A Comparison of Thomas Carlyle's Know Thy Work and Charles Dickens' David Copperfield

To our current and past generations, the idea of finding great value in work is not all together new. In Thomas Carlyle's "Know Thy Work," the idea of work as a precious necessity is presented in argumentative detail. Carlyle found significant value in labor, because labor offers purpose and regulation to a person. Carlyle's outlying argument for work's value to a person was based on the idea that work offers a purpose to one's life and defines them as an individual.

He clearly states this by writing, "Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness. He has a work, a life-purpose…(Longman 1040)" This statement strongly represents his thought of work's benefit to a person, because it offers a definition and a meaning for an individual's existence, for which there is no greater value. Also, he believes work is valuable, because it self regulates a person's life.

He writes, "…the real desire to get Work done will itself lead one more and more to truth, to Nature's appointments and regulations, which are truth (1039)…Of an idle unrevolving man the kindest Destiny, like the most assiduous Potter without a wheel, can bake and knead nothing other than a botch (1040)…" Carlyle also feels work is necessary, because it requires action which forces one's self to be self-regulated and will force that person to seek truth and structure in life. Moreover, Carlyle's view of work's value in one's life is seen in Charles Dickens' work David Copperfield.

Similarly to Carlyle's "Know Thy Work," Dickens' David Copperfield gives a glimpse into works value to one's self. We see a great example of work's value and effect one a person, and moreover Dickens' portrayal of such an idea in a similar manner as Carlyle has done, by examining Clara Peggotty. Most, if not all, of the upper-class characters in David Copperfield view work in an entirely opposite manner as Carlyle and saw work as a symbol of lower-class living. For example, even at an early age, Little Emily implies that the sign of a true gentleman was not working at all when she says, "Besides…your father was a gentleman and your mother is a lady.

My father was a fisherman and my mother was a fisherman's daughter…(Dickens 42)" From this, we see that Emily has clearly drawn a division between the two families and the division is based solely on the parents working status. Dickens uses this contrast from Carlyle's idea of work as valuable to show the shallowness of the upper-class society and intensify heartless nature of society. Characters in David Copperfield who feel the same way Little Emily does are in Carlyle's mind those who should work, because they lack the things that work offers: purpose and structure to life.

By observing the Dickens character Peggotty, we see Dickens' representation of a person who is true to himself and has purpose and self-regulation from his labor. Peggotty is not necessarily a character that enjoys her work, although that is not to say some pleasures do not arise from her labor. However, she greatly benefits from her labor, though not directly in monetary or materialistic forms. Peggotty's labor ennobles her by giving her a purpose to her life. We see this constantly each time Clara Copperfield questions her intentions.

For instance, when Ms. Copperfield asks Peggotty if she is to marry Mr. Barkis, she responds with, " Me leave you my Precious! Not for all the world and his wife. (Dickens 112)" Obviously from here declarations here, we can see that without her labor as the Copperfield's house servant, Peggotty would have no other true purpose to her life at this point. Because her she seems to understand her "life-purpose" and calling as a servant, Peggotty is according to Carlyle ennobled and "true" as a person.

Moreover, Carlyle would further classify Peggotty as an ennobled person, because her labor has provided her with the self-regulation often associated with upper-class individuals. As a servant, Peggotty is forced to be skillful in the arts that most Ladies (or upper-class women at the time) would also have to be skillful in, such as self-control. We note such control on her behalf when she controls her emotions and settles a dispute with Miss Murdstone by simply keeping her thoughts internal as described by the narrator, "Peggotty had an angry answer ready (for Miss Murdstone's comment), I could see; but she swallowed it for my sake, and remained silent (Dickens 134)."

Because her labor forces her to have self-control (i.e. controlling emotions, etc.), Peggotty is now ennobled in the same ways Carlyle outlines and also in the ways that society has outlined. Peggotty's constant action, especially in this particular line of work, where she resides at her workplace, makes her develop character and true depth.

This is possible, because she is not idle as Carlyle stated in his 'Know Thy Work.' In conclusion, Thomas Carlyle's 'Know Thy Work' presents his ideas of why work is necessary in order to be a noble person. Carlyle clearly illustrates the idea that work is valuable, because it ennobles a person by giving him a life-purpose, self-regulation and purpose. All of these factors are portrayed by Charles Dickens in his semi-autobiographical novel David Copperfield. Dickens' uses several characters to highlight the same points about work that Carlyle utilizes.

The Copperfield's servant Clara Peggotty is the primary example of this theme, because she demonstrates that her work defines her as an individual and structures her life and thereby gives her similar ennobling qualities that upper-class people have. Therefore, we can conclude, based on Carlyle and Dickens' combined works, that Clara Peggotty clearly illustrates the upper-class-like qualities that work has provided her; however, she is not fully noble and Lady-like through these provisions. I completely concur with Carlyle's conclusions about work and feel that work provides the soul of a person and gives them an identity that would otherwise have been lost.