Themes in Oliver Twist

S. B. Gardi DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

M.K.BHAVNAGAR University

Written by: Gohil. Devikaba. J

Roll no.: 05

Course No.:06

Course Name: The Victorian Literature

Enrollment No. : Pg14101015

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 (Hampshire) and died at just the age of 58 on 9 June 1870 at England (Kent). 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 was forced to leave school to work in a factory. Just because of this reason he got very little formal education. Dickens got fame with the 1836 serial publication of ‘The Pickwick Papers’ and very soon turned into international literary celebrity. 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:

·       The Pickwick Papers

·       Oliver Twist

·       A Christmas Carol

·       David Copperfield

·       Bleak House

·       Hard Times

·       Little Dorrit

·       A Tale of Two Cities

·       Great Expectation

Plot Overview of Oliver Twist:

‘Oliver Twist’ is the 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. Then Oliver spends his next nine years in an orphan house where he was treated very badly by the authority and soon sends for the workhouse. After the other boys bully Oliver into asking for more gruel at the end of a meal, Mr. Bumble, the parish beadle, offers five pounds to anyone who will take the boy away from the workhouse. Oliver narrowly escapes being apprenticed to a brutish chimney sweep and is eventually apprenticed to a local undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry. When the undertaker’s other apprentice, Noah Claypole, makes disparaging comments about Oliver’s mother, Oliver attacks him and incurs the Sowerberrys’ wrath. Desperate, Oliver runs away at dawn and travels toward London.

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 pickpocketing mission with two other boys. When these two boys were picking up someone’s pocket Oliver was observing them. They were next to caught by that gentleman and out of fear Oliver also start running. Mr. Brownlow, the man whose handkerchief was stolen, takes the feverish Oliver to his home and nurses him back to health. Mr. Brownlow is struck by Oliver’s resemblance to a portrait of a young woman that hangs in his house. Oliver thrives in Mr. Brownlow’s home, but two young adults in Fagin’s gang, Bill Sikes and his lover Nancy, capture Oliver and return him to Fagin. Then Oliver was forced to assist Skies. Where again Skies run away and Oliver was captured by a lady named Maylie and Oliver spends an idyllic summer with her and her adopted niece Rose. But again Fagin and a mysterious man named Monks were trying to recapture Oliver. Meanwhile the secret reveals that Oliver’s mother left a gold locket when she died. Anyhow Monks get that and destroyed that. When Maylie and Rose come to London, Nancy secretly meets to Rose and told about Fagin’s plan of recapturing Oliver. But one of the members of Fagin was following Nancy and overheard the conversation of both the ladies. Soon Sikes the lover of Nancy come to know about Nancy’s conversation and in return he cruelly kills Nancy and run away from London. Pursued by his guilty conscience and an angry mob, he inadvertently hangs himself while trying to escape.

Then Mr. Brownlow and Maylie they both reunited for Oliver and then it is revealed by Maylie 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. Leeford, 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. Then Mr. Brownlow forces Monks to give Oliver his share of inheritance and then he adopts Oliver and lives with Maylie forever at the countryside.       

Themes in Oliver Twist:

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. Dickens also exposes how callous and uncaring Victorian society was folks just ignored the plight of the less fortunate because they were so self-satisfied, and so convinced that the systems they had in place to take care of the poor were the best and most humane systems possible.

“And what an excellent example of the power of dress young Oliver Twist was. Wrapped in the blanket which had hitherto formed his only covering, he might have been the child of a nobleman or a beggar; – it would have been hard for the haughtiest stranger to have fixed his station in society. But now he was enveloped in the old calico robes, that had grown yellow in the same service; 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.” (1.14)

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. Saying that the difference between a nobleman and a beggar is only in the clothes that they wear is a pretty radical statement, if we think about it. So, it is now clear that how class system operates in society.

Identity:

The second major theme which I found one of the main themes is ‘The theme of Identity’. The starting of this novel suggests this theme. When Oliver was born her mother died just after his birth. Here his identity is sealed. Even as a reader we don’t know who Oliver is till the end of the novel. 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?"

This was addressed to a bluff old fellow in a striped waistcoat, who was standing by the bar. He bent over Oliver, and repeated the inquiry; but finding him really incapable of understanding the question, and knowing that his not replying would only infuriate the magistrate the more, and add to the severity of his sentence, he hazarded a guess.

"He says his name’s Tom White, your worship," said this kind-hearted thief-taker. (11.49)

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. Oliver seems incapable of naming himself or telling his own story. Granted, this guy might actually be trying to help him out, but still: there’s all this emphasis put on Oliver’s name, and what his "real" name is.

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. Dickens’ had a point to make he wanted to show how criminals really lived, in order to discourage poor people from turning to crime. 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!" (9.9)

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. Fagin’s reflection on capital punishment shows another way that the system of institutionalized control just permeates society. Is capital punishment actually a good motivator for criminals? In Oliver Twist, the fear of being hanged makes members of Fagin’s gang betray each other, more often than not.

Poverty:

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.

"[…] the parish authorities magnanimously and humanely resolved, that Oliver should be ‘farmed,’ or, in other words, that he should be dispatched to a branch-workhouse some three miles off, where twenty or thirty other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws rolled about the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much food, or too much clothing, under the parental superintendence of an elderly female who received the culprits at and for the consideration of seven pence-halfpenny per small head per week. (2.1)"

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. In the very starting of the novel it was shown that a young lady was dying but the authority do nothing because she was a poor lady and a scene also comes when a pregnant woman was selling something because she have to earn for the survival.  

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. The whole parish system was responsible for maintaining workhouses, orphanages, and baby farms, and Dickens thought that the whole system was inhuman and just sunk to high heaven. He certainly depicted the negative side of the parish system in this novel.

"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."

"Yes, sir," stammered the boy. The gentleman who spoke last was unconsciously right. It would have been very like a Christian, and a marvelously good Christian, too, if Oliver had prayed for the people who fed and took care of him. But he hadn’t, because nobody had taught him. (2.53-54)

It is clearly written about religion and this for the first time Dickens mentioned about religion. 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. Means, religion was used not for worshiping the God but for creating the fear among the people, to have a control among the poor people.

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. He comments on his own writing. The other meaning or here the meaning of the theme is that whenever Oliver is asked something someone else interferes and misrepresents Oliver. 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."

"I suppose they are those heavy ones, sir," said Oliver[…]


[…] Oliver considered a little while, and at last said he should think it would be much better thing to be a bookseller. (14.13-20)

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. Though the reference of books is little bit different here but still it shows that how much books are important in our life. Just for a while Oliver thinks to be a bookseller so that he can earn money but still literature and writing is important in one’s 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. It seems that London is divided into two parts, one is of crime and another is of free will.
"Darkness had set in; it was a low neighborhood; no help was near; resistance was useless. In another moment he was dragged into a labyrinth of dark, narrow courts, and forced along them at a pace which rendered the few cries he dared to give utterance to, wholly unintelligible. (15.63)"

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. They think that this is their fate and they accept whatever accrues in their life. Whereas some characters try to follow their free will.

"In one instant the whole mystery of the handkerchiefs, and the watches, and the jewels, and the Jew, rushed upon the boy’s mind. He stood for a moment with the blood tingling through all his veins from terror that he felt as if he were in a burning fire; then, confused and frightened, he took to his heels. (10.15)"

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. And this is the harsh reality of Dickens that as a society it fails. Purity in a corrupt society the best example of this is our protagonist of this Novel means Oliver Twist himself.

We will also find some auto biographical elements in this novel because Dickens himself has experienced these all things as a child or as a grown up person. So we can say that here Dickens himself is the hero of this novel.