Reading Dickens's stories one can think that they are about the way of life of people who lived only in the 19th century and his stories have nothing in common with our days,but it isn't so,because the way people treat each other,differences between social groups,discrimination,injustice are seen during all periods of time.Dickens described many problems that ordinary people faced and if he lived in our days he would see the traits of his of his heroes,their characters in the people of his neighbourhood.One Dickens's heroes Oliver Twist became an orphan just after the first minutes of his birth.Living in very bad conditions he had to work earning very little money and remaining hungry.Not being brought up by reasonable parents he met bad associations and was forced to become a member of a gang and was found guilty in robbery.The similar character can be very often found in our neighbourhood.Today we may meet youth who feel alone in this big and often unjust world.Another Dickens's hero is Pipfrom "Great Expectations".People,who had money were becoming part of society,known as ladies and gentlemen.But at the same time most people were poor and they lived in shabby houses.Many of them dreamt to live like gentlemen.So was Pip.He dreamt of the rich life,he thought that happiness was in money and wealth and he was eager to have all that.But in the end when he reached everything he understood that everything was vanity.He was disappointed,because he understood that happiness wasn't in wealth and richness.And the same characters with the same problems can be met just nowadays.There are many people in our neighbourhood that seek ways for going abroad in order to become richer or famous.But in the end they understand that all that is vanity,because you can lose all it in one day or you may die and all your property will be used by other people.The hero of this novel has another quality,which is common to young people of our days.He thought he loved Estella.She was a nice,pretty girl but she didn't have a sincere heart.But in the end Pip understood that the other girl loved him truly.She lived next to him all her life and it was she who had really a sincere heart and who was worth loving.It is the same today.A lot of fellows when choosing a girl concentrate on her appearance,not realizing that inner person is more valuable and important.Pip helped the convict and later the convict helped him,so we see how important it is to help people of different social groups despite their position in the society.In this story an old lady is described.When young she was betrayed by her bridegroom on the very day of their wedding.That caused to a very deep depression.She is described sitting in the house alone.Nothing has been changed there since the day of her wedding.Even her dress was on.It got yellow during years.Her depression made her aggressive.She hated men and was persuading Estella to break Pips heart.The same young people who have pains of lost love in their hearts,become aggressive and they don't want others to love and to be loved.
Actually the way of living and thinking,the conduct of people,their thoughts,desires and ambitions haven't changed since Dickens's time.So when reading his novels and stories let's never think that they are old and of no interest for us.Let's look around at our neighbourhood and we shall find Dickens's heroes in people living around us.So we can say that Dickens's heroes are alive,they think,feel and live near us and we can associate with them,communicate with them,help them in their troubles and sorrows.So we can say that Dickens's genuine talent and his heroes will never die,they are eternal,because we can see each of his heroes in our neighbourhood.