Newgate

The most interesting reading that I have read so far in this class has to be "A Visit to Newgate." In this writing, the reader seems to me to be transfered to the prison. The way that the narrator tells the story makes the images seem real to the reader. This writing seems to be kind of depressing to the reader. However, the way that it is written helped me feel like I was interested in something that I will probably never experience. It brings the reader to the harsh relization about what prison life was like. The way Dickens describes in such detail the daily activities of the prison is quite amazing. Although the subject is depressing, I think it helps us realize that even though we think we are having a bad time, we do not go to sleep knowing that this time will be our last time resting on earth. We at least have a false sense of security about tomorrow. I do not think that Dickens wrote this to make the reader feel depressed, but instead, to make the reader realize that every freedom that we have should not be taken for granted but should fully be taken advantage of. I think that it was written in a time that people were getting comfortable with their way of life, and this writting was meant to help people realize that even though they were properous, there were other people who were ending up in a place because of the gap between the people who were wealthy and poor. This seems to me to be pointing out the large gap between the rich and the poor that was developing during England at this time. I really enjoyed this reading and believe that there is much to be learned from it.