In the realm of Victorian literature, Charles Dickens stands out as a masterful storyteller who intricately weaves social commentary into the fabric of his narratives. His works often delve into the impact of environment and upbringing on individual character, reflecting the harsh realities of the 19th century. Environmental influence on individuals is an important factor that shapes human behavior, Dickens novels often depict this factor through the lives of his characters. Among his most memorable creations are three novels: David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, and Greatexpectarion, each representing a reflection of human growth shaped by their surroundings. David embarks on a journey of self-discovery admits personal upheaval; Oliver, with his unyielding innocence, navigates a world rife with corruption; while Pip grapples with the dual forces of ambition and societal expectations. Through their distinct stories, Dickens poignantly illustrates that one’s environment can profoundly influence their identity, morality, and destiny. Each embodying separate backgrounds, social class, and diverse experiences, the author portrays the characters’ navigation in their surroundings as they face adversities. Throughout his skillful storytelling, Dickens leaves readers to ponder the intricate interplay between circumstance and character development.
David Copperfield’s childhood is marked by instability, stemming from the loss of his parents and his stepfather’s harsh treatment. Born into a high social class and later adopted by Aunt Betsy, David’s life can be considered smooth and privileged compared to many other characters in the novel. However, his experiences with betrayal, poverty, and heartbreak ultimately shape his identity as he strives to find his place in the world. After his mother’s death, David’s life with his stepfather Mr. Murdstone is full of oppression. As David navigates his formative years, he encounters a spectrum of influences—both positive and negative. The nurturing presence of his aunt Betsy Trotwood contrasts sharply with the demeanor of Mr. Murdstone and his sister. David’s development into his adulthood reflects the complexities of self-discovery shaped by his environment. He learns to assert his identity against the backdrop of various pressures, ultimately choosing his path based on his interest and experiences. David’s journey of growth is somehow impacted by his surroundings, he stays sensitive to the events around him, which is ultimately useful to him in his career as a writer. He says as a parliamentary reporter:
“I will only add, to what I have already written of my perseverance at this time of my life, and of a patient and continuous energy which then began to be matured within me, and which I know to be the strong part of my character, if it have any strength at all, that there, on looking back, I find the source of my success” (Dickens, 42).
This suggests how his strength to persevere comes from his past experiences and the qualities that contributed to his achievements. There are several important circumstances that have largely impacted David’s development. John Steerforth’s utilization of him, for instance, is a large obstacle to David’s growth. When he later seduced Little Em’ly and led to the end of the friendship with David, More importantly, the loss of Miss Betsey’s fortune attempted David to establish himself in a line of work—which later led to his financial independence and ambition for a particular goal.
In Oliver Twist, the titular character is born into a life of hardship and poverty. As an orphan born in a workhouse, his early experiences depict a grim social system where impoverished people starve and where some had to commit crime to live. Oliver’s innocence admits his surroundings serve as a stark contrast to the corruption around him. The cruel treatment he receives at the hands of authority figures, such as Mr. Bumble and Fagin, underscores how society is cruel and harsh to the poors. Despite these harsh treatments, Oliver remains inherently good and naive. Though it seems that Oliver has not been impacted by his surroundings, his ability to maintain his moral compass somehow reflects the impact of his surroundings. Due to his birth in a workhouse, and later on in Fagin’s gang, Oliver’s environment is full of people who want to pull him into a bad destiny. However, Oliver’s elongated good nature also illustrates the idea that one’s surroundings can both corrupt and redeem. Under Fagin’s gang, Oliver was sent to rob and steal, if it was not that he met Mrs. Maylie and her family, ultimately, he would’ve been caught and been impacted by his surroundings. For instance, after he received the kindness from others, as Dickens depicts:
“In the short time he had to collect his senses, the boy had firmly resolved that, whether he died in the attempt or not, he would make one effort to dart up the stairs from the hall, and alarm the family” (Dickens, 22).
Through acts of kindness from characters like Nancy and Brownlow, Dickens reveals that positive influences are crucial for survival in a hostile world. These positive influences ultimately lead Oliver to make brave decisions that would not have been possible without their support. Dickens highlights the importance of compassion and empathy in shaping one’s life like Oliver who is surrounded by adversity and darkness.
Pip’s story in Great Expectations revolves around the dichotomy between social class and personal ambition. Born into the bottom of society and raised by his adult sister after his parents’ death, Pip’s life is very poor. Unlike David and Oliver, Pip’s condition and social class prevents him from easily accessing the support and positive influences. Pip’s encounter with wealth through the benefactor Magwitch introduces him to the allure and pitfalls of ambition. His aspirations for upward mobility lead him to aspire for a gentlemanly status, which distorts his view of self-worth and morality. This is a conspicuous example of how he’s influenced by his surroundings. After Pip met Estella and Miss Havisham, he said:
“I took the opportunity of being alone in the courtyard, to look at my coarse hands and my common boots. … They had never troubled me before, but they troubled me now, as vulgar appendages” (Dickens, 8).
For the first time he started to desire and long for a higher social status. Miss Havisham and Estella’s twisted perceptions of love and success create a profound internal conflict within Pip. Pip started to question his own identity and worth, feeling inadequate and insecure in comparison to their refined lifestyles. This fully exemplifies how societal values and surroundings can distort personal morals. However, under some positive influences from his brother-in-law, Joe, he begins to see that true worth and happiness come from within, not from external affairs and social status. As Pip grapples with his expectations and eventual realizations about true gentility, he learns that integrity and loyalty hold far greater value than social status. Ultimately, Pip’s journey emphasizes how the environment can largely impact one’s moral both negatively and positively.
Through the lives of David, Oliver, and Pip, Dickens expertly crafts narratives that reflect the profound influence of surroundings on character formation. While David represents the complexities of self-discovery and adjusting to fluctuating social landscapes, Oliver embodies purity and resilience against a corrupt system. Conversely, Pip’s journey showcases the dangers of ambition under negative influences and the importance of moral clarity. Together, these vividly portrayed characters illustrate Dickens’s nuanced understanding and skillful depiction of how the environment shapes human experience and morale. Surroundings can largely affect one’s destiny, moral compass, and overall outlook on life, as seen through the contrasting paths taken by David, Oliver, and Pip. Through their trials and tribulations, Dickens highlights the transformative power of the environment on individual development and moral integrity. In Dickens’s works, the characters of Oliver, David, and Pip all navigate through different environments that ultimately shape their choices and outcomes in life. By exploring the ways in which the environment shapes character development, the author offers a profound comment on the power of surroundings in determining one’s fate and moral standing.
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