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In Such a State of Ink: Adolescents in the Novels of Charles Dickens
Article first published online: 29 MAR 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00313.x
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How to Cite
Welburn, E. (2006), In Such a State of Ink: Adolescents in the Novels of Charles Dickens. Literature Compass, 3: 218–229. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00313.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 MAR 2006
- Article first published online: 29 MAR 2006
- Literature Compass 3/2 (2006) : 218–229, 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00313.x
- Abstract
- Article
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Abstract
This essay won the 2005 Literature Compass Graduate Essay Prize, Victorian Section.
Although Charles Dickens is known for illuminating the social issues of his time with his portrayals of children, his adolescent characters have been largely neglected by critics. Since the concept of adolescence arguably emerged for the first time in Victorian England, this article identifies the adolescents in Dickens's novels and examines their characterization in light of their historical context. In particular, this article explores Dickens's attitudes toward the political efficacy of youth and the nature of healthy personal development.