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ALTERNATIVE ENDINGS OF DICKENS’S NOVEL “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” IN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CRITICISM // Tomsk State Pedagogical University Bulletin. 2014. Issue 5 (146). P. 198-203

The article deals with the main trends in the studies of the English and American Dickensian scholars concerning the problem of alternative endings in the novel “Great Expectations”. There are two variants of endings “truthful end” found in Dickens’s archieves and “happy” one which Dickens considered as symbolic. English and American Dickensian scholars have different opinions on two endings: some scholars believe “truthful end” is the only possible one, and is in accordance with the theme of expectations crash, another scientists consider that the “truthful” end does not solve the plot development. There is the idea of both endings identity. Despite this controversial concepts both endings are in accordance with each other because “happy end” is the romantic paraphrase of the “truthful” one. The translation of the “truthful end” and it’s comparison with the “happy end” contributes to reconstructing of Dickens’s artistic intentions.

Keywords: the later Dickens’ novels, the English criticism, “happy ending”, translation of the “truthful end”, reconstructions of Dickens’s artistic intentions, the lack of triumphant happy endings, disillusionment, semantic equivalence of alternative endings, roma