On Sentimentality In Dickens’ S Novels

Charles Dickens is perceived as one of the most prominent writers of critical realism in Britain, whose creations have reflected the social actuality in a profound way in 19 th century. Based on what he has ever gone through and insightful observation about the society, he has created fifteen full-length novels counted as masterpieces and many other medium-length novels. As a versatile and writer, his first novel has aroused great interests in the literary circles and won brilliant achievement since its publication. At the age of twenty-four, he has been recognized as an eminent novelist and enjoying an everlasting fame ever since.Dickens’ s writings have embodied varied themes, the most striking of which is exposing and criticizing the underlying darkness in the capitalist society. The gloomy side he has straight depicted is rather impressive and penetrating. He constantly sympathizes with the repressed poor, unemployed workers, pathetic apprentices, widows and orphans with disclosing the reality of the society. It can be argued that the compassion he embodied adds more distinct sentimentality to his creations.Dickens’ s individualized sentimentality is not only reflect the British sentimentalism but also an innovative way to gushing his feelings. He conveys his sympathy to the miserable fates of the lower class and presents his worry for the improvement of British society. Admittedly, he also has to take both the market orientation and readers’ psychology into consideration.The sentimentality Dickens has presented can precisely convey his hope for the unpredictable society. It is also a response of an age which is a mirror used to criticize the reality, and an intense appeal for the prospect to revolt despairing destiny to and reconstruct a new situation. As a whole, his compassionate sentimentality has extricable relationship with his history and reflects the social reality. There is no doubt that the sentimentality implied in his writings is of great ideological values value and aesthetic significance in the history of literature and aesthetics.