Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Charles Dickens is known for his vivid and realistic portrayal of the social and moral problems of Victorian England, and Little Dorrit is no exception. In this novel, he creates a rich and complex narrative exposing the corruption, injustice, and hypocrisy of his society, especially the institution of debtors’ prisons and government bureaucracy.
Techniques used include:
Serial publication
Dickens published Little Dorrit in 19 monthly instalments between 1855 and 1857. This allowed him readership engagement and feedback response. He also used cliffhangers and suspense to keep interest levels high for the next part.
Plotline Complexity
Dickens interweaves multiple plotlines involving different characters and settings around the main thread involving Amy Dorrit and Arthur Clennam. Examples: the mystery of Mrs Clennam’s secret, the rumored murder of Rigaud, the surprise inheritance of William Dorrit, and the financial ascendency and downfall of Merdle. Plotlines are connected via coincidences, foreshadowing and symbolism.
Characterization
Memorable and unique Dickensonian characters represent various aspects of the society, such as the innocent and selfless Little Dorrit, the proud and deluded William Dorrit, the kind and generous Arthur Clennam, the cold and cruel Mrs Clennam, the greedy and fraudulent Merdle, the rebellious and resentful Miss Wade, and the comic and absurd Flora Finching. He also uses florid names, local dialects, physical descriptions and personal habits to convey their character and roles.
Satire
Satire is used to mock and criticize the flaws and vices of the society, such as the inefficiency and corruption of the Circumlocution Office - a symbol of the government’s red tape and indifference; the pretentiousness and snobbery of the newly rich Dorrit family as they forget their humble origins; and the gullibility and greed of those who blindly follow Merdle’s financial schemes.
Pathos
Dickens also used pathos to evoke sympathic emotions toward his characters, especially those suffering from poverty, injustice and oppression. The harsh realities of life in the debtor prison are depicted to help explain how Little Dorrit's personality was forged; Dickens describes the loneliness and despair of Arthur Clennam resulting from his estrangement from his mother; the guilt of the tragic Mrs Clennam haunted by her past is slowly unveiled throughout the novel; he portrays the slow march of madness resulting in the tragic death of William Dorrit as he tries to find meaning in his sudden release from poverty.
Plot Spoiler Alert Beyond This Point
This novel exposes the corruption and injustice of the English society through the lives of two characters: Amy Dorrit and Arthur Clennam. Amy, also known as Little Dorrit, was born and raised in a debtor prison, where her father William Dorrit was imprisoned. Arthur Clennam is a middle-aged man who, after returning to England following his father’s death, becomes interested in Little Dorrit’s story. While helping her family by investigating their debt he uncovers a dark secret about his own mother’s involvement in a fraudulent scheme.
In classic Dickensian style, various characters are introduced representing the greed, hypocrisy, bureaucracy, and cruelty of English society, including the Meagles family, the Circumlocution (how not to do things) Office, Mr. Casby, Mr. Pancks, Rigaud, and Miss Wade. Predictably, he falls in love with Little Dorrit, but faces obstacles from his former fiancée Flora and Little Dorrit’s own pride and loyalty to her father.
The climax occurs after Pancks uncovers a long-lost inheritance for William Dorrit, who leaves prison with his family only to lose his money and his sanity. Arthur Clennam also loses his fortune and ends up in the same prison where he first met Little Dorrit. However, with the help of friends, they escape their misfortunes and get married at last.
