Oliver Twist Essay Example

Oliver Twist Essay example
Oliver Twist
Have you ever thought about how it would be to live in a time of poverty? How would life be if you were poor and did not know from where you
would be getting your next meal? What would it be like to be forced to live in a workhouse? These are some of the questions you might ask yourself
if you were living in early nineteenth century
England. Dickens addresses these issues in his timeless masterpiece Oliver Twist. In the story of Oliver Twist, Dickens uses past experiences from
his childhood and targets the Poor Law of 1834 which renewed the importance of the workhouse as a means of relief for the poor.
Dickens' age was a period of industrial development marked by the rise of the middle class (Wagenknecht...show more content...
The 1840s were years of crises. The character on English life was being transformed by industrial expansion and by great movements of population
towards urban life.
Charles Dickens was born in Landport, Portsea, on February 7, 1812. He was the second son of John Dickens. John Dickens was a clerk in the Navy
pay office. His improvidence would eventually lead to imprisonment in the Marshalsea, a debtor's prison for debt (Hardy 41). As a child Charles
Dickens explored London and the fascination that he felt for this booming city remained with him throughout his life (Rooke 15). Dickens received his
first instruction from his mother and later attended regular schools in
Chatham. When John Dickens, his wife, and their four children went to the debtor's prison, Charles Dickens didn't go. He soon became intimate
with his father's small collection of literary classics. He also revealed early signs of genius. Dickens' recollections of early life were centered in
Kent and he often regarded himself as a member of that region (Kaste 9). Dickens was sent to work at the age of twelve in Worren's Blacking
Warehouse. After his father's release he went back to school.. When school was complete he went to work in an attorney's office. He spent much of
his time exploring the busy and varied life of London and decided to become a journalist. He mastered a difficult system of shorthand and by March
1832, at the age of twenty, he was a general and
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Oliver Twist: A Look at Social and Economic Classes Ricas Jones English IV Ms. McQuirk 22 March 2017 Oliver Twist: A Look at Social and
Economic Classes Charles Dickens' uses Oliver Twist as a means of informing the masses of his views on the differences in the treatment of social and
economic classes, while focusing primarily on the unfavorable treatment of the poor. From the unfavorable orphanages to the workhouses to the
elements of crime, Oliver Twist shows that the struggle of the poor starts early and is long lasting. There are few elements in place to improve their
lives. From birth to death, they are forced to endure neglect, mistreatment, and a never–ending list of bad choices. The classes are not set up in...show
more content...
One article detailed the neglect that took place among those confined to a children's hospital. It detailed how the children of privilege should be
proud of the care that was shown to them. "Look at this picture well, you little, bright happy children who are well and strong, or even any afflicted
like these, and be grateful for the cheerful homes, the loving friends, the comforts which surround you!" (Pediatrics, 1981). This article in
particular goes on to speak about the poor treatment during infancy and how it has a tendency to extend into childhood and adulthood. Another
example of disregard for the poor can be found in the ritual of disguising the unfair treatment that was received. When officials were preparing to
visit orphanages and check on the conditions of the children, advance notice was made. "Besides, the board made periodical pilgrimages to the
farm, and always sent the beadle the day before, to say they were going" (Dickens, 2004). This allowed Mrs. Mann, and similar caretakers, to
prepare the children for inspection. Daily needs that were usually overlooked, such as baths, were a luxury that the orphans could look forward to at
these times. Workhouses were brought into existence to help the poor and elderly deal with the daily difficulties of life. According to London Lives,
workhouses were created to empower the power the poor to join the workforce and change their current situations. They also were

