In this article you will get acquainted with the product called "Antiquities Shop". Dickens wrote it in the genre of sentimentalism.
A little about the author
Dickens was born February 7, 1812 in England(Portsmouth). Glory came to the English writer during his lifetime, which is a rarity. The author wrote mainly in the genre of realism, but in his novels there is a place for fairy tale and sentimentalism.
So what made Charles Dickens famous? The Antiquities Shop is not his only famous work. Books that brought fame to the author:
- "Oliver Twist";
- Nicholas Nickleby;
- Pickwick Club;
- "Our mutual friend";
- "Cold House";
- “A Tale of Two Cities”;
- "Great expectations";
- The Mystery of Edwin Drude.
Oddities of the famous Englishman
Dickens was able to enter trance states, ofteninvaded it involuntarily. He was haunted by visions, and he often felt a state of deja vu. When the last thing happened, he crumpled and twisted his hat. Because of this, he messed up a lot of hats and, over time, completely stopped wearing them.
His friend and editor in chief of Fortnightly magazineReview ”George Henry Lewis said that the author constantly communicated with the heroes of his works. While working on the novel "Shop of Antiquities", Dickens also saw the main character of the work - Nellie. The author himself said that she was confused under his feet, did not allow him to eat and sleep.
The novel "The Shop of Antiquities" (Dickens): a summary
Главная героиня романа - девочка двенадцати лет by the name of Nellie. She is an orphan and lives with her grandfather, who simply adores her. The girl since infancy lives among strange things: ancient weapons, sculptures of Indian gods, antique furniture.
Милая девчушка обладает огромной силой воли.Readers are impressed by the non-child courage of a twelve-year-old crumb. The relative decided to secure the girl’s future in a very strange way - by playing cards. He wanted to win a large sum and send the girl to study at the best college. To do this, he leaves the girl at night alone and goes to meet with friends.
Unfortunately, the grandfather is haunted by failures in the game, andhe loses their house and the shop of antiquities. The family has to go wherever they look. In the novel there is also a guy who is in love with a girl. His name is Keith. The teenager and his family all the time trying to help the girl and her grandfather.
The owner of their shop becomes an evil dwarf named Quill. He knows how to do terrible and scary things:
- swallow eggs together with the shell;
- drink boiling water.
For some reason, when he becomes the owner of the shop,then he goes to sleep in the crib Nelly. Quill - a terrible creature, demon and businessman. He never earned money in an honest way, although he has his own office. The author writes that the clock has become eighteen years old in it, and the paint has long since dried in the inkwell. The table in the office serves as a bed for the dwarf.
So, on the way of old Trent and Nelly, there will be a lot of adventures. On the way, they meet comedians, a kind but poor teacher in a rural school.
They are also sheltered by the kind hostess of the wax museum.figures of mrs jarly. The woman gave Nellie a job and shelter for her and her grandfather. Finally, the girl lives in peace, but it was not there that her grandfather began to play again. Having lost all the money earned by the girl, the grandfather decides to rob the hostess of the house. Nellie finds out about this and does not allow her relative to make a rash step. They leave the house on a quiet night.
Путешественники попадают в промышленный город.Work can not find. At night, they are sheltered by a local stoker. He does not leave for a long time, and they need to go again. On the way, the girl gets under heavy rain and gets wet to the skin. The consequence of this is Nelly's disease. Finally, travelers find shelter. They were pityed and singled out the gatehouse at the old church. Unfortunately, it is getting late - the girl dies. The old man goes crazy and also leaves this world.
"The Antiquities Shop" (Dickens) is a fairy tale plotwhich is built on a game of contrasts. The famous Englishman had a passion for everything fantastic, unearthly and bizarre. Baby Nelly appears to readers like a little fairy: fragile, tender, surprisingly good. She forgives everything to her crazy little grandfather and tries, despite her young years, to solve problems for both.
When a novelist gets bored with Nelli's “fabulousness”, heintroduces ordinary people into the plot: the whale teenager in love with her, his mother, brothers. Readers, as a rule, have a special sympathy for Dick Swieweler loafers.
Little Marquis - the heroine of the novel "The Shop of Antiquities" (Dickens)
In the novel, there is also a girl named Marquis.She is the absolute opposite of Nelly. The marquise is a servant in the house of the rich: Samson Brass and his sister Sally. They completely tortured the girl with her black work. She lives in a damp, cold kitchen. Sally beats her up and half-starves.
Малышка взбалмошна и простодушна.She often overhears and spies at the keyhole. This is an ordinary, funny and lively girl. A little tricky: can easily sneak something delicious. Despite the cruel treatment, the Marquis is not hardened by people, but remains kind and bright.
Charles Dickens in his writings raisesthe question of the defenselessness of children in the cruel world of adults. The sad fate of Nelly, the bullying of the Marquis, makes the reader recall the other heroes of his novels. Dickens lovers will also remember Oliver Twist, tortured in a working house.
Dickens' novel became popular during the life of the author.Not only the inhabitants of Albion, but the Americans also wept over the premature demise of Nelly. The author himself, as he wrote to a friend, was very worried about this turn of events in the novel. He could not do otherwise, the death of the protagonist was to indicate cruelty to children. The author wanted to turn readers away from evil and sow goodness and compassion in their hearts.
