It wasn't necessarily written with a specific "why" in mind. Here's why:
* Financial Necessity: Dickens was struggling financially at the time and was working as a freelance journalist. He was offered a job to illustrate a series of humorous stories for a new publication.
* A Chance to Showcase Talent: He saw this as an opportunity to showcase his literary talents and create something unique and entertaining.
* Popularity of Humorous Writing: Humor was a popular genre at the time, and Dickens saw a chance to capitalize on that.
While Dickens didn't have a specific "why" in mind when he started, "The Pickwick Papers" proved to be a phenomenal success, launching his career and establishing him as a major literary figure.