Summary Of Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist is the narrative of a youthful vagrant, Oliver, and his endeavors to remain great in a general public that declines to help. Oliver is
conceived in a workhouse, to a mother not known to anybody in the town. She passes on directly in the wake of bringing forth him, and he is sent to
the parochial halfway house, where he and alternate vagrants are dealt with unpleasantly and sustained practically nothing. When he turns nine, he is
sent to the workhouse, where again he and the others are dealt with severely and for all intents and purposes starved. Alternate young men, unfit to
stand their appetite any more, choose to attract straws to pick who should go up and request more nourishment. Oliver loses. On the designated day,
subsequent to completing his initially serving of gruel, he goes up and requests more. Mr. Blunder, the beadle, and the board are offended, and choose
they should dispose of Oliver, apprenticing him to the parochial funeral director, Mr. Sowerberry. It isn't extraordinary there either, and after an assault
on his mom's memory, Oliver flees.
Oliver strolls towards London. When he is close, he is so powerless he can scarcely proceed, and he meets another kid named Jack Dawkins, or the
cunning Dodger. The Dodger reveals to Oliver he can accompany him to a place where a man of his word will give him a place to rest and sustenance,
for no lease. Oliver takes after, and the Dodger takes him to a flat in London where he meets Fagin, the previously

Oliver Twist Essay
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist provides insight into the experience of the poor in 1830s England. Beneath the novel's humor and dramatic plot runs an undertone of
bitter criticism of the Victorian middle class's attitudes toward the poor. Dickens's Oliver Twist very vividly critisizes the legal system, workhouses,
and middle class moral values and marriage practices of 1830s England. Basic Situation: Oliver Twist is born a sickly infant in a workhouse. His birth
is attended by the parish surgeon and a drunken nurse. His mother kisses his forehead and dies, and the nurse announces that Oliver's mother was found
lying in the streets the night before. The surgeon notices that she is not wearing a wedding ring. Oliver is then placed into a...show more content...
Brownlow takes Oliver into his home and nurses him back to health because Oliver had fallen ill during the trail. While living with Mr. Brownlow,
Oliver sees a picture of a young woman who has a very dramatic affect on him. "A portrait of a young woman catches Oliver's eye. It seems to affect
him so much; that Mrs. Bedwin fears the emotion will wear him out". (Dickens; chp.10) Shortly after this incident Oliver is kidnapped by Nancy, a girl
who works for Fagin, and forced to rob a house where he is shot by the owners of the house and left to die in a ditch by the men forcing him to rob
the house. The day after he is shot he is taken in by the people who shot him and lives there safely until Fagin finds him again. As it turns out Fagin
wasn't the only person looking for Oliver, a man by the name of Monks is also looking for him. Monks is also Oliver's brother but does not want
his identity to be revealed in order to receive his father's inheritance. Nancy then tells Ms. Maylie a caretaker of the family where Oliver was
staying his true identity. That very same night Nancy was beaten to death by Sites, the man she stayed with. Resolution: Meanwhile, Mr. Brownlow
has captured Monks, whose real name is Edward Leeford. Brownlow was a good friend of his father, Mr. Leeford, who was a young man when his
family forced him to marry a woman ten years older than he. The couple eventually separated, and Monks

Analysis Of Charles Dickens 's ' Oliver Twist '
Charles Dickens illustrates how people facing poverty are treated as criminals by the Victorian society and may cause them to be forced down the
path of crime. He demonstrates this theory throughout his novel Oliver Twist. Oliver Twist is a novel about a ten year old orphan in the
nineteenth century who is forced into labour at a workhouse. Dickens highlights the conditions of the workhouse to display the struggle one bares
in order to survive. He uses the characters Oliver and Nancy to demonstrate people who are innocent and forced into crime by desperation and
despair. Through the story Oliver Twist, Dicken's attempts to highlight the fundamental issues of the Victorian society. The Victorian era's society
views prostitutes, such as Nancy, as dirty and corrupted people. However, Dicken's portrays Nancy as a victim of society. He emphasizes that
poverty can lead to crime due to one's despair. Although this lifestyle of crime is not always a choice, societies negative view of the poor creates an
environment where it is difficult for people who live in poverty to escape those stereotypes. In contrast to the Victorian societal views; Oliver is
considered innocent, Nancy the prostitute turns out to have some moral values, and Fagin is depicted as a true criminal. However, Dickens portrays
that the Victorian society would have found it very difficult to differentiate between the true intentions of characters such as Oliver Twist and Fagin.
Oliver is described as a young, weak

