Oliver Twist Essay, Research Paper
Guy 1
Jamar Guy
Mrs. Brown
Advanced Placement English
Literature and Composition
January 12, 2001
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. For example, while suffering from starvation and malnutrition for a long period of time, Oliver was chosen by the other boys at the orphanage to request more gruel at dinner one night. After making this simple request, the master (at the orphanage) aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with a ladle and placed him confinement. As noted by Patricia Marks in her article on Dickens, “childhood experience and suffering had emerged as a significant new topic in romantic poetry, and Dickens was personally impelled towards it by memories of his own pre-teenage years when, with the rest of his family in prison and himself alone, he was thrown into manual labour.” Dickens was even quoted as saying, “I might easily have been, for any care that
was taken of me, a little robber or a little vagabond.” This quote could relate to Oliver’s first
Guy 2
encounter in London, which was with a member of a criminal gang who sought to recruit him.
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 that Oliver Twist “announces two central concerns of Dickens’s fiction: seeing characters in relation to institutions, and referring to important topicalities. How to deal with paupers, criminals, and children were urgent and controversial issues, in which Dickens took a prolonged and well-informed interest, outside as well as in his fiction.”
Most of Oliver Twist seems to imply that it is better to be a thief than to be alone. This
Guy 3
tends to make the reader think that Dickens favors the criminal aspect of his novel over the moral
side. However, the conflict between the individual and the institution leads to Dickens’ criticism of social injustices such as injustices towards the poor.
During its time of publication, Oliver Twist took the form of a new type of English prose. It depends heavily on the use of abstraction, or the avoidance of various facts, like how Oliver just happens to meet old family friends and relatives in the vast city of London. However, the novel has it’s own form of narration. Oliver Twist is written in the third person, therefore the reader gains a view of the story from the position of an onlooker or outsider, making the reader semi-impartial and allowing the reader to form their own opinions about the characters from “watching them.” With a theme dealing primarily in social injustices Oliver Twist has a lot to offer society in terms of pointing out many problems which still exist today, such as child abuse and injustice to the poor. All of which are bad things in our society that are not usually in the spotlight. In order to conquer these evils, they must first be understood and explaining the severity of these experiences seems to be a job that Charles Dickens did very well.
571
Collins, Philip. “Oliver Twist.” Reference Guide to English Literature, 2nd ed., Vol. 3. Ed. D.L.
Kirkpatrick. Chicago and London: St. James Press, 1991. 1747-48.
Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. New York: Avenel Books, 1985.
Ford, Richard. “Oliver Twist.” The Chelsea House of Literary Criticism, Vol. 8. Ed. Harold
Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1989.
Marks, Patricia. “Charles Dickens.” Critical Survey of Long Fiction, 2nd ed. Ed. Frank N.
Magill. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1983. 743-56
Другие работы по теме:
Oliver Twist Essay Research Paper OLIVER TWISTBOOK
Oliver Twist Essay, Research Paper OLIVER TWIST BOOK SUMMARY Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. New York: Longman Edition, 1981, pp. 353 This book is a fiction novel set in the 19th century. I found the main theme of he book to be about the social problems at that time in England. The main character in the book is Oliver Twist.
Oliver Cromwell Essay Research Paper OLIVER CROMWELLAs
Oliver Cromwell Essay, Research Paper OLIVER CROMWELL As someone who stated watching the movie not knowing anything about the civil war the movie Oliver Cromwell came across as a good illustrator of the actual civil war. The movie made king Charles I come across as a king that was always committing unlawful acts, while looking out for himself and his people.
Oliver Twist Essay Research Paper As one
Oliver Twist Essay, Research Paper As one of the world s greatest writers, Charles Dickens has written some of the greatest classics such as: Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and Oliver Twist. In these works, Dickens often uses past experiences in his life, and develops a character that goes through the same kind of struggles.
Dickens As A Motivator Of Social Reform
Essay, Research Paper Charles Dickens wrote a masterpiece in Oliver Twist. He wrote a book that sold more than 4 million copies in the decade after his death in England alone. Oliver Twist continues to be one of the most famous books around. His novel is a delight to read because of his clever writing style, and important messages.
