The Binary Opposition Of Characters In Dickens's Autobiographical Novels

The object of this thesis is to examine the binary opposition of characters in Dickens'autobiographical novels, namely David Copperfield and Great Expectations, with the critical theory of dichotomy. The author intends to clarify some important binary opposites embodied in the characters of the two novels. Starting from the definition of a technique named binary opposition which is often used in evaluating literary works, this paper presents a detailed analysis about how binary opposition is applied for depicting some of the characters in the two novels.The introduction of the paper defines the term―binary opposition‖, which is a pair of terms differentiated by their opposition to one another and gives an overview of the literary criticism of Charles Dickens and his novels both at home and abroad. An outline of the main body of the paper is also given in this part.Chapter One first introduces Dickens's most autobiographical novel David Copperfield and then explores the binary opposition of the characters in it. In this novel, the binary opposition is first illustrated in the hero David Copperfield for his being the narrator and the protagonist at the same time. This binary opposition obliges David to examine the life of the past protagonist through the eyes of the present narrator. The binary opposition is also reflected in the relationship between such pair characters as David Copperfield and Edward Murdstone, David and Uriah Heep, and David and James Steerforth. In each pair David stands for the opposite side to the other three. This binary opposition enables David to develop his personality through the different stages of his life.In Chapter Two, after a general introduction to Dickens's Great Expectations, the paper gives a detailed analysis of the binary opposition in some of the characters: Pip's being an observer as well as a participant and his fact and fancy personality; Wemmick's public and private life; the lawyer Jaggers'being cold and caring at the same time. The binary opposition in Pip's double identities makes it possible for Pip the observer to criticize the sometimes snobbish Pip as a participant. The binary opposition between fact and fancy best illustrates Pip's personality which is common in humans. Meanwhile the binary opposition also serves to make the characterization of both Wemmick and Jaggers more believable and acceptable to readers.In the conclusion, the paper argues that by using the technique of binary opposition, the two books achieve their expected effects respectively. The thesis, in a sense, is an experiment of dichotomy analysis, and through a close analysis of the characters in the two books, tends to provide an alternative way to rethink the relationship between the characters, the narrator, the author and the world in Dickens'autobiographic novels.