Which of the following fictional characters is in the right chronological order?

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The correct chronological order of the fictional characters listed above is based on the first appearance of the works in which they are found. Each character emerged from a significant literary text that marked a specific historical and stylistic phase in English literature.

Man Friday appears in Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1719. As Crusoe’s loyal companion, Friday has become a symbolic figure in discussions of colonialism, servitude, and the ‘civilizing mission’ often reflected in colonial discourse.

Uncle Toby, one of the central characters in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne, was introduced in 1759. Uncle Toby, a gentle and eccentric war veteran obsessed with military reenactments, is a rich source of comic relief and philosophical depth.

Miss Havisham appears in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, published in 1861. She is one of the most iconic Gothic characters in Victorian literature — a jilted bride who lives in isolation in her decaying mansion, forever dressed in her wedding attire, consumed by revenge and sorrow.

Stephen Dedalus is a modernist character from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916) and Ulysses (1922) by James Joyce. He represents the intellectual and artistic struggles of the modern man, frequently viewed as a literary extension of Joyce himself.

Information Booster:

Man Friday – Robinson Crusoe (1719):

A foundational text in the English novel tradition, Defoe’s work is often regarded as the first English novel.

Friday, a "native" rescued by Crusoe, becomes a symbol of colonial subjecthood and cultural encounter. The novel explores themes of survival, imperialism, religion, and individualism.

Uncle Toby – Tristram Shandy (1759–1767):

Sterne’s novel is a pioneering example of metafiction, full of narrative digressions, humor, and satire.

Uncle Toby, Tristram’s uncle, is an emblem of innocence and kindness, his obsession with war maps contrasting sharply with his gentle nature.

The novel is often praised for its experimental structure and narrative voice.

Miss Havisham – Great Expectations (1861):

Dickens' portrayal of Miss Havisham contributes to the Gothic atmosphere of the novel.

Her character reflects themes of heartbreak, vengeance, and the destructive nature of time and isolation.

Great Expectations is also a bildungsroman that critiques Victorian class structures and moral values.
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Stephen Dedalus – A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916), Ulysses (1922):

A quintessential modernist character, Stephen’s internal conflicts, artistic aspirations, and resistance to religious and nationalistic expectations mirror the themes of modernism.

His intellectual journey is portrayed using stream-of-consciousness narrative and symbolic imagery.