The Rising Of Good Characters In Charles
Dickens’s Oliver Twist. Essay, Research Paper Throughout Dickens’s novel, Oliver Twist, Dickens speaks about the rising or ascension of morally good characters. Oliver Twist is born an orphan who is raised by the parish as underfed, unloved and overworked. He leaves this life and goes to London where he gets kidnapped by a group of thieves while he is staying at a nice man’s house.
Death Of A Sales Man Essay Research
Paper Death of a Salesman Some nights you see a star in the sky or just have that feeling that what you wish will come true and all your wildest dreams will become reality. For Willy Loman that was everyday. He would always make his dreams seem like reality and thought that what he was saying was right and everybody around him was wrong.
Kive Essay Research Paper
# a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Grapes of Wrath, The – Book Summary and Analysis Grapes of Wrath, The – Book Analysis Grapes of Wrath, The – Joads’ Journey Great Expectations – Powerful Themes in the Novel
Irony Of Dickens In Oliver Twist Essay
, Research Paper The Irony of Dickens In Charles Dickens Oliver Twist, a boy named Oliver lives his strange life in Fagin s pickpocket street gang, and workhouses. Through his life he has people and groups of people who both help and deceive him. Charles Dickens uses a technique known as ironic reversal of values to make a profound effect in the way the novel is perceived.
Oliver Twist Summary Essay Research Paper During
Oliver Twist Summary Essay, Research Paper During the summer of 1999, I have chosen to read the book, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Reading this book will better prepare me for my upcoming course of global studies because it deals with many of the regions and time periods we will be studying in class. Although this book was a classic that I thought I had known so much about, reading it and paying attention to the setting and surroundings of the young boy s life, I noticed many historical events and customs from his time period.
Oliver Cromwell Essay Research Paper LondonToday in
Oliver Cromwell Essay, Research Paper London- Today in 1654, Oliver Cromwell proclaimed himself as Lord Protector of England. This came after he dissolved the Parliament, because of their inability to make decisions, a few months earlier. What this means to English citizens is that they will now be ruled by a dictator with a puritan background and the loyalty of the army.
A Literary Review Of Oliver Twist Essay
, Research Paper The story of an orphan boy without the ?easy life? dares to take on the world in his many journeys, and countless adventures. He goes from the lowest part of London, to a part that he never knew existed. He makes many freinds and a few enemys. No one can turn down his sensitive, helpless looks and you end up caring about him whether you want to or not.
Annie Essay Research Paper I saw the
Annie Essay, Research Paper I saw the musical Annie at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 30th. The theatre is located at 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. The setting of the play is at the orphanage, Oliver Warbucks’, and on the streets of New York during the great depression. Annie is an orphan who has spent her life wondering about her real parents, and working for the evil Miss Hannigan.
Because Essay Research Paper Becuase this is
Because Essay, Research Paper Becuase this is not my job, I decided early on to limit my reviews to one book per author. You can imagine, then, how hard it was to decide WHICH book of Charles Dickens to review. I mean, to choose between A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist, and Great Expectations was downright cruel.
Social Reform In Charles Dickens Hard Times
, Oliver Twist, And Great Expectations Essay, Research Paper Social Reform in Dickens In Oliver Twist and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, both main characters refuse to except the poor hand the world has dealt them. Pip and Oliver reach a great epiphany in regards to social injustice, and in turn rebel against the system that oppresses them.
Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay Research Paper
Great Expectations and Oliver Twist During his lifetime, Charles Dickens is known to have written several books. Although each book is different, they also share many similarities. Two of his books, Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, are representatives of the many kinds of differences and similarities found within his work.
Oliver Twist 4 Essay Research Paper Oliver
Oliver Twist 4 Essay, Research Paper 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 of much content 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.
