Interpreting The Theme Of Reclamation In The Old Curiosity Shop

The aspects of Christianity in Dickens' world have been a controversial subject. How he paraphrases the doctrine of Christianity in his own way for the easy acceptance among readers and dwells on the essentially moral features of Christianity, are problems for both readers and researchers. So this research is an effort to interpret the theme of reclamation in The Old Curiosity Shop and a critical study of Dickens' Christian ideal based on Christian ethics of Good. Reclamation is his Christian ideal through which Dickens hopes that everyone is good so that the vice and evils in the society would be overwhelmed. My argument is that the ideal remains as an ideal, for personal reclamation cannot be a solution to social problems.There are five chapters for my discussion. In Chapter 1, I will first introduce Dickens' faith and view of Christianity, and the other literary critics' comments on the Christian features in his works. Second, I will point out the ethic message of Good in The Old Curiosity Shop and Dickens' Christian ideal. And then there is a brief study of the concept of reclamation in the Bible, with quotations and summaries.In Chapter 2, I will first discuss the relationship between the journey and reclamation. First, I will illustrate the inevitabilities for their journey from three aspects: dreams and darkness, the motivations, and adventures, so as to prove the journey is a way of reclamation for the old man. Secondly, I will demonstrate theChristian connotations of the journey in two aspects: the explicit ethic indications of the pilgrim's progress and the coincidences that are parallel to the journey. Finally, I will find out how the social causes have been overlooked. The conclusion of this chapter is that the journey of reclamation is idealistic because reclamation is a personal issue instead of a social one.In chapter 3, the focus of my discussion is the relationship of death and reclamation. First, I will illustrate Dickens' view of death. Death is for him a form of reclamation related to Christian salvation. Second, I will talk about the significance of Nell's death. In her death, Dickens conveys his morality to his readers. Third, the topic is about the old man's death, which is classified as reclamation to realize Dickens' Christian ideal. Finally, I will state my view of Dickens' unsuccessful use of death as the form of reclamation: Nell's death is moral but not natural; the old man's reclamation is natural but not moral.In Chapter 4, the discussion is about the relationship of ideal and reclamation. I will first talk about the Victorian reality and morality, which is the background for Dickens' ideal. And then I will identify three problems: first, how do we know that his Christian ideal is based on Christian ethics of Good; second, why should reclamation be the way to realize his Christian ideal in the novel The Old Curiosity Shop; third, why is his ideal merely an ideal.In Chapter 5, I will emphasize my views of Dickens' Christian ideal of reclamation and point out that individual reclamation will not be a solution to socialills. The significance of interpreting the theme of Christianity in Dickens' novels is to understand Dickens and his novelistic art.