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How Charles Dickens Became the Unexpected Mentor in My Life
A Tale of Hope and Faith
Iāve always been a bookworm. Particularly because of my introverted nature, I did not have many friends. So I used to stay lost in the pages of stories. But years later I realised how it was Charles Dickens who truly became my unexpected mentor, that somehow shaped the person I am today.
Oliver Twist: A Spark in the Darkness
I was probably in fifth standard when I picked up āOliver Twistā from a book store that sold old books at half price. Those days we did not have online shopping like today. So, choosing and ordering books were never an option. You take whatever you get using the small amount of pocket money was given. In fact, reading story books was counted as one of the fun things that can be done only during our leisure time.So, reading too many story books would come as a free lecture from the elders. As a kid, I was captivated by the world of Oliver Twist.
The bookās cover had a sad little boyās sketch in the setting of a dusty room, lit with a candle. The young orphanās tale, with its stark contrast to my carefree life during those days, stirred something deep within me. Before that book, I had no idea how difficult a little boyās life can be, which was somewhat underprivileged in comparison to the lives I knew of.
His story, marked by despair, had a raw vulnerability that I couldnāt ignore. It was then that I realized the power of a story to transport and transform.
David Copperfield: A Mirror to My Soul
As I grew older, David Copperfield became my companion for a while. His struggles, dreams, and search for identity mirrored my own journey. I really canāt explain how Dickens seemed to have a magical ability to peer into the hearts of young people.
His words are enough to capture their hopes, fears, and aspirations with uncanny accuracy.