Transformation Essay Research Paper TransformationMost people go
Transformation Essay, Research Paper Transformation Most people go through life with their eyes closed, so to speak, never stopping to see the beautiful world around them. However, the people that do stop and observe the beauty often do great things with the knowledge from their experience. Two people that have done just that are Gary Snyder and Mary Oliver.
Noah Claypole Essay Research Paper The Characterization
Noah Claypole Essay, Research Paper The Characterization of Noah Claypole The process of characterization is that which every author uses to make, build, or create a character. In Oliver Twist, the characterization of Noah Claypole, is carried out in three ways: the author has the character say things that tell the reader what sort of a person he is, do things that reveal his personality, and the author also has the storyteller describe Noah to expose things concerning his nature.
Oliver Twist The Anchor Of Character Development
Essay, Research Paper Oliver Twist: the Anchor of Character Development Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, centers itself around the life of the young, orphan Oliver, but he is not a deeply developed character. He stays the same throughout the entire novel. He has a desire to be protected, he wants to be in a safe and secure environment, and he shows unconditional love and acceptance to the people around him.
Oliver Twist Essay Research Paper Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist Essay, Research Paper 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.
Oliver Twist Essay Research Paper Nancy a
Oliver Twist Essay, Research Paper Nancy a beautiful portrayal of a mother life figure, stands up for a poor innocent boy. She takes care of Oliver, a poor orphan. Nancy also has a conflict
Dickens Biography Essay Research Paper In the
Dickens Biography Essay, Research Paper In the Charles Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities, symbolism in used to portray the themes though out the book. Through his characters and their actions as well as their
How Biff Suffer Essay Research Paper Biff
How Biff Suffer Essay, Research Paper ?Biff suffering from Willy?s illusions and delusions? Who is William Loman? William Loman is the main character in the play Death Of A Salesman by Arthur Miller. In the play Willy is play as an elderly salesman and lost in false hopes and illusions. As Willy grown older, he has trouble distinguishing between the past and present.
Rock Music Essay Research Paper ROCK
Rock Music Essay, Research Paper ROCK Rock does mean any relatively hard mass of mineral or petrified matter, or stone, but it is also a type of music. Rock is a type of music in which teens have always been associated with. Rock music has been around since the early to mid nineteen fifties and has emerged and changed throughout the years.
Oliver Twist Essay Research Paper OLIVER TWISTWith
Oliver Twist Essay, Research Paper OLIVER TWIST 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 novels 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.
Oliver Twist 3 Essay Research Paper Oliver
Oliver Twist 3 Essay, Research Paper Oliver Twist When poverty and class was an issue in the Old World, injustice and society shunned all that was not good. Oliver Twist was a novel that hit all the aspects of that time. The story of Oliver Twist had many underlying to the plot. However, the themes that may be the most apparent within the story are underlined throughout it.
Oliver Stone Get Your Facts S Essay
, Research Paper Oliver Stone, Get Your Facts Straight! Some have said that Oliver Stone s The Doors was a realistic and accurate portrayal of Jim Morrison s life and The Doors musical escapades. Unfortunately, director Oliver Stone has a habit of putting his own beliefs and ideas into the mouths of his characters.
Black Vs White Essay Research Paper Black
Black Vs. White Essay, Research Paper Black vs. White How can a writer have a character make the reader feel warm inside when reading about them, or feel anger and disgust towards the character? A way is the use of light and dark imagery. Imagery is a very important aspect of writing used to portray a situation or character as more real or to display their personality.
Sonnet 1 35 75 Essay Research Paper
Sonnet 1, 35, & 75 Many of Spencer s are based the subject of love. The poet Spencer has written many poems on love but his contain a different twist. His poems are about love but in the end some weird twist of fate happens were it doesn’t work out. There is always something that goes on where the girl doesn t like him it just wasn t meant to be.
How Charles Dickens
’ Life Influenced Oliver Twist Essay, Research Paper How Charles Dickens’ Life Influenced Oliver Twist “The range of his creative activity is, in the first place, limited to the world of his youth” (Cecil 169). This quote explains many people. What has previously happened to a person has a tremendous impact on them.