“’I wonder who’s put into prison-ships, and why they’re put there?’ said I, in a general way, and with quiet desperation.
“It was too much for Mrs. Joe, who immediately rose. ‘I tell you what, young fellow,’ said she, ‘… People are put in the Hulks because they murder, and because they rob, and forge, and do all sorts of bad; and they always begin by asking questions.”
The above exchange, taken from the novel Great Expectations, classifies as quintessential Charles Dickens. Mrs. Joe Gargery, older sister and de facto adoptive mother of the protagonist Pip, chastens him. How is this quintessential? A powerful character puts a hapless waif in his place while condemning a whole swath of society—as if it’s a man’s fault he was born where he was born and reared up the way he was reared up.[1]
“…I looked at the stars, and considered how awful it would be for a man to turn his face up to them as he froze to death, and see no help or pity in all the glittering multitude.”
In the summer of 2021, I descended into a mental health crisis. Among various self-destructive and increasingly irrational thoughts, I convinced myself I would be homeless by winter.[2] I remember skipping my buddy’s final autumn cookout because it was stormy and chilly, and I wasn’t ready to face the elements that would soon surely drive me to destruction. Dickens understood how sorrow and bitterness drive people and institutions to create their own horrific ends.
“We have had a time together, Joe, that I can never forget. There were days once, I know, that I did for a while forget; but I never shall forget these.”
That’s Pip reminiscing with his beloved stepfather, Joe Gargery—one of the kindest and most loyal characters in Dickens’s pantheon. I share the above quote for literary enjoyment. It reminds me of Oliver Cowdery’s famed statement, found in Joseph Smith History 1: “These were days never to be forgotten…” That is a beautiful phrase, one of the best in Mormonism. How sad that pretty much everything Cowdery writes after that is wordy, self-indulgent, and wanton in its quest to sound canonical. He wasn’t writing for the footnotes, but that’s where he ended up.[3]
Anyhow, Dickens seems quite relevant to our day. Here he is, back in 1860, depicting conspiracy theory as well as any writer at The New York Times or The Atlantic:
“So convinced I was… that I wanted no evidence to establish the fact in my own mind. But, to any mind, I thought, the connection here was clear and straight.”
Speaking of toxic credulity, when I was on my mission in 1995, I lost my faith in a single traumatic night. I spent the second year of my mission reeling mentally and emotionally. Not one Church leader ever pointed me toward a licensed clinical therapist, or toward any books or thinking outside of Mormonism. Restoring my belief in, and loyalty to, the Church, was the preeminent concern.
If You Take Nothing Else Away from This Post…
Though I had ceased trusting the Church, I came home from my mission with a fanatical desire still intact. Even as my crisis of faith grew, I was encouraged almost universally to maintain one boyish obsession. At 21 years of age, I moved to Utah to attend university. Beyond a college degree and a lucrative career, I had one great expectation. I expected to find a young, beautiful woman to make mine.
Not a soulmate. After all, soulmates are fiction, right? Nevertheless, I expected to encounter any number of young women in Utah who could fit the bill.[4] We would fall in love. We would marry. We would create our family. Surely I would sort out my faith concerns and all would be well. Indeed, once I had her, all would be well in my mind, in my heart, and in my bed.
For Dickens’s main character, Pip, this feverish patriarchal entitlement plays out in his obsession with Estella. This young woman is groomed by matriarchy, while he is groomed by patriarchy. The difference is this: patriarchy enables Pip to believe Estella is being groomed for him. Estella is groomed for embittered submission to patriarchy.
It’s insidious, isn’t it? Ever the able author, Dickens makes sure we understand this. He never fails to condemn atrocities, the way the Bible and The Book of Mormon often do.[5] Think about that as you choose your reading material this year. Which books will empower you? Which ones are being used to leverage power over you, in effect commanding you to toe the line for a leader or an institution?
Read along now as Pip dumps the blame for his disappointments on the person he claims to love most:
“You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since… You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with.”
Dream on if you must, Pip. But sooner or later, please grow up.
