Yes, the way he treated his wife is truly shocking! And Victorian society was deeply patriarchal and he challenged certain aspects of it, but not others. I know people who are spot-on about things they are not personally connected with whilst being pretty screwed up about their personal relationships. No Dickens was not a nice person but he wrote some good books; perhaps a scepticism about his depictions of women would be useful.
Although having said that last bit, I am very fond of some of his heroines - such as Bella of Our Mutual Friend. Knowing something of his childhood, he had experienced poverty and servitude and that must have informed his championing of the underdog. Whereas of course he had no experience of being a girl or a woman. But his treatment of particularly his wife was beyond the pale.
Yeah being a talented person, in any field, does not in any way justify being a bad human being. Sadly in many instances it is those closest that have the most to suffer as they do not get the 'public image' treatment.
Yes, the way he treated his wife is truly shocking! And Victorian society was deeply patriarchal and he challenged certain aspects of it, but not others. I know people who are spot-on about things they are not personally connected with whilst being pretty screwed up about their personal relationships. No Dickens was not a nice person but he wrote some good books; perhaps a scepticism about his depictions of women would be useful.
Yeah, great point! Totally agree! Thank you so much Sarah!
Although having said that last bit, I am very fond of some of his heroines - such as Bella of Our Mutual Friend. Knowing something of his childhood, he had experienced poverty and servitude and that must have informed his championing of the underdog. Whereas of course he had no experience of being a girl or a woman. But his treatment of particularly his wife was beyond the pale.
Yeah being a talented person, in any field, does not in any way justify being a bad human being. Sadly in many instances it is those closest that have the most to suffer as they do not get the 'public image' treatment.