S. B. Gardi DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
M.K.BHAVNAGAR
University
Written by:- Dodiya Asha B
Course No:-06
Email
Id :- ashadodiya15@gmail.com
Enrollment no :- PG15101012
Topic:-
Themes in Oliver Twist
Introduction:
Charles Dickens Oliver Twist is
a novel written by Charles Dickens. This is his second novel. He was
born on 7 February 1812 at England (Ham and died at just the age of 58 on 9
June 1870 at England . He was an English writer and social critic. He created
some of the best characters for his fiction and that is why he is known as the
greatest novelist of the Victorian period. He is best known for his humor,
satire, and keen observation of character and society. His main focus was on
society’s evil things like criminality, orphan houses, work houses, money,
class discrimination, poverty etc.
Here are his some notable works:
1. The Pickwick Papers
2. Oliver Twist
3. A
Christmas Carol
4.
David Copperfield
5. Bleak House
6. Hard
Times
7. Little Dorati
8
. A Tale of Two Cities
9
. Great Expectation
Plot
‘O Overview of Oliver Twist:
“Oliver Twist”
In best example of the Victorian age because this novel reflects this
era very well. As above mentioned, that during this time the number of
prostitutes was increasing and that is why with this orphan houses were also
increasing. The story starts with the birth of the hero of the novel Oliver
Twist. Soon after giving birth to Oliver, his mother dies. She gave birth to
Oliver in a workhouse named ‘Parish Workhouse’. Then the doctor comes and
noticed that she has not worn any wedding ring. So, here the identity of Oliver
is sealed.
When he reaches to London he
meets a boy of his age named Jack Dawkins. He promises him to give shelter
and will provide enough food and then he takes him to Fagin and the
gang. It turns out that Fagin is a career criminal who trains orphan boys
to pick pockets for him. After a few days of training, Oliver is sent on a
pickpocket.
Then Mr. Brownlow and Mayfly
they both reunited for Oliver and then it is revealed by Mayfly that Monks is
half-brother of Oliver and Rose is the younger sister of Oliver’s mother Agnes
Fleming means Rose was the aunt of Oliver. Oliver’s father, Mr. Ledford, was
unhappily married to a wealthy woman and had an affair with Oliver’s mother,
Agnes Fleming. Monks has been pursuing Oliver all along in the hopes of
ensuring that his half-brother is deprived of his share of the family
inheritance.
Society & Class:
The major theme
of this novel is society and class. This theme is the central theme in all most
all Dickens’ novels. In this novel Dickens shows how the Society is careless
about the orphan children. He also shows that how the upper class is superior
and the carelessness for the lower class.
Through this passage it is
clear that this is situation of Oliver’s birth time. At this point many
questions comes in our mind that who is he, he could be anybody, belonging from
any class but Charles portrait his character as a parish boy and just after his
mother died, means he is now an orphan child. It shows how superficial class
distinction is.
Identity:
The second major theme which I found one of
the main themes is ‘The theme of Identity’.
Here we can also connect the second incidence of Oliver’s life that how
Oliver’s name is thrust on him almost arbitrarily by Mr. Bumble. And if we
think all the other minor characters of this novel that all the orphan
children. They don’t know where their parents are, or even who their parents
are. This novel is all about mistaken identities, changed names etc.
"What’s your name, you hardened scoundrel?" thundered Mr. Fang. "Officer, what’s his name?"
"He says his name’s Tom White, your worship," said this kind-hearted thief-taker.
This situation comes when Oliver was presented in the court, because people think that he was picking the pocket of Mr. Brownlow, but we know the truth as a reader. More with the names here’s yet another random person making up names for Oliver. He was the lawyer of the court in which Oliver was presented.
Criminality:
During 1830s, when Dickens’ was writing crime
was one of the major problem in society. He depicts criminality of London very
well in this novel. He shows that it was the needs of poor people to live their
life they have to steal something for their livelihood. It was the need of
those poor people to survive. He also wanted to show how external influences
created criminal behavior as much or more than natural criminal urges.
"What
a fine thing capital punishment is! Dead men never repent; dead men never bring
awkward stories to light. The prospect of the gallows, too, makes them hardy
and bold. Ah, it’s a fine thing for the trade! Five of them strung up in a row,
and none left to play booty or turn white-livered."
