Abstract:Charles Dickens is a famous critical realistic writer in the 19th Britain. Most of his works are of great social and historic significance. This study aims to study the social problems as shown in The Pickwick Papers written by Charles Dickens. The body of the paper consists of three parts: the exposure of the political system, the exposure of the judicial system and the reasons for these social problems. By combining the description in the novel and the social background, readers can understand the author’s critical realism, use of humorous satire, and 19th Britain and, in this way, develop the ability to read literary works against social background.

Key words: political system; judicial system, election, prison

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction1

2. Social Problems sown in the Pickwick Papers...3

2.1 Exposure of Political Problems in Britain 

2.1.1 The Electoral System

2.1.2 The Local Government

2.2 Exposure of Judicial System

  2.2.1 Criticism on the Judicial Officials

  2.2.2 The Prison

3. Causes for Social Problems9

3.1 The Political System 

3.2 The Polarization between the Poor and the Rich

4. Conclusion10

Bibliography.11

Acknowledgements..12