How was the writing style of Thomas Hardy different from Charles Dickens?

Victorian age is known as the richest age of English Literature. There was a rise in so many writings in terms of prose, fiction, and poetry. Out of the famous novelists, the contribution of Thomas Hardy and Charles Dickens cannot be overlooked.

Thomas Hardy

• Born in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England on June 2, 1840, Thomas Hardy was a pessimistic critic and a novelist. His inclination towards the countryside and life of Vessex was reflected in his works.

• The man-nature relationship remains very indifferent to the man of his writings.

• In fact, Hardy's tragic vision is a part of his pessimism.

• The role of fate is too prominent in his works.

• Characters are hapless victims in his creations. His man thinks that he owns the land, but land actually is omnipotent.

• Hardy's famous works are The Return of the Native, The Mayor of Casterbridge etc. In the former work, Heath is a character itself described along with the Puritanism of Eustacia.

Charles Dickens

• Born on February 7, 1812, in Portsea on the south coast of England. Charles Dickens' family belonged to the lower middle class.

• He was one of the best representatives of his age as a novelist.

• His representation of the essential human conditions is outstanding.

• His realism, prose style, characterization and social criticism in his novels are works of social commentary.

• He was a fierce critic of poverty with social stratification.

• His famous works include Great Expectations, Oliver Twist wherein Oliver Twist shows images of early Victorian England.

Thus, although Hardy and Dickens existed in the same age, yet their writing styles were quite different. Hardy wrote on pessimistic themes invoking pathos, Dickens wrote issue based novels. He showed us how the situation was during his times without peppering with any additional seasoning to make it richer with pathos.