THE MORAL AND AESTHETIC IDEAL AS A REFLECTION OF SOCIAL VALUES IN LITERATURE

Abstract

The article analyzes the characteristics of the moral and aesthetic ideal representation in the works of Charles Dickens and its connection to the social values of the Victorian era. It is shown that the author shapes the concept of the moral ideal through a system of characters, their actions, relationships, and attitudes toward social norms. Particular attention is paid to such values as kindness, compassion, justice, family unity, human dignity, and the capacity for moral transformation. It is determined that the positive characters in Dickens’ works are often contrasted with those who embody selfishness, cruelty, greed, social indifference, and moral degradation. The protagonist’s evolution from spiritual death to moral rebirth forms the compositional core of the story and serves as the key means of author’s ideal artistic realization. Scrooge undergoes a journey from a self-centered, socially isolated existence to active participation in social life and philanthropy. His transformation from a “moneylender” to a “second father” for Tim testifies to a profound shift in his worldview, resulting in moral choices and a reassessment of values. It is noted that the author’s moral and aesthetic ideal is shaped by a humanistic worldview and affirms the value of the individual regardless of his social status. At the same time, the artistic depiction of social ills, along with the use of satire, irony, and the grotesque, allows Dickens to critically examine social inequality, the callousness of social institutions, and the loss of moral compass. It is highlighted that the moral and aesthetic ideal in the writer’s work serves not only a character-building function but also evaluative and socially critical ones, reflecting the author’s aspiration to affirm humane social values.