What direct influence on society did dickens have?

Answer 1

A huge one. He brought about immense changes in the social welfare of his time, he contributed to the dissolution of bleak institutions like the workhouses and the debtors' prisons, he encouraged people to care more for those around them, he forced the authorities to close down the so-called boarding schools depicted in "Nicholas Nickleby".

Answer 2

Dickens was not only the first great Urban Novelist in England, but also one of the most important social commentators who used fiction effectively to criticize social, economic, and moral abuses in Victorian era. Dickens showed compassion, empathy towards the vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of the English society, and contributed several important social reforms.

Dickens believed in the ethical and political potential of literature, and novel in particular, and he treated his fiction as a springboard for debates about moral and social reform. Dickens contributed significantly to the emergence of public opinion which was gaining and increase of influence on the decision of the authorities. Indirectly, he contributed to a series of legal reforms, including the abolition of inhuman imprisonment for debts, purification of the Magistrates Courts, a better management of criminal prisons, and the restriction of the capital punishment.

Answer 3

Charles Dickens had a significant impact on society through his novels, which highlighted social issues such as poverty, injustice, and the plight of the working class in Victorian England. His works shed light on these issues, leading to increased awareness and public discussions that ultimately helped bring about social reform and change. Dickens' vivid portrayals of characters from different social backgrounds also helped to foster empathy and understanding among readers.