Leopold DAKONG
leopolddakong60@gmail.com
Jeannot DJASSENE
djassene jeannot44 @gmail.com
Clement BETI
beticlement312@gmail.com
Abstract: This focuses on the narrative technique used by Charles Dickens in his work, specially the two novels titled Hard Times and Great Expectations. Through a thorough analysis of characterization, the plots and the point of viewtechniques used in these two novels, it is revealed that they are critical aspects of the narrative process because they show the author’s awareness of the issues concerning human condition and materialism of the society at that period. The author condemns materialism, class conflicts, injustices the society and rejection of morality through characterization or memitic characters while propsing transformation of the characters mentioned above.
Dickens mainly uses the marriage plot and subplots which articulate the ideal marriage in the Victorian society but he manipulates the marriage plot to include deeper issues such as economy, gender issues and class conflicts. Alongside the marriage plot, Dickens also uses the objective narrator, the third-person omniscient narrator and the first person narrator to reveal the characters’ motivations, feelings and thoughts.
This research study is based upon the principles of new historicism and psychology. New historicists do not analyse a text by only focussing on social, economic, cultural, historical and author’s backgrounds but also on the form and the style of the text as advocated by new criticism. It is in relation to this view that this narrative strategies analysis is articulated. The Psychological perspective reveals Dickens’s belief in the human perfectibility. The mimetic characters of Hard Times and Great expectations move psychologically evolves from self-alienation or moral regression towards self-actualization or moral progression.
Keywords: Dickens, narrative strategies, characterization, plot, point of view.
Si cet article vous intéresse, vous pouvez le télécharger gratuitement ici