As a personal goal, I intend to make 2025 a Dickensian year. I’ll focus on reading his novels, much the same way I read through all of Shakespeare’s plays. I’ve already read enough Dickens to know it will be entertaining. I also hope—given the morality and spirituality of Dickens’s writing—that it will be edifying. I have faith it will contribute to my wellness, in particular, to my outlook on life. After all, I have expectations.
Questions for Discussion
Your turn, readers. Have you read Great Expectations or any other Dickens novels? What was your experience? How might they be particularly relevant to Mormon readers?
This post is the latest in my “Out of the Best Books” series for W&T. Here is a previous post featuring Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities.
Footnotes:
- Talking to you, fellow Mormons!😉
- A roof was kept over my head all winter. Homelessness occurred later, somewhat briefly, during the summer of 2022.
- My conspiracy theory: Oliver Cowdery fell away from the Church for a deeper reason than witnessing Joseph’s affair with young Fanny Alger. The fatal crack in Oliver’s faith shelf was covetousness. It poisoned his breaking heart. He had wanted Alger too. If Fanny had shown an interest in Oliver first, he would have given into temptation. Then it would have been Joseph standing outside that barn, simultaneously furious and aroused.
That’s the way I’d write it anyhow. Go ahead. Tell me I’m wrong. Piously demand that I cite sources to back up my claim. Miss the point of this literary exercise. I don’t have to cite sources. I’m mulling over human truths that, perhaps, only fiction can reveal. - That’s the accurate way for me to word it. And yes, it’s awful that I regarded young women as something to acquire or possess.
- If you insist that I provide scripture references, you are either playing dumb or have not read the book. So let’s move on.
Wheat & Tares 
I first read a child’s adaptation when I was 9. Later read it, and also listened to BBC radio drama adaptations. And, I still don’t remember a great deal about it, as a story. Sorry. I guess I didn’t feel much for the characters.
Back when we lived in Kent I used to take the kids to a couple of museums then in Rochester. One was wandering scenes from Dickens’ novels. The other based on local history, with a couple of floors made up to resemble the inside of a prison hulk. There used to be many of these hulks moored in the Medway estuary.
Hedgehog, thank you for chiming in, and especially for describing your reaction to the characters. Great Expectations was a high school read in my first attempt. I say attempt because I slacked off and relied heavily on the 1946 film adaptation to pass the test. My first reaction to Dickens was blah.
It wasn’t till my 30s that I found myself beginning to enjoy Dickens’s writing, through his several Christmas novels, including The Chimes, The Haunted Man, and of course A Christmas Carol. Odd, only because in high school I loved Shakespeare from the get-go and read other classics like Les Miserables enthusiastically. So my early disinterest wasn’t a distaste for formal writing. Now, in part because of his writing’s clear sensitivity toward mental health issues, I’m connecting much more.
The museums you describe sound wonderful!
Jake C, I admit to not being especially fond of Dickens’ writing. Vastly prefer Wilkie Collins, I find the female protagonists much more interesting.
The museums are on Rochester High St. I believe it’s the Guildhall museum that has the prison hulk interior (it seems it is still there), and also from the blurb online a courtroom that featured in Great Expectations. The scenes from the novels were in Eastgate House, but that exhibition closed shortly before we moved, and the house is now an arts centre apparently.
Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities are the only Dickens books I’ve read. I’ve seen a Muppet Christmas Carol probably 30 times but I don’t think Rizzo the Rat as narrator counts as high literature, lol, although I’m still moved to near tears when Ebenezer chooses money over his fiancée
as she sings “it was almost love, it was almost always.” I didn’t love the two books but there’s no doubting Dickens rooting for the unfortunate.
I don’t have any particular insight other than to say I don’t think Christ would recognize his teachings in most Christian denominations nowadays, including the LDS. I’m embarrassed for Christians mostly, and I think Dickens would be too.
I thought I was rereading David Copperfield when I read my gg-grandfather’s biography. Born in Britain c1820, abandoned by his father, apprenticed out as a chimney sweep at 8 yrs old, runs away to find his father, etc. It makes all Dickens’ writing a little more real and relatable for me.
