Born in a workhouse to a dying mother, Oliver Twist is named by an uncaring official and plunged into a cruel system of state care designed to consign him to a life of poverty. Through the novel’s complicated plot, Oliver must resist malign environmental influences and refuse stereotypes about his character. His essentially moral nature reveals itself to allies who rescue him from those who would use and harm him. Oliver’s story suggests that regardless of a person’s circ*mstances, moral choices are possible and that class does not determine morality. Dickens uses Oliver’s trials to critique the Victorian assumption that morality and class are coupled: heroic behavior occurs among both the poor and the well-off, as does exploitative behavior.
The inciting incident occurs when Oliver, nine years old, returns to the workhouse. Hungry boys compel him to ask an official for more food. Branded as a malcontent, Oliver is whipped, confined, and sold off as a child laborer. This entry into the world of the working poor begins the rising action. Escaping mistreatment in several jobs, Oliver walks to London, only to be targeted by fa*gin, who exploits children as thieves. In fa*gin’s home, Oliver is fed and has a sort of family, but his place there depends on how well he can steal. He suffers moral qualms, but he is poor and orphaned, so both fa*gin and people representing the law assume that he is naturally criminal. Only by chance, when kind Mr. Brownlow pities him and takes him to his home to recover, does Oliver glimpse another way of living.
Oliver’s escape from exploitation is jeopardized when fa*gin, worried that Oliver will alert the law to his operation, exploits Nancy. She is assumed to be immoral because she is poor. She drinks, steals, and is likely a prostitute, yet it becomes clear that she is deeply moral and behaves as she does to survive. Out of fear of fa*gin and Bill Sikes, Nancy helps return Oliver to fa*gin, but she regrets her actions and attempts to defend him from a beating. Cowed by isolation, Oliver is dragged deeper into fa*gin and Sikes’ criminal activities. Still, his moral core asserts itself. Under threat of death, he helps Sikes break into a house but hopes to warn its owners.
Events happening far from Oliver also shape the rising action as choices by people in authority affect him. When Mrs. Corney conceals Sally’s deathbed confession, she does so for personal gain. Despite belonging to the respectable middle class, she and Mr. Bumble, like fa*gin and Bill, take a mercenary interest in other people. Yet Oliver, wounded and abandoned during the theft, finds kind helpers in the Maylies, who shelter him for months, giving him a family for the first time. Rose Maylie in particular respects Oliver’s personhood. She does not use him or impose her ideas of who he should be, and he flourishes in her care. Rose’s privilege as Mrs. Maylie’s ward enables her to be his benefactor, and her situation contrasts starkly with Nancy’s. Yet Nancy, too, cares for Oliver as far as her limited agency and resources allow.
Not even in the Maylies’ country home, however, is Oliver safe from the Bumbles’ meddling or from fa*gin’s conniving, and these greedy people now have help from the shadowy Monks. Nancy, again, demonstrates her essentially moral nature, which Sikes and fa*gin have not corrupted, by risking her safety to let Rose know that Monks plans to steal Oliver’s inheritance. Again, greed underlies the actions of those who would harm Oliver, regardless of class. Monks, a so-called gentleman, will get Oliver’s money, and fa*gin, a known criminal, will be paid to silence Oliver. And again, compassion motivates those who help Oliver, whether they are people of social standing, like Mrs. Maylie and Mr. Brownlow, or people of outcast classes, like Nancy.
Both groups are in full action as the novel approaches its climax. Oliver’s allies in the Maylie and Brownlow households unite, draw on their resources, and solve the mystery of his identity. Meanwhile, Monks, fa*gin, and Sikes, joined by Oliver’s childhood bully, Noah, collaborate to get Oliver under their control.
As the novel’s tension builds, Nancy’s selfless support of Oliver turns the plot and redeems her despite her life of crime. She risks her life to tell Mr. Brownlow where he can find Monks, while also stating that her associates must not come to trouble. When fa*gin pays Noah to follow Nancy, the information Noah gains allows fa*gin to manipulate Sikes into fury. Believing that Nancy, who loves the brutal Sikes, has betrayed him, he kills her and flees London, tormented by visions of Nancy’s pleading eyes. Her violent death marks the novel’s climax and its highest point of risk for Oliver because those who work for and against him now know enough to either save him or doom him.
The falling action reveals who will prevail in Oliver’s life—compassionate and just people who want the best for this orphaned, abused child, or greedy and selfish people who want to exploit him. Identities are revealed—those of Monks, Oliver’s mother, and Oliver himself—and unknown relationships come to light, especially that Oliver’s mother, Agnes, and Rose are sisters. Justice is done, too. fa*gan is arrested, and the Bumbles’ meddling is exposed. Sikes dies by an act of fate, escaping the angry people—all belonging to that lower class that supposedly has no heart—who loved Nancy. Even those who skirt the law, like Monks, do not escape consequences. Monks takes his inheritance to the United States, wastes it, and dies in prison.
For those whose moral core guides them to compassionate action, the novel ends well. Charley turns away from the life fa*gin taught him, and Rose and Harry, free of past embarrassments, marry. Oliver suddenly has a large, loving family. Adopted by Mr. Brownlow, he is also Rose’s nephew, and the interrelated clans move to the peaceful countryside. The novel’s resolution reiterates its point that moral character is a human attribute, not determined by class. Each person decides how to act, and though environment plays a role, each person is morally responsible for their own decisions.
As a literature enthusiast and expert in classic novels, particularly those by Charles Dickens, I bring a wealth of knowledge about the themes, characters, and narrative techniques employed in his works. Dickens was a master storyteller who used his novels to critique and illuminate societal issues of his time. His exploration of poverty, morality, and class distinctions is evident in one of his most famous works, "Oliver Twist."
The narrative of "Oliver Twist" is intricately woven, and Dickens employs a variety of literary devices to convey his social commentary. Let's delve into the key concepts