Essay On Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens is about a young orphan boy who leaves his orphanage to go to London after years of mistreatment. Being an
orphan since birth due to his mother's death and father's absence, for the first nine years of his life, Oliver lives on what is referred to as a "baby
farm." However, at the age of nine he was moved from this "baby farm" to a workhouse by a man named Mr. Bumble. This is shown on page seven
when a woman name Mrs. Mann, who Oliver was under the care of for the first nine years of his life, introduces Mr. Bumble to Oliver. This
triggers the event that will begin Oliver's journey. While working at the workhouse, the living conditions are poor and the boys who work there
eat small portions of what is referred to as gruel. One day, some of the boys decide to draw lots, whoever losing having to ask for more gruel. Young
Oliver Twist loses and the task to ask for more falls to him. One line that this book is known for is then said by Oliver here on page 11 "Please, sir,
I want some more." This leads to an uproar that leads to the workhouse attempting to get Oliver adopted to get him out of the way, beginning his
journey. Five pounds is offered to anyone who will take Oliver. After a close call where Oliver is nearly taken by a cruel man named Mr. Gamfield, he
is then adopted by a Mr. Sowerberry, an older gentleman. He treats Oliver well and uses Oliver as a mourner at children's funerals. However, due to
his unhappy marriage, Mrs. Sowerberry

Oliver Twist Essay
Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist, in 1883, to show the reader things as they really are. He felt that the novel should be a message of social
reform. One of its purposes was to promote reform of the abuses in workhouses. In no way does Dickens create a dream world. His imagination puts
together a bad place during a bad time; an English workhouse just after the Poor Law Act of 1834 (Scott–Kilvert, 48).
In the first chapter of Oliver Twist, Dickens moves from comedy to pathos and from pathos to satire. He takes us from the drunken old woman to the
dying mother to the hardened doctor. Such rapid switches help in all the later novels to hold together disparate effects, to provide variety and unity, and
to give that double opportunity for...show more content...
(Dickens, 131).
Oliver escapes the situation but there is still the presence of a real threat.
We are apt to forget how early–Victorian society, the society of the laissez–faire, took for granted individual conditions of privacy and isolation...It was
a society where each unit, each family and household, led their secret lives with an almost neurotic antipathy to external interference (Price, 90–91). It
was the age of the private gentleman who wanted nothing but to be left alone...He could ignore politics, the Press, the beggar who happened to be
dying of hunger in the coach–house; he need feel no pressure of social or national existence...There has probably never been a time when England
was–in the sociological phrase–less integrated." (Price, 90–91). Dickens wrote in contrast to the society in which he witnessed around him. He
brought together a unity of the two worlds and attempted to bring them together. This goes along with the purpose of reform in the workhouses. All
these people have the same outlook and the same philosophy of life, a philosophy which that private gentleman, Fagin, sums up as looking out for
number 1 (Price, 91).
Dickens is unique in the way he often talks to the reader in "one to one" conversations. He does this quite frequently throughout Oliver
Twist as a way of amplifying what he feels the reader should be attentive to. He also uses this technique to invoke stage

