Kantian Deontology In Bleak House

Utilitarianism was prevalent in English society in the 19 th century. Kantian deontology was advocated and approved to combat utilitarianism, influencing the realist novelists in the Victorian era. Kantian deontology requires people to act with the sense of duty, or to do things with the purpose of fulfilling their own duty. Charles Dickens, the realist writer in the 19 th century, is also influenced by Kantian deontology, as can be seen in his novels. To further enrich the study of these novels, this thesis selects Bleak House, Dickens? first great panoramic novel, to explore Kantian deontology, which is present and manifested through different characters in the novel. This thesis attempts to find out the Kantian deontology manifested and explored in Bleak House.Firstly, the thesis discusses duty, Kantian deontology and its features. Secondly, based on the above discussion, this thesis discusses the Kantian deontology manifested and explored in different characters in Bleak House by analysing the thoughts and behaviours of different characters. Lastly, the thesis draws the conclusions of this study.Kantian deontology is approved by Dickens, and is manifested in Bleak House. In the novel, the characters who act from duty and in whom Kantian deontology is manifested are approved, while the characters who pursue self-interest or do not fulfil their duties are ironized.Moreover, Dickens has further explored Kantian deontology in this novel by arranging different characters fulfilling different duties to different extents. Compared with the duty to society, duty to family takes priority, and only after one?s family duty is fulfilled can he begin to consider his social duty. The performance of duty combined with a good motive is to be approved. One should not consider duty too much and sacrifice his own adequate pursuit of happiness. And one should not indulge in taking advantage of others in the name of duty.