esDickens").A frequent early criticism that Dickens' works are "formless" is not accepted bymost modern critics. Many now see Dickens' novels as vast and complex denunciations ofthe bourgeois society that corrupt it's members. Even as the structure of his novels grewmore intricate, Dickens never abandoned this method of publication, for he cherished theconstant contact with his readers through monthly or weekly installments ("CharlesDickens"). Dickens was also a novelist who loved to devise plots that hinged on secretsand disclosure and succeeded in keeping secret his own private life (Hardy 43). Dickens'fictions are packed with social information and social passion. Dickens bitterly attacks thedefects of existing institutions: government, law, education, and penal systems. He alsomercilessly exposes the injustice and wretchedness inflicted by them. However, Dickenswas not a propagandist exposing utopian panaceas for the ills of the world. Dickens wasfascinated by the grotesque and had a particular talent for exaggeration. His exuberancecarried him beyond the bounds of moderation, but he seldom lost sight of his intentions(Kaste 15). Charles Dickens is frequently charged with offering a view of the world thatdoes violence to reality. However, he really was able to just create a fictive world thatwas a mirror in which the truths of the real world were reflected. Almost all of his novelsdisplay, to varying degrees, his comic gift, his deep social concerns, and his extraordinarytalent for creating unforgettable characters ("Charles Dickens"). Dickens was primarilyconcerned with external behavior of people and little occupied with the exploration ofpsychological depths. Dickens caricatures may seem overdrawn, but they usuallydischarge a serious function in the fictional milieu. He is often accused of being deficientin character portrayal. His characters do not often develop, but remain unchangedthrough the course of events a...
