GoldstoneVintage
Well-known member
This was ChatGPT's answer to my question about Anthony Trollope (19th Century Author). It's pretty damn good and took about a second to generate:
Making the case that Anthony Trollope was a better novelist than Charles Dickens isn’t mainstream, but it can be done—especially if the argument focuses on technique, realism, and psychological subtlety. Here's a possible outline of the case:
Of course, Dickens has the edge in sheer imaginative energy, memorable characters, and emotional impact. But if one values realism, psychological depth, and even prose discipline, Trollope has a strong claim.
Would you like this developed into a comparative essay or a shorter persuasive piece?
Making the case that Anthony Trollope was a better novelist than Charles Dickens isn’t mainstream, but it can be done—especially if the argument focuses on technique, realism, and psychological subtlety. Here's a possible outline of the case:
1. Greater Psychological Realism
Trollope’s characters are often more nuanced and believable than Dickens’s. While Dickens is famous for his vivid, often caricatured characters (e.g., Uriah Heep, Mr. Micawber), Trollope’s people feel like actual members of Victorian society—morally conflicted, self-deceiving, and recognisably human. His portrayals of ambition, conscience, and social pressure are subtle and layered.2. More Plausible Plots
Trollope tends to avoid the melodramatic coincidences and implausible plot twists that sometimes strain credibility in Dickens (lost heirs, secret wills, sudden revelations). His stories often unfold slowly and organically, reflecting the rhythms of real life.3. Refined Prose Style
Trollope’s prose is less flamboyant but also less intrusive. Dickens can sometimes overwhelm with sentimentality or rhetorical flourishes, whereas Trollope’s style is restrained, conversational, and ironically detached. For some readers, this makes him the more mature stylist.4. Sophisticated Treatment of Social and Political Themes
While Dickens was a powerful moralist and social reformer, Trollope often explored class, religion, gender, and politics with more complexity. The Palliser novels, for example, delve into political life with a realism unmatched in Dickens’s fiction.5. Consistency and Volume
Trollope was extraordinarily consistent and productive. He wrote 47 novels, and many argue that he maintained a higher standard across his oeuvre than Dickens did. Trollope himself once said, "I do lay claim to being more of a novelist than Dickens," particularly in his understanding of society as a whole.Of course, Dickens has the edge in sheer imaginative energy, memorable characters, and emotional impact. But if one values realism, psychological depth, and even prose discipline, Trollope has a strong claim.
Would you like this developed into a comparative essay or a shorter persuasive piece?