Literary Criticism of Oliver Twist Essay
Literary Criticism of Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens shows notable amounts of originality and morality in his novels, making him one of the most renowned novelists of the Victorian Era
and immortalizing him through his great novels and short stories. One of the reasons his work has been so popular is because his novels reflect the
issues of the Victorian era, such as the great indifference of many Victorians to the plight of the poor. The reformation of the Poor Law 1834 brings
even more unavoidable problems to the poor. The Poor Law of 1834 allows the poor to receive public assistance only through established workhouses,
causing those in debt to be sent to prison. Unable to pay debts, new levels of poverty are created. Because...show more content...
Dickens witnesses an injustice happening in England's workhouses and works to make society's views of the abuse of children change, but "by this
time, the horrors of the workhouse were so established in the English scene that they were destined to become part of the British social legend...total
degradation" (Gold 25). Because of the Poor Law of 1834, the young children suffered more than the able bodied benefited so through Dickens' career,
he becomes preoccupied with the use and abuse of the Poor Laws. Through biting satire, stock characters, humor and pathos, Dickens explores the
relationships between the paupers and the masters of the workhouse in Oliver Twist. Satire is used to portray the cruelty, sufferings, and injustice in the
workhouses especially through Mr. Bumble, Mrs. Corney, and Oliver, stock characters that play a significant role in the message of child abuse in the
workhouses. Through these characters and their actions, Dickens is able to reveal how ordinary workhouse masters treat their paupers. Mr. Bumble
and Mrs. Corney are stereotypes of the heartless employers who overuse their power on the workhouse children. Mr. Bumble is the corrupt
representative of an evil, unjust system but in the novel, Dickens also shows humor through this character. Mr. Bumble brings humor through many
petty actions such as the courtship between Mrs. Corney and him. That scene is a humorous interval, which contrasts with life in the workhouse, but

Theme Of Oliver Twist
The word ' money ' sums up a theme that Dickens has been preoccupied with in many of his novels . Dickens has studied the nineteenth century
commercially–oriented England and observed the corrupting influence of money on members and deplorably , suggesting how material possessions
have become the criterion of evaluating a human being . Dickens's critics are well aware of this devastating influence . Humphry House confidently
tells us that Dickens's plots and characters are , " constructed round an attitude to money . Social status without it is subordinate . "1 This however , is a
general comment on the Dickensian text . But in Oliver Twist , the theme gathers momentum and unfolds itself in a manner that attracts our attention ,
hence its...show more content...
He is neither a revolutionist who believes in ' collective action' against the oppressive institution of capitalism , nor a deserter who betrays the cause
of the working class . He shows an individualistic action in facing extremes and incarnates his belief in " individual responsibility and freedom of
choice . " 6
With the Victorian novelists , the scope of imagination takes a further step by being regarded as a shared experience between the artist and the reader
. We may do well here by recalling one of Dickens's approaches to involve the reader in the narrative action through his use of humour which becomes
a connective agent . In The Life of Charles Dickens , Forster defends Dickens's humour in terms of its effect on us :
" To perceive relation in things which are not apparent generally , is one of those exquisite properties of humour – which brings us all upon the level of

Oliver Twist: The Battle for Morality
The Battle for Morality in Oliver Twist In Oliver Twist, author Charles Dickens attacks the decomposing morals of Victorian society and law in the
form of writing. He addresses major social conflicts and struggles between the rich, who hold positions of power, and the poor and working class
who fight for economic justice. In addition, the book is representative of the need for moral values based on the author's believe that people should
not be oppressed, that every person deserves a chance. The story offers a contradiction central to bourgeois consciousness, which embraces
conventional bourgeois ethics and demoralizes and suppresses the awareness of the harsh social realities. Dickens creates, rather illuminates, a society
in which conflicting morals between the society and social reality in relation to poverty, childhood innocence, as well as, the transcendental moral
values which that innocence embodies are rampant, slowly destroying the foundations of Victorian England. Dickens uses Oliver, as the book's
central character, as a perfect vehicle to explore important moral issue and values in Victorian society. It is evident that the society uses various
stereotypes for the by claiming that the poor are "bad" from birth and that they have a connection to their hereditary traits, usually deemed negative.
For example, some characters such as Mr. Sowerberry and Mr. Grimwig despise the poor children in that society and claim that they are born robbers
and murders – they are

