Dickens

           Matthew Davis brings up great points about Dickens’ writing. Right from the start of the article, I was reminded of the power of good storytelling. Dickens' skilled and artful storytelling drove Davis to devote a year to his works. That alone is impressive.  To think that Dickens’ writing has been affecting people like this since 1836 is all the more amazing.

            Claire Tomalin made a really great point about why Dickens’ books are so engaging. The more I thought about it, I couldn’t quite agree with her statement. The engaging storytelling techniques and inclusion of universal themes are deeply connected—not “separate questions.” The “amazing characters” wouldn’t have been quite as amazing if they weren’t relevant or relatable. I get drawn to characters when I see bits of myself or others that I know reflected in them. The quotes from the article are great examples of this. Even though the outward appearances of people have changed, emotions and will have not. Dickens has a way of cutting to the grittiness of humanity.

            Although the major issues such as “recession” and “unemployment” are often displayed in situations that are external to a character, the character must still react to those situations internally. You can’t separate the magnetism of a character from the relevancy. The universal theme that needs to be a part of a good story is displayed through characters. Just as the author pointed out, even though Dickens’ stories took place in a totally different society, timeless issues draw us in. With the added beautiful metaphors and eloquent descriptions in Dickens’ novels, it’s not hard to see why they have been so impactful.