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Dickens and disability
1Jacobi Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
Disability and Rehabilitation
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Charles Dickens used physical disabilities symbolically in his novels. Deformities often represented inner corruption or served as punishment, with wheelchairs symbolizing imprisonment.
Area of Science:
- Literary analysis
- Cultural studies
- Disability studies
Background:
- Charles Dickens' novels frequently feature characters with physical disabilities or deformities.
- These physical conditions are often employed symbolically to underscore the author's thematic concerns.
Discussion:
- Dickens portrays disabled children as innocent victims.
- Adult characters with disabilities are often depicted as morally corrupt, their deformities signifying inner depravity.
- Physical impairments like paralysis or aphasia, often resulting from cerebrovascular accidents, are depicted as punishments for moral failings in non-disabled characters.
Key Insights:
- Physical deformities in Dickens' works serve as outward manifestations of inner moral states.
- The wheelchair is presented as a powerful metaphor for imprisonment and retributive justice.
Outlook:
- Further analysis could explore the evolution of disability representation in Victorian literature.
- Comparative studies could examine Dickens' portrayal of disability against other contemporary authors.
- Investigating the socio-historical context of disability in Dickens' era can enrich understanding of these literary depictions.
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