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Akiko Takei, Chukyo University, JapanAbstract
This study examines the parallels between Amy (Little) Dorrit in Charles Dickens’s Little Dorrit (1855–1857) and contemporary young carers, highlighting how the Victorian literary figure illuminates the realities of contemporary young carers. Amy’s premature assumption of adult responsibilities strongly resonates with the lived experiences of modern young carers, who often shoulder emotionally and physically demanding caregiving roles within their families, with little recognition or institutional support. By comparing Dickens’s narrative with recent sociological research, this study highlights Dickens’s enduring relevance in exposing the systemic failures that compel young people to assume disproportionate domestic and emotional burdens. The study combines textual analysis with comparative thematic mapping to clarify recurring motifs—self-effacement, resilience, moralized responsibility, and restricted life opportunities—and the narrative strategies Dickens uses to evoke sympathy and critique structural neglect. Finally, the analysis underscores Victorian fiction’s importance as a critical framework for understanding persistent caregiving inequalities in contemporary welfare states.
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Conference: ACCS2026Stream: Literary Studies / All genres/ Theory
This paper is part of the ACCS2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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