“He never fails to condemn atrocities, the way the Bible and The Book of Mormon often do. Think about that as you choose your reading material this year.”
Hot take, but I’d call Dickens’ tendency a bug and the other a feature. There’s a moralizing tendency to much of Dickens that’s fallen out of vogue, to say the least. He has his moments, though. (IMO, of course.)
At any rate, your post certainly resonates with my experience. To quote Dickens, reflecting on our shared experience of faith crisis and failure of romantic dreams to materialize, “Such things were not to be.”
Of note to W&T readers: Steven Peck’s The Scholar of Moab examines the idea of a “Dickensian life” (a subject on which I’ll be presenting at UVU’s upcoming Folklore Symposium).
I have have been listening to Great Expectations as a book-on-tape off and on at Spotify for more than a year now. I can’t exactly say why it’s been such a slow slog for me. I enjoy each little vignette, but I don’t feel particularly compelled to find out what happens next, so I’ve only just met Estella.
Did really like Tale of Two Cities when I read in high school. I enjoyed reading A Christmas Carol, but like Trevor, watching the Muppets version has been a tradition at our house every year for a long time, so I am not sure I actually remember the written story at all. And was completely outraged when Disney plus version cut out the “It was almost love” song.
Also, just want to remind Trevor that its Gonzo who plays Charles Dickens/the narrator in the Muppets Christmas Carol, one of their finest performances. Rizzo the Rat is the comic relief side-kick! (Light the lamp, not the rat!)
@10ac yes! You’re right! It was Gonzo as narrator. This last Christmas our adult kids told me and my wife they were always frightened by the creepy Ghost of Christmas Future and so we didn’t watch it for the time since we married. I too was greatly disappointed in the decision to cut the song. When we watch we pull out an old DVD / DVD player. The Tiny Tim song “Bless us all” is wonderful.
charlene, just reading your comment felt like a Dickens story. What a life your gg-grandfather had!
I’m enjoying the author plugs, everyone. I read Steven Peck’s The Tragedy of King Leere, Goatherd of the La Sals from BCC Press. I would definitely try another of his titles. As for the Muppets Christmas Carol… what’s not to love? Rewatched it this year myself. I’m good for at least a couple adaptations of that story every year, so theirs is always on the list.
10ac, Great Expectations was a slower read for me too. Started in November. In addition to life distractions around the holidays, I never read more than a couple chapters at a time. Dickens prose is heavy. But his chapter lengths are reasonable, I realized I was satisfied to go easy. Next up: Nicholas Nickelby!
The thing with Dickens and co is that the books weren’t first published as a single book, but in serial form, published in magazines/periodicals, so are likely easier to read slowly in chunks.
Best TV adaptation of David Copperfield would be by BBC with a pre-Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe as David, and Maggie Smith as Betsy Trotwood.
Let me begin by issuing my strongest possible condemnation to the circumstances that cause Jacob to be homeless. Those sort of injustices cannot be tolerated.
Next, I join Jacob in calling for greater promotion of the work of Dickens. Not only would our young people be better readers, they would have a greater love for their fellow creatures.
Third, I must point out the travesty that modern Hollywood has made out of Dickens’ works. Hollywood has filled the movies with rampant violence and wanton sexuality. One must go back to the Mr. Mago version of A Christmas Carol to get the most accurate depiction.
I’m glad that you made it through a challenging time. We are all more vulnerable than we often recognize. None of us are immune. I’m sad but sadly not surprised that during your mission you were not given needed supports, and glad that at this time in your life you are alright.
Thank you as always for sharing your insights. I read Great Expectations about 10 years ago and was astounded by the depth I found there. Your posts have challenged and enriched my thinking and I am grateful for your work.
I’ve read Bleak House and David Copperfield and loved both. David Copperfield contains memorable characters whose traits remind you of people you know. Bleak House does the same but also covers a breathtaking array of issues: Wealth, poverty, the grinding wheels of the justice system, and the path to true fulfillment in life, are just a few of the issues covered in Dickens’ social commentary. And don’t neglect Demon Copperhead, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel from Barbara Kingsolver that is a modern-day retelling of David Copperfield. Kingsolver is brilliant!
