Charles Dickens has written an abundance of novels each having different characters in different environments, and the reasonings behind how each character responds to their environments showcase a deep understanding of human behavior from Charles Dickens. Three main novels of Dickens that demonstrate how a child’s environment can directly impact their adult life are Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and David Copperfield, each being a bildungsroman following Oliver, Pip, and David respectively. In Oliver Twist, the novel follows Oliver from his childhood in poverty to his adult life in comfort. Despite all the misfortunes that Oliver was subjected to in his childhood from working at a workhouse to being kidnapped by Fagin’s gang, Oliver is able to work past it and is granted a place in nobility. In Great Expectations, Pip is born into a life of poverty and a powerful desire to become a gentleman. Through this desire Pip turns a blind eye to what is truly right, but succeeds in becoming what he always longed for, an uncommon gentleman. In David Copperfield, his life of comfort, love, and easy life got turned upside down once his mother, Clara, married Mr. Murdstone, which resulted in the death of his mother and the abuse David faced.
Despite Oliver Twist’s miserable childhood while working at the workhouse, once he was saved by Mr. Brownlow Oliver was surrounded with adults that are able to properly take care of Oliver in a positive manner. However, the happiness that Oliver faced was short lived as just after, Oliver was kidnapped by Fagin’s gang. When Rose Maylie rescued Oliver Twist,
she was stricken by compassion to help the Oliver who was still a child at this time, ‘But even if he has been wicked,’ pursued Rose, “think how young he is; think that he may never have known a mother’s love, or the comfort of a home; that ill-usage and blowst. … and might have been equally helpless and unprotected with this poor child, have pity upon him before it is too late!” (Dickens, 30) Further proving the compassion that Oliver was met with when he was first saved by Rose Maylie. After Oliver had recovered enough to explain his situation to the Maylie’s, and find Mr. Brownlow. The Maylie’s did not try to prevent him from trying to finding Mr. Brownlow, rather they helped in his quest to find Mr. Brownlow. Farthing the notion that Oliver Twist was surrounded by successful adults that allowed Oliver to grow with compassion. Oliver’s compassion is shown near the end of the story, when Monks is caught hiding Oliver’s past, Oliver still gives some of the inheritance to Monks. Thus, proving how because of the adults surrounding his life, he acted on kindness, even towards those that hurt him.
Despite Pip’s brother-in-law, Joe, teaching Pip kindness and the value of being truthful, Pip’s desire to become uncommon was stronger than his desire to retain the teachings by Joe. Thus, Pip’s continuous meetings with Estella and Miss. Havisham represents the eagerness of Pip in order to become a gentleman. However even when Pip meets Estella for the first time she does not treat Pip warmly and acts mightier than Pip, ““Don’t be ridiculous, boy; I am not going in.” And scornfully walked away, and—what was worse—took the candle with her. (Dickens, 8). Throughout the conversation with Estella, Pip is called boy countless times in order to diminish Pip’s importance and his self esteem, in order for her to appear higher class, drawing a hard line between those in higher society and Pip. Despite Estella’s treatment towards him, Pip continues to try and win Estella’s love and compassion, but in order to do that, he must be considered uncommon and have enough wealth to support her. Thus, in his journey to become a gentleman, Pip surrounds himself with many of those in high society, many of which do not have the gentleness that Joe did. The character of the gentleman that Pip surrounds himself with is made clear when Pip acts scornful towards Joe, despite Joe being the only person that took care of Pip when he was younger. Therefore, the impact that Estella and those in high society made on Pip was extremely powerful, which hurt those that Pip was originally close to.
Despite David Copperfield's aunt, Betsey Trotwood, teaching David resilience and the value of self-reliance, David’s desire to achieve success and recognition was stronger than his desire to fully embrace her teachings. David's interactions with characters like James Steerforth and Uriah Heep symbolize his pursuit of social and personal validation. However, even when David first meets Steerforth, he is struck by Steerforth's charisma but also by his condescension, "Why, Daisy, do you know you're rather a ridiculous fellow?" (Dickens, Chapter 22).Throughout their friendship, Steerforth often belittles David, subtly asserting his own superiority and drawing a clear distinction between their social standings. Despite Steerforth's treatment, David continues to admire him, associating Steerforth's charm and status with the success he longs for. In his journey to become a successful man, David frequently finds himself in the company of those who embody ambition and self-interest, many of whom lack the integrity that characters like Agnes Wickfield possess. The contrast is evident when David becomes entangled in Steerforth's destructive influence, leading him to neglect the kindness and wisdom of those like Agnes who truly care for him. Thus, the impact of characters like Steerforth on David's life is profound, often leading him away from the values instilled in him by his aunt and the people who genuinely love him.
Charles Dickens explores the impact of childhood environments on adult life in his novels Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and David Copperfield. Each of these bildungsromans follows a young protagonist—Oliver, Pip, and David, respectively—whose early experiences shape their futures in profound ways. In Oliver Twist, despite the harshness of his early life, Oliver's inherent goodness is nurtured by the kindness of characters like Mr. Brownlow and Rose Maylie, leading him to become a compassionate adult who even shows mercy to those who wronged him. In contrast, Great Expectations portrays Pip, who, despite being raised with Joe’s teachings of kindness and honesty, is consumed by his desire to rise above his social class. His ambition leads him to reject those who care for him, like Joe, in favor of the cold and unfeeling society represented by Estella and Miss Havisham. Similarly, in David Copperfield, David’s pursuit of success and social validation causes him to overlook the values instilled by his aunt, Betsey Trotwood. Influenced by characters like Steerforth, David becomes entangled in a world of ambition and self-interest, neglecting the genuine affection of those like Agnes Wickfield. Through these three novels, Dickens illustrates how a child's environment, whether nurturing or corrupting, profoundly influences their character and the course of their life, highlighting his deep understanding of human behavior.
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