Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit. 1857; Project Gutenberg/ Amazon, 2012.

I have taught a few Dickens novels over the years. Some I have taught most years for the last forty. I have from time to time read some of his other works, but it has been a while since I have read a different one. There was no particular reason why I chose this one other than the title made me a bit curious.

Little Dorrit reminded me of A Tale of Two Cities in its narrative approach. There are numerous characters. Each chapter seems to focus on a different character or group of related characters. It is not even clear at first how they are all related. Like A Tale of Two Cities, the different parties do all come together in some way as the story moves to its conclusion.

While portions are set in foreign countries—France, Switzerland, and Italy—most of it takes place in various places around London. While A Tale of Two Cities waxes philosophically about government and various economic systems, Little Dorrit has more satire and social commentary.

Perhaps the most pointed satire has to do with the Barnacle family, many of whom work for the British government at the Circumlocution Office. What a perfect name for a government agency! At one point one of the workers at the office explains why it is good for the country that the office does nothing at all. And even the family name, Barnacle, suggests parasites that weigh things down. 1984’s Ministry of Truth is simply a later iteration with perhaps a more nefarious intent.

There is also some interesting social satire. Without giving too much away, the Dorrit family has fallen on hard times, but they have an aristocratic background. When the social position is restored, we see family members responding differently. One does not change too much except that he refuses to acknowledge his recent poverty. One associates with the young gents who spend their time in idle pursuits. One calculates how she can really rise socially and become “someone” in society. One is uncomfortable with the change, and seems to look fondly back on the old days.

The story begins around 1856, so the people with money and power are less likely to be aristocrats and more likely to be successful in business. Of course, that success, if played right, may lead to a title. In the Western World today, there is an aristocracy, but it is one of money, whether old money like the Rockefellers or new money like Silicon Valley. So it is in Little Dorrit, that the person who is esteemed the most is the richest. He is considered a genius—until he isn’t any more.

Padding through all of these various characters and intrigues are Little Dorrit and Arthur Clennam. Amy Dorrit, who prefers to be called Little Dorrit, was born in the Marshalsea debtor’s prison. At the time the story begins, she is twenty-two and has lived there all her life. She cares for her father who is a prisoner there. She is free to leave, but she refuses so that she can take care of her father.

Little Amy Dorrit is almost too good to be true. She cares for her father and sympathizes with those who are down and out. She works hard. She has kind words to say about everyone. The reader cannot help but root for her. She exemplifies what it means to live a life of love and giving.

Arthur Clennam seems to be connected with everyone somehow. He has returned to England after twenty years in the orient working for his father’s company. He is still single. We learn later in the novel perhaps the real reason why he was sent abroad. His mother is still alive and running the family business in London, but she seems more like a stereotypical evil stepmother than anyone with maternal instincts. There is, as in Great Expectations, a certain Cinderella element to this story, but the outcome is very different. Still, as with Great Expectations, there is a theme of true nobility. What does it really mean to be noble, to be a true gentleman or a true lady?

And, as with many Dickens tales, there is a theme of justice vs. injustice. In this case, the whole system of jailing debtors seems unjust. How can Mr. Dorrit possibly pay off his debt if he is locked up in jail? He seems to be a natural leader in the prison, but there he remains. Indeed, Dickens suggests something which has been observed over and over in more modern times—people who have been institutionalized often seem to be unable to adjust to freedom when they are released from their institution. They are so used to the structure and having things done for them, they find it hard to survive on the outside.

As always with Dickens, we can learn from different characters. Some have been unjustly treated and have learned to forgive. One gets away with murder. Others remain bitter. Some change when they see the importance of standing for the truth. Others twist everything. One of the saddest characters is Miss Wade. She trusts no one. Even those who are trying to help her, she assumes they really don’t like her and are out to get her anyhow.

Because there are many characters and the chapters seem to hop from character to character, it might help the reader if there were some kind of cast list as they sometimes include with Russian novels. I found the list in Wikipedia fairly helpful. Unfortunately, it did contain one significant spoiler. Another way might be for the reader to make a list with some of the basics of each one. One could even argue whether or not Little Dorrit is the main character—no one would say such a thing, for example, about Oliver Twist or David Copperfield.

Little Dorrit has scope, as Shakespeare would say. It covers a lot, but at the same time, we are rooting for Amy Dorrit and hoping that things will work together for the good.