Although the language is that of the mid-Victorian era (occasional archaic vocabulary and long, formal sentences), this witty, detective-style story from Charles Dickens has a climax that would do Agatha Christie proud. The protagonist, a manager in an insurance office, leads us through the rather convoluted tale. With at least one murder and two more on the way, it is not until the end that readers learn that the real “detective” on the killer’s trail is not the protagonist, but one of his intended victims. Themes: first impressions (appearance/body language), deception, murder, justice, love, guilt. More…
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A Child’s Dream of a Star
A major theme of this heart-warming 19th Century children’s story from Charles Dickens is what comes after death. Although children today are more likely to have been exposed to the concept of the hereafter than their 1871 counterparts, the story is still used as a reading text in many grade schools. In addition to being a beautifully written piece of prose, it contains several other important themes. These include: 1) the wonder and interdependence of the natural world; 2) brother & sisterly love and devotion; 3) the importance of family; and 4) how life can sometimes seem unfair. More…
The Signal-man
Many Charles Dickens stories feature ghosts. Part of the attraction of The Signal-man is that, although generally considered one of these, there is no hard evidence of a ghost. Dickens masterfully uses setting to create a forbidding, unearthly atmosphere, and then leaves the question of the ghost to the reader. Like all first-person stories, the narrator’s version is open to misinterpretation and bias. The only evidence of the supernatural are the ghostly sightings described by the (now dead) signal-man, and some (potentially coincidental) shared expressions and gestures. Themes: duty & responsibility, fate, isolation, guilt, sanity, the supernatural. More…