Essay On Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist Charles Dickens Honors English 10 Ms. Salsbury Ethan Wigal October 6, 2017 Charles Dickens is a famous British author known
for writing many classics. He was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England. Born to John Dickens and Elizabeth Barrow, Charles was the
second child of eight. He grew up poor, eventually dropping out of school to bring in more money for his family. Dickens worked as an office boy,
which helped to start his writing career. In 1836, he finally published his first book, Sketches by Boz. Throughout the rest of his life, Dickens would
end up publishing about 25 books. Some of his work includes Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities. Charles
...show more content...
As Oliver comes around, he changes her heart. Nancy realizes that young, innocent children like Oliver should not be subjected to commit Fagin's
horrible crimes. She is very protective of Oliver, eventually losing her life to keep him safe. Nancy's conflicts include her fight against Fagin and
Sikes for Oliver's safety. While Fagin and Sikes use Oliver to commit crimes, Nancy believes that he should not be tainted in their criminal ways like
she was. This leads to Nancy being badly mistreated and repeatedly abused. Throughout the novel, Nancy also faces an internal struggle with morality
and her love for Sikes. She understands how horribly he treats her, but she never leaves. Nancy loves him so much that she goes through a living
nightmare to still be with him. Even after going to Brownlow to explain the situation, she begs that Sikes will not get into trouble. One of the main
antagonists in this story is Fagin, a villainous–looking old Jew that leads a gang of young pickpockets. He manipulates the children, forcing them to do
his dirty work in exchange for a place to stay. Fagin has no interest in the children though, all he cares about is getting paid at the end of the day. From
the way she speaks of him, Nancy has figured out Fagin's twisted plan, and wants no part in it. She tries to save Oliver from the manipulation she went
through for twelve years, so Fagin inadvertently convinces Sikes to murder her. Another one of the

The Genre Of Oliver Twist
Cameron Young 3rd English Oliver Twist Charles Dickens, Published in 1838 Genre The genre of Oliver Twist is coming
–of–age Characteristics of
the genre met Coming–of–age is simply the aging of the protagonist, usually going from childhood to adulthood, so the book meets the characteristic
of this genre. Characteristics of the genre not met The only characteristic is showing the increase in age of the protagonist, so this book meets all the
characteristics. Setting The setting is in the England, Europe, near London. The tone of the story is very ironic because of the remarks made by the
characters. Major Characters Oliver Twist– Oliver is a little blonde kid. He is a kind, and he is shown growing up and maturing. He is...show more
content...
Their caretaker, Fagin, turns out to be an evil man who trains kids to go around and pick–pocket strangers. Oliver doesn't realize this until he is out
with the Dodger and he steals a handkerchief from an older looking man. The man then turns around and believes that the thief is Oliver, and
confronts him by taking him down in the street. He realizes that Oliver didn't do it, and that he looks unhealthy. He then takes Oliver home to care
for him until he recovers. The man who took care of Oliver, Mr. Brownlow, entrusts Oliver with some money to run some errands. Oliver is
unfortunately confronted by Fagin and his crew, and they jump him and steal his money. Fagin then takes Oliver to an old house and holds him
captive. Not long after this, Fagin forces Oliver to help some thieves rob a house. Once there, Oliver is caught inside, and he is shot. The family
then intakes Oliver, and they become his caretakers. While with his new caretakers, he learns how to read and write, and finds out that he lives
very close to Mr. Brownlow. While Oliver is safe with his caretakers, Fagin and his gang are still searching for Oliver. Monk and Fagin devise a
plan to find Oliver and kill him, before he tells the police that they are criminals. Mr. Brownlow eventually finds Monks, and remembers that he and
Monks' father were pals, and that he knew Monks. It is learned that Monk is Oliver's older brother, and is trying to kill him to gain the family

