Charles Dickens was a prominent 19th-century writer who gained popularity not only for his brilliant language and plot twists but also for his contribution to addressing numerous social issues of Victorian England. Rapid industrialization and urbanization, which occurred due to the population explosion, led to the creation of a dirty and noisy city, which was a hard place to live in for the poor. Dickens colorfully describes the injustice, imbalances, and decay that could be seen almost anywhere. Moreover, he often raises such issues as child labor and managed to draw public attention to it.
The writer had a comprehensive knowledge of the poor’s lifestyle, as he spent his childhood years communicating with all kinds of people. He had to leave school early to begin working long hours in a warehouse. The experience he had there and the atmosphere he was exposed to inspired him to improve working conditions and to promote social and economic reforms which were needed at that time. This topic became a vital part of many of his works, and the descriptions they provided led to the implementation of several measures by authorities and philanthropists to enhance the living standards of the poor.
Child labor plays an important role in some of Dickens’s books, and the bright characters he created, such as Oliver Twist, Pip, Tiny Tim, Smike, are still loved by readers of any age. Children in his books are often left alone and do not have any chance to stand up for their rights. Pip and Oliver, for instance, are both portrayed as creative and sensitive orphans who are treated unfairly and suffer.
Dickens should be praised for shortening the distance between various social groups and promoting compassion by showing the emotions caused not only by awful treatment but also by injustice towards poor children, especially orphans. Moreover, Charles Dickens pointed out that miserable childhood often leads to multiple problems in adult life. All the above-mentioned had a strong effect on people in charge and a general audience, which helped Britain lead the fight against such issues.