the sense of extreme loneliness, as well as the feeling of abandonment.3.2 The Relationship Between Dickens and Three BoysThe creation of deserted children has a close relationship with Dickens‘personal background especially his childhood experience. The important reason of these novels can be so famous that they are vividly in the book, as if they are alive in the world .They can exist in readers mind so long, one hand is due to Dickens‘genius description, the other hand is that what these boys suffer in the book is also the memory of Dickens himself. 3.2.1 The similar childhood experiencesIn Dickens‘s novels, the boys are usually abandoned, this is all based upon his traumatic experience. The fact that the author could not retreat to his traumatic stage of life in reality causes him to find ways to regress to his traumatic childhood. The regressive impulses find a nice outlet in his novels. There, Dickens speak out lavishly his sorrow and agonies through the agent of his boy protagonists like a child who cried over and over again at his wound, knowing that he would feel much better after so doing.That is perhaps what Dickens personally experienced in his childhood and this impression obviously leaves a permanent imprint on his mind. ―The long repressed loneliness and senses of abandonment find their way in his fiction. They are stirred alive from the unconscious level, heading for the conscious, during which the author reconciles himself to his traumatic experience and receives his salvation.‖[24]The significance of creating a necessary detail depicting the loneliness of the protagonists is more emotional than practical. Through the process of writing, Dickens relived his own dark experience and began his painful process to accept them as part of his life.Dickens‘s own drastic change in life—when he felt desperate about his own prospect, when he was plagued by the menial toil at the blacking house, his father received an。
