DAVID COPPERFIELD
CHARLES DICKENS
Character Analysis of the most
Unctuous villain URIAH HEEP
-- by Shiladitya Chakraborty
Uriah Heep is considered to be the most
unctuous villain of Dicken's creations . The name itself
has become a byword for a falsely "UMBLE" hypocrite .
Heep is not just a person , he is an evil machine . He is
consumed with hatred , envy and malice . He is a
"MONSTER IN THE GARB OF MAN " . Uriah Heep is a
master of deception and he wants to fulfil his ambition
only through evil methods and by ruining others or
making their position lower . Of Uriah heep W .
EASTWOOD remarks , " URIAH HEEPS' LEADING
1
, CHARACTERISTIC IS HYPOCRISY , HIS INORDINATE
AMBITION AND RAVENING EGOISM . "
We are introduced to Uriah Heep as a clerk to Mr.
Wickfield . Being a youth of fifteen , he looks much
older . His hair is cropped and he "HAD HARDLY ANY
EYEBROWS " and "NO EYELASHES AND EYE OF A RED
BROWN " . He looks completely repulsive . "HE'S GOT A
PALE FACE " and " A LONG , LANK SKELETON HAND " .
He excites terror in us with his first appearance . These
cold , long , wwhite hands of Uriah Heep stands for the
symbol of inhumanity . Being an example of Slimy ,
sneaky and evil-albino , the characterization of Uriah
Heep is a good example of Dicken's mastery of
grotesque . Considerable use of physical pecularities
foreshadow the animal-like characteristic of Uriah's
mind .
Uriah Heep is the very incarnation of hypocrisy .
Uriah and his mother both are obsessed with
maintaining the appearance of humility . 'UMBLENESS'
is Uriah's chosen road to power and success .But all his
humility and "UMBLENESS" are a mere pretext . He is
highly ambitious. He wants wealth , power , rank , and
position . He requires power and influence . The thing
which makes Uriah so fascinating is the complication
behind the smarmy face . Being cloaked under
2
CHARLES DICKENS
Character Analysis of the most
Unctuous villain URIAH HEEP
-- by Shiladitya Chakraborty
Uriah Heep is considered to be the most
unctuous villain of Dicken's creations . The name itself
has become a byword for a falsely "UMBLE" hypocrite .
Heep is not just a person , he is an evil machine . He is
consumed with hatred , envy and malice . He is a
"MONSTER IN THE GARB OF MAN " . Uriah Heep is a
master of deception and he wants to fulfil his ambition
only through evil methods and by ruining others or
making their position lower . Of Uriah heep W .
EASTWOOD remarks , " URIAH HEEPS' LEADING
1
, CHARACTERISTIC IS HYPOCRISY , HIS INORDINATE
AMBITION AND RAVENING EGOISM . "
We are introduced to Uriah Heep as a clerk to Mr.
Wickfield . Being a youth of fifteen , he looks much
older . His hair is cropped and he "HAD HARDLY ANY
EYEBROWS " and "NO EYELASHES AND EYE OF A RED
BROWN " . He looks completely repulsive . "HE'S GOT A
PALE FACE " and " A LONG , LANK SKELETON HAND " .
He excites terror in us with his first appearance . These
cold , long , wwhite hands of Uriah Heep stands for the
symbol of inhumanity . Being an example of Slimy ,
sneaky and evil-albino , the characterization of Uriah
Heep is a good example of Dicken's mastery of
grotesque . Considerable use of physical pecularities
foreshadow the animal-like characteristic of Uriah's
mind .
Uriah Heep is the very incarnation of hypocrisy .
Uriah and his mother both are obsessed with
maintaining the appearance of humility . 'UMBLENESS'
is Uriah's chosen road to power and success .But all his
humility and "UMBLENESS" are a mere pretext . He is
highly ambitious. He wants wealth , power , rank , and
position . He requires power and influence . The thing
which makes Uriah so fascinating is the complication
behind the smarmy face . Being cloaked under
2
