Which of the following set of characters in Charles Dickens' novels is in the right chronological order?

Correct option is C

Explanation:

Dickens' novels were published over several decades during the 19th century, and each of these characters is associated with a particular novel.

Nathaniel Winkle is a character in The Pickwick Papers (1836–37), Dickens' first novel. Winkle is one of the members of the Pickwick Club and is comically portrayed as an amateur sportsman.

Mrs. Mann appears in Oliver Twist (1837–39), Dickens' second novel. She is the caretaker of the baby farm where Oliver spends his early years, often depicted as a negligent and self-serving woman.

David Copperfield is the eponymous protagonist of David Copperfield (1849–50), one of Dickens' most autobiographical novels. The character’s life journey from childhood to adulthood is central to the novel’s bildungsroman structure.

Mr. Bounderby is a character in Hard Times (1854), a later novel by Dickens. He is a pompous and hypocritical factory owner who frequently boasts about his self-made success, representing the callous industrial capitalist class.

Thus, the chronological order of these characters by publication is: Nathaniel Winkle → Mrs. Mann → David Copperfield → Mr. Bounderby, making Option (3) the correct answer.

Information Booster:

Nathaniel Winkle – The Pickwick Papers (1836–37):

Dickens’ debut novel, episodic in nature, satirizes social manners and institutions.

Winkle's comical bravado and misadventures provide light-hearted comic relief and reflect the early Dickensian style of humor and caricature.

Mrs. Mann – Oliver Twist (1837–39):

This novel offers a social critique of the Poor Law and workhouse system.

Mrs. Mann symbolizes the corruption and apathy of the institutions responsible for child welfare during the Victorian period.

David Copperfield – David Copperfield (1849–50):

A semi-autobiographical novel that follows David’s growth, struggles, relationships, and moral development.

It features some of Dickens' most memorable characters like Uriah Heep and Mr. Micawber and explores themes of perseverance, identity, and personal integrity.

Mr. Bounderby – Hard Times (1854):

A didactic novel focusing on industrial England. Bounderby is a satirical representation of self-proclaimed industrial success, whose arrogance and lack of empathy critique the era’s utilitarian mindset and capitalist excesses.