Essay on Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
A Criticism of Society or a Biography
With all of the symbolism and moral issues represented in Oliver Twist, all seem to come from real events from the life of its author, Charles
Dickens. The novel's protagonist, Oliver, is a good person at heart surrounded by the filth of the London streets, filth that Dickens himself was forced
to deal with in his everyday life. It's probable that the reason Oliver Twist contains so much fear and agony is because it's a reflection of occurrences in
Charles Dickens' past. Oliver Twist also brought to light the evils of social injustice and the victims of it.
During his childhood, Charles Dickens suffered much abuse from his parents. This abuse is often expressed in his novel....show more content...
Phillip Collins believed that throughout Dickens' lifetime, he appeared to have acquired a fondness for "the bleak, the sordid, and the austere,"
due to Dickens' colorful description of London. Most of Oliver Twist, for example, takes place in London's lowest slums. The city is described as
a maze, which, as Richard Ford put it "involved a mystery of darkness, anonymity, and peril." Many of the settings, such as the pickpocket's hideout,
the surrounding streets, and the bars, are also described as dark, gloomy, and bland. But in creating this environment, Dickens makes Oliver a
symbol for good or an archetypal figure like Christ or the Phoenix. For example, even while his life was in danger while in the hands of Fagin and
Bill Sikes, two conniving pickpockets, Oliver refused to participate in the stealing which he so greatly opposed.
Obviously, escape is an important topic in Oliver Twist. All Oliver really longed for was to escape from harsh living conditions and evil surroundings
which he had grown up in. Oliver is seeking various forms of escape from conditions that make him unhappy like his loneliness and starvation. Since
dealing with escapism, it is not surprising that death is also a major symbol in this story. In the novel, death and coffins symbolize a happy and
peaceful manner of escape, expounding more on the somewhat morbid tone of this novel.
Philip Collins said

Oliver Twist Analysis Essay
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist, a poor, innocent orphan boy, stands out in this story as the main character, but it is the supporting characters that allow this novel to
develop a much more satisfying and believable theme. With "Good V.S. Evil" as one of the major conflicts, in such categories are the
secondary characters found as well. Three supporting characters of Oliver Twist aid the elaboration of the story; these significant characters are Mr.
Brownlow representing purity, integrity and goodness, Nancy as partially righteous, partially villain and lastly on the other extreme of the scale: Fagin,
the symbol of evil, corruption and manipulation. Throughout the story we are introduced to each of these characters through an...show more content...
Nancy sees in Oliver the innocence of her own childhood being robbed by Fagin's deceiving malpractice. Nancy provides the story with a second
chance for Oliver. It costs her life, but she prospers in helping Oliver as well as doing a lot of justice for society. Able to save Oliver from evil and
putting evil itself in prison, Nancy triumphs above all her devilish acquaintances and is the pivoting point of Oliver's return to safety. Not only as a
way to introduce new plots in the tale, but as well as the theme's greatest support, she is a genial character that could have only been created after much
planning and thought.
Fagin was a Jew described by the author in such a manner that one may think Dickens were racist to some extent. His beliefs of Jew's were that a
Jew seldom thieves, but is worse than a thief when he encourages others to thieve. In his opinion, "In every town there is a Jew, resident or
tramping;... if a robbery is effected, the property is hid till a Jew is found, and a bargain is then made." Fagin is described in such a style in
this tale that one is almost forced to dislike his character. Not only does he seek to capture Oliver forever by making him an accomplice in crime, but
it also seems that he has supernatural powers to seek him out of wherever his

