Motivations for sympathy: Character relationships in the works of Charles Dickens

This thesis discusses Charles Dickens's portrayal of his characters and their motivations for relationships in The Old Curiosity Shop (1841), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1862).; Charles Dickens establishes a pattern for the success or failure of his character's relationships, and this pattern is based on the philosophies of Adam Smith. Throughout Charles Dickens's career he maintains the basic motivators of sympathy and curiosity being the prime indicators for the success or failure of each relationship, but adds new layers of complexity to each focus. These novels represent a cross section of his work, spanning his career.