David Copperfield The Upper Class example essay topic

Charles Dickens was an author who has a common theme in most of his books. Charles Dickens liked to stress, in his books, that the lower class is always higher than the upper class. Another idea is the need for sacrifice. He also had a common place where his novels took place.

Most of them took place in an area where there was a cast system. "Charles John Huff am Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth and spent most of his childhood in London and Kent" (Encarta. com), both of which appear a lot in his novels. He started school at the age of nine, but his education was stopped when his father was imprisoned for debt in 1824. He was then forced to work in a shoe polishing factory.

He was laughed at for this job his whole life. This can be seen in his book David Copperfield. He shows us once again in this book how hard life was for him and how he grew up in the lower class. In 1827 Dickens took a job as a legal clerk. After learning shorthand, he began working as a reporter in the courts and Parliament, perhaps developing the power of precise description that was to make his creative writing so remarkable.

It might have been because of this job that he became such a brilliant writer. He received practice from being a reporter, so this may be the reason for most of his work being so remarkable. The themes of David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities can be related by a cast system and by the need for sacrifice. They are both common ideas used in many of Dickens novels.

As one can tell, there is always a comparison between the upper and lower class. Dickens portrays the upper-class as being cruel people who don't care about anything but money and themselves. But in the lower-class, the people are friendlier and they have a better heart than the people of the upper-class. As shown in David Copperfield, David is caring and loves many people. In the same book however, David's stepfather, one from the upper-class, is cruel and does not like David.

His stepfather is constantly yelling and beating David. He then sends David to a boarding school. David's mother only marries his stepfather for the money. She knows he does not like David, but she needs the money. This is where there is a need for sacrifice. David's mother must give up David's childhood in order to have a home and food.

Here is where Charles Dickens shows us his contrast between the upper and lower class and the need for sacrifice. Another common theme is the need for sacrifice. This can be seen in a Tale of Two Cities. For example, the revolutionaries prove that a new French republic can come only with a heavy and terrible cost.

Personal loves and loyalties must be sacrificed for the good of the nation. When Dar nay is arrested for the second time, the guard who seizes him reminds Manette of the primacy of state interest over personal loyalties. Defarge punishes her husband for his devotion to Manette. And at last, Carton turning into a man of moral worth depends upon him sacrificing his former self.

In choosing to die, Carton enables his friend's happiness. As seen in many Dickens books, there is a contrast of the cast system and a need for sacrifice. As seen in David Copperfield the upper-class is not always the best class. They can be very self centered and not care about anyone else. But some of the lower class people can have the best hearts and care for all.

There is always a need for sacrifice to get something good in return. In David Copperfield, David's mom must let David be abused in exchange for wealth and security. As seen in A Tale of Two Cities, there is always a need for sacrifice. As seen in Darned and Carton. Most of Dickens novels have a lot of things in common.