Essay on Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens:
Charles Dickens was a famous novelist who was born on February 7th,
1812, Portsmouth England. His novel Oliver Twist was greatly successful and was seen as a protest against the poor law of 1834. The novel revolves
around a boy called Oliver Twist; the plot is about how
Oliver goes from the work house to being an aristocrat. The novel exposes a lot of Victorian attitudes which Dickens experienced as he was in poverty
himself.
In Oliver Twist,Charles Dickens shows us many of the social injustices of those historic times. He was outraged by the way the poor and the young
people in particular were treated.
He thought that this description would move the government to bring about a change in...show more content...
As there is no doubt they were.'' This tells that even though she may be part of the underworld she still was a nice person so it makes Nancy seem a little
more complex compared to the other characters.
Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse. His mother died shortly after he was born. Oliver lived in an orphanage until the age of 9. At the age of 9 he
is moved to a workhouse for adults. At the workhouse he is bullied. Because of this, Mr Bumble said that he would give ВЈ5 to the one who will take
Oliver away. Noah Claypole makes some nasty remark about Oliver's mother; Oliver hits him badly and runs away to London.
Oliver there meets Jack Dawkins (Artful Dodger) who is the same age as
Oliver. Jack takes him to Fagin. Oliver discovers that Fagin trains little orphan boys to pick pockets for him. After some training,
Oliver is sent on a mission to go and pick pocket. He sees Mr
Brownlow's handkerchief being stolen and gets scared and runs away.
Oliver is nearly court and is saved by Mr Brownlow who takes him home.

Mr Brownlow notices that Oliver's features resemble a portrait he has.
However Nancy and Bill Sikes recapture Oliver and take him back to
Fagin.
Fagin sends Oliver on another mission. He and Bill Sikes have to do a burglary. During the burglary Oliver gets shot in the arm but Sikes escapes.
Mrs Maylies and her adopted niece Rose to whom the house belongs take in

Oliver Twist Analysis
Oliver Twist is up to its brim in themes and ideas that mingle together to create a wildly inventive and thought provoking novel. From social class to
government corruption any number of messages can be investigated and examined in order to better understand mid–19th century London. One of
which is the idea that the characters are forever stuck in their lifestyle, no matter how hated it may be. It is seemingly their fate to live out their lives
like they always have. One can simply take a look at Oliver to see that this is not altogether true. Although at birth the course of his life was
determined for him, he was able to break free from his figurative chains to become greater than he ever imagined. However, the case is different for
Nancy. She could've abandoned her unhealthy lifestyle and was even offered a better one, but she chose to stay. It was her destiny to stay right where
she was in her life, for better or for worse. By contrasting Oliver and Nancy's lives, Charles Dickens demonstrates that while powerful, the fate of a
person can be changed according to that person's free will.
Oliver's lonely birth brings no words of hope out of the narrator who says "...he was badged and ticketed, and fell into his place at once–a parish
child–the orphan of a workhouse–the humble half–starved drudge–to be cuffed and buffeted through the world–despised by all and pitied by none"
(Dickens 4). All these labels and stigmas that are immediately placed on him serve as examples of the

Romanticism In Oliver Twist
Introduction:
In mid–19th century England, realistic literature came as a response to the preceding romantic period. The romantic period was known to emphasize
the experiences of the individual and was regarded as a highly aesthetic period. It was related with the movement of sensibility or sentimentalism, which
stressed the importance of emotions and feelings of sympathy (Kitson 328–329). Contrarily, realism during the Victorian age aimed to address
economic and social issues in society by depicting the struggles in the developing society as accurately as possible (Redd). Consequently, in the 1830s,
when Charles Dickens was writing Oliver Twist, it is justifiable that elements of both realism and sentimentalism can be found in the novel. This...show
more content...
Most notably, Dickens' depiction of London (in particular the workhouses and other social institutions) and his criminal characters have a very
prominent realistic effect. However before going into detail about the realistic setting and characters, it would be beneficial to take a look at
Dickens' preface for Oliver Twist. In his preface for Oliver Twist, Dickens justifies his reasons for writing about the criminals of London; he had the
impression that real thieves and pickpockets were not portrayed correctly in literature during that time. For that reason, he felt that it was necessary
to show these crooks as they really were, "for ever skulking uneasily through the dirtiest paths of life" (7). He also believed that doing this would be
"a service to society", and that he "did it as best as [he] could". He explains that he won't be writing about appealing and pleasant situations; "...no
merry–makings in the snuggest of all possibly caverns, none of the attractions of dress, no embroidery, no lace..." (8). In essence, this preface
foreshadows the realistic elements in the novel by telling the readers where to look. Clearly the characters and setting will be portrayed as honestly
and truthfully as possible, without overlooking even "one hole in the Dodger's coat, or one scrap of curl–paper in Nancy's dishevelled hair" (9) and
describing the "cold wet shelterless midnight streets of London; the foul and frowsy dens, where vice is closely packed and lacks the room to turn [...]"

