Dickens in Galdós

Spanish novelist Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920) stated that one of his greatest influences was the English novelist Charles Dickens. This study focuses on Dickens' use of type characters as tools for social criticism and the manner in which Galdós utilizes these same types in order to critique Spanish society. The three major types analyzed in this study are the religious ascetic, the miser, and Dickens’ and Galdós’ versions of the Lazarillo, who is perceived as a type of national savior.