Charles Dickens, born on February 7th, 1812, contributed to classic English literature. He began his career as a journalist, but explored other occupations such as writing plays and lecturing against slavery in the United States. Later, he gravitated towards becoming an author. Two of his most famous works of literature are Great Expectations and David Copperfield. Great Expectations is a novel which portrays Dickens's life through a character. The father of Charles Dickens, John Dickens, was arrested for debt, which left Charles as a virtual orphan who was forced to support himself at age twelve. Like Pip, who does not wish to be apprenticed to Joe, Charles Dickens resented having to work in the factory. Both Pip and Dickens aspired to a world outside of their reach. In several of his novels, Charles Dickens shares the joys and tragedies of his characters; yet in Great Expectations, he reflects on his own life within Pip's character.