Oliver Twist Essay
English Coursework
Oliver Twist
How does Charles Dickens represent the crimes and criminals in the novel 'Oliver Twist'?
Introduction
In the novel Oliver Twist, Dickens was trying to show that the Victorian viewpoint of crime was wrong. His novel shows that many criminals were
forced to be one(criminal) rather than being born as one. Dickens includes the condition of the workhouses which were very basic and the work was
hard and unforgiving, he described this to set the scene of how young children coped when they were alone in the world. He presents some criminals
as innocent victims that have been pulled into a life of crime through desperation and despair such as Oliver and Nancy, however...show more content...
He is trying to show that although most criminals shouldn't fit into the stereotype some do and people should be wary of them. Bill Sikes is portrayed as
the real villain in Oliver Twist, he is a thuggish criminal who is violent and often takes advantage of others, and he chooses his life of crime and
enjoys it. Like Fagin, Sikes is shows as an animal or something that is evil and corrupted. Sikes is often described with a 'heaving chest' and 'savage
resolution'. This shows characteristics of an animal with a savage nature, the language indicates that Dickens is trying to show the fact that Bill is
not only a criminal he is a mean criminal who has no compassion or thoughts for anyone. In comparison he thinks about himself a lot, and
concentrates on not getting caught rather than what he is actually doing. When Sikes is murdering Nancy, Dickens uses vocabulary such as dragged,
hurled, and struggled; these words imply anger and brutality. Sikes uses his violence to take control of people and this amplifies the Victorian view
of a criminal. In Sikes character Dickens is trying to suggest that there are some vicious and dangerous criminal in London that people should be wary
of. Sikes is a leader of the criminal underworld and is helping to trap innocent and naГЇve young

Oliver Twist Rhetorical Analysis
With his unorthodox beliefs during the Victorian–era, Charles Dickens uses a variety of literary devices, such as irony, sarcasm, and hyperboles to
contrast the reality of a society which needs social political change. This is achieved by utilizing a sardonic or sarcastic tone throughout the majority
of his book, Oliver Twist, in order to convey his ideas to the audience.
A primary example of Dickens using irony is on page 95 of chapter 10, when Oliver believes that Fagin has invited him to join an honest business. "At
that length, he began to languish of fresh air, and took many occasions of earnestly entreating..." Not only is this ironic in the sense that Oliver desires
to please his senior by asking to work with the young companions, and therefore trained for...show more content...
This business that he perceived as honest was in fact pickpocketing, and unbeknownst to Oliver, he inadvertently went through the preparation to
become a skilled pickpocket, a title which he did not wish to pursue. Dickens understands the criminal roles of Fagin and his delinquents, however, he
uses this phrasing to reveal Oliver's innocent desire to please Fagin. In addition, this phrase concerns the disgusting conditions of Victorian era
England. In the article, "Endangered lives: Public Health in Victorian England", author Anthony S. Wohl points out that the sewage treatment was
incredibly poor. "As a consequence of the poor drainage system, the father contracted what the Victorians call 'Filth Diseases'." This may seem ordinary
when concerning the technology of the time, however, the family depicted, which the father is a member of, is in

Oliver Twist Essay Example

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Oliver Twist Essay Example