I have been listening to Great Expectations as a book-on-tape off and on at Spotify for more than a year now. I can’t exactly say why it’s been such a slow slog for me. I enjoy each little vignette, but I don’t feel particularly compelled to find out what happens next, so I’ve only just met Estella.
@10ac How is it possible that your experience almost describes mine to t? My late grandfather made it a habit of trying to read as many “great novels” before his passing This left an impression on me, and I thought to attempt the same (but hopefully getting a start much earlier). But as I often do not have as much time to read as I would like, I downloaded Great Expectations on Audible. Alas, it sat unlistened to in the app for years. I am further along that you are, but I go in fits and starts. I am probably half-way through right now. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this, but since I am listening to the book in audio format, often times my attention wanders and I will re-listen to a chapter several times. Even then, I will somtimes go online to a website like to LitCharts and read the chapter summaries, just to make sure I picked up the gist of the chapter; Dickens is quite flowery with his prose and it is easy to get lost (especially if you are listening while cleaning the house!)
I almost laughed at loud at how funny Dicken’s was when he described the dysfunctional family dynamics of Matthew Pocket and his wife. One notable and somewhat humorous moment involves the neglectful parenting of Mrs. Pocket, who is obsessed with her supposed aristocratic lineage and oblivious to her children’s well-being.
As you may recall, during this visit, a baby falls off a chair and is saved just in time by a servant. Mrs. Pocket remains entirely unaware of the incident, absorbed in reading a book about titles of nobility. The whole episode underscores the chaotic household and Mrs. Pocket’s inadequacies as a parent, contrasting sharply with Matthew Pocket’s more earnest, though overburdened, efforts to manage the family:
The idea of a nutcracker as a lethal weapon in the hands of a neglected infant just strikes me as incredibly funny and absurd, but I love it so much. And so I have taken to randomly saying these two phrases to my wife (who happens to loves babies and was a dancer in the Nutcracker ballet) as a sort of inside joke when I get exasperated at the general state of world affairs:
Are infants to be nutcrackered into their tombs, and is nobody to save them?
Babies are to be nutcrackered dead.
At one point or another, I think I’ve read most of Dickens. My love of his work waxes and wanes. As a teen, I was a big fan; Nicholas Nickelby was my favorite. As a twenty-something I was underwhelmed by the melodrama and (what felt like) the blatant audience manipulation. I had put off A Tale of Two Cities and read it in the throes of new motherhood in my mid-30s and was never so grateful in my life for Dickens’ ability to pull me out of my own time and space. Love him or hate him, what he does well he does very well indeed. I am rounding the turn here into my mid-forties and it’s been some time since I’ve been back to Dickens’ work in depth. (Shout out to Muppet Christmas Carol, though, which remains my favorite adaptation, and it isn’t close.) At this point in my life I’d say I deeply appreciate his work while acknowledging it’s not always for me.
Last year my family and I got to visit the Dickens Museum in London, which was a home where he lived for a few years early-ish in his career. It was wonderful! Well worth a visit. Not crowded, and exquisitely curated. My kids loved it. My husband and sister in-law and I did too.
What resonates in Dickens with me most as a Mormon is the idea of the hand of God/Fate present in everything. Mostly, in my own life/belief, I’ve told myself that I reject this idea. But it’s a stubborn worldview to shake.
Jacob L, that wouldn’t be my reading, given your description. Nut=head, falling baby in danger of cracking head on floor, hence nut-crackered. Admittedly I have no memory whatsoever of the scene from the book. Yours is definitely funnier however.
@Hedgehog
It’s actually quite a funny scene! Mrs. Pocket does indeed allow her baby to be preoccupied and play with nutcrackers while she is distracted talking about her lineage. The narrator grows increasingly concerned for the well-being of the baby, worrying that the poor baby’s eyes will be gouged out:
Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol