How can Oscar Wilde's potrayal of victorian society and the ideas of Charles Dickens be comparable?

Answer 1

They are comparable in the fact that, although Oscar Wilde's work dealt strictly with the upper class and Charles Dickens dealt primarily with the struggling lower classes. They both show clear class distinctions in British society during that time.

From reading both it is easy to see that the classes did not mix. In Dorian Gray, Dorian begins to go to sleezy lower class bars and entertainment where he meets and falls in love with (or the idea of) Sybil Vane. His friends are of course stunned by his break from society and understand the ramifications to Dorians place in "respectable" society. His engagement to Sybil is a truly shocking event.

When his friends come to see Sybil perform she is so filled with love for Dorian she can no longer act convincingly. Dorian breaks the engagement, much to the relief of his friends. Sybil then kills herself. Any intermingling done thereafter is defined as Dorian lowering himself from his elevated position in society.

Oliver Twist is taken advantage of because he is deemed a low life orphan. Mr. Browlow, in a moment of intense kindness takes Oliver in (he reminds him of a relative). Still while treated well Oliver is still a low class individual. In the end one of the great joys of the novel is justice over all the bad guys and Oliver really is a member of upper class society--a great reward.

Answer 2

Both writers were keen observers of English society, manners and culture in their day; their character portraits showing the various inconsistencies, prejudices and hypocrisies of their respective cultural climates.

Answer 3

Think class structure.

Answer 4

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