These are the
lines spoken by Fagin, who is depicted as a villain or we can say the master
who taught pick pocketing to the orphan children. We can say that here he is
the criminal.
Poverty:
v
Poverty was another one of the major problem
of society during those days. Of Course this theme is related with the theme of
‘Society & Class’. With ‘Oliver Twist’ he doesn’t shy away from depicting
the conditions of the poor people in all their misery with gritty realism.
Dickens is also very concerned in showing just how miserable the lower classes
really were.
In this passage it is clearly
written that the poor people were paid less though they work hard. And that is
why the poor people become or remain poor and the rich people become or remain
poor always.
Religion:
Organized,
institutionalized religion – especially the Church of England – is shown by
Dickens in this novel. Dickens himself was Anglican but he felt like the Church
was too impersonal and institutionalized and didn’t do enough to take care of
the poor and miserable folks who turned to the Church for help.
"I hope you say your prayers every night," said another gentleman in a gruff voice, "and pray for the people who feed you, and take care of you, like a Christian."
In the direct way but indirectly many times religion is mentioned. For example, in the movie of this novel it was shown that in the workhouse on the wall everywhere it was written that `God is Good’ and ‘God is everywhere’. So that people don’t even think of rebel or of committing suicide.
Literature
& Writing:
We can say that this theme is represented by
Dickens in an indirect way. Literature and writing is theme in which the writer
takes a pause to comment on any situation in the novel or on any character.
Dickens uses this theme or technique very well in this novel. Though he is able
to tell his story and his name he never allowed for speaking. Or we can also
say that reference of books is also one of the meanings of this theme.
"There are a good many books, are there not, my boy?" said Mr. Brownlow.
"A great number, sir,"
“
replied Oliver; "
“I
never saw so many."
"You shall read them if you behave well," said the old gentleman kindly; "and you will like that, better than looking at the outsides,– that is, in some cases, because there are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.
Oliver considered a little while, and at last said he should think it would be much better thing to be a bookseller.
So, it is clear from this dialogue between Oliver and Mr. Brownlow that Mr. Brownlow is asking about books to Oliver. We can expect what the answer must be from an orphan child who never gets such type of good behavior from anyone in the society. It also shows the importance of the literature in our life.
"You shall read them if you behave well," said the old gentleman kindly; "and you will like that, better than looking at the outsides,– that is, in some cases, because there are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts.
Oliver considered a little while, and at last said he should think it would be much better thing to be a bookseller.
So, it is clear from this dialogue between Oliver and Mr. Brownlow that Mr. Brownlow is asking about books to Oliver. We can expect what the answer must be from an orphan child who never gets such type of good behavior from anyone in the society. It also shows the importance of the literature in our life.
Contrasting Regions:
The words itself shows that combination of two opposite things at a time. This theme of contrasting region is very well explored by Dickens in his this novel. The city London is the best example of this. Once Oliver was at a village and then again at London. His life is shown as a pendulum swing between the urban life and city life. When we think of urban life innocence come in our mind and when we think of city cruelty comes in our mind. These all things are shown by Dickens very well.
In this whole passage the word ‘labyrinth’ is most important. Dickens has used this word intensely here. The meaning of this is ‘low’, ‘dark’, and ‘narrow’. Means a place where you once entered then there is no way for return or for escape. By using this word Dickens creates a tension in readers mind that there are possibilities that may be now Oliver will choose the wrong path means Fagin and the gang.
Fate & Free Will:
Here again we can see the combination of two opposite things. For some characters dickens has created that space so that they can follow their free will and for some characters he has not even gave space so that they can follow their free will. Here fate plays vital role, destination as well as the city in which they live, their social class, and the system of justice and religion. Some characters gave up against fate.
In this passage Dickens gave some space to Oliver to choose between good and evil. It is the time for Oliver of realization to choose which path. To be bad or good is now in the hands of Oliver himself. Means here the free will of Oliver may work. But the characters like Nancy they never allowed by the author to follow their free will.
Conclusion:
‘Oliver Twist’ is one of the best
novels of Victorian time. We will find many Victorian characteristics of this
time depicted by Charles Dickens. These are the based themes of this novel.
There are many other themes also which is shown by Dickens very well. The
themes like Good vs. Evil also can be one of the major themes of this
novel because here in this novel Dickens has given the touch of
morality. The failure of Society is also one of the main themes of
this novel
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