Charles Dickens's Life Outline

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1. Tranquil childhood—Best of times
a. Born February 7, 1812
b. Father: John Dickens
i. Clerk in Navy Pay Office
ii. “congenial” and “hospitable”
iii. “generous to a fault which caused him financial difficulties throughout his life”
c. Charles taught alphabet by his mother Elizabeth from 1814 to 1821, reads greatly
d. Father transferred to Chatham in 1817
i. Gentle surroundings
ii. Larger home
iii. Two live-in servants
iv. Read greatly during this time
v. Attended the school of William Giles
vi. Played with siblings games of make-believe
vii. Recited poetry
viii. Sang songs
ix. Created theatrical productions
e. Goes to school with the son of a Baptist minister in 1821

2. Forced work—Worst of times
a. John and all of the family except Charles imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea Prison
b. Twelve year old Charles forced to work at Warren’s Blacking Factory pasting labels on boxes
c. Lived in a boarding house in Camden Town
i. Walked to work everyday
ii. Visited his father on Sundays
d. Introduced to the world of the working poor
i. Child labor was high
ii. Few adults cared for abandoned or orphaned children
e. Appalling working conditions
f. Long hours
g. Poor pay typical of the time

3. Resurrection
a. Left after three months
b. Mother wanted him to stay
i. Charles betrayed and resented her for many years
c. Father arranged for Charles to go to Wellington House Academy in London as a day pu-pil from 1824 to 1827, saving him from the factory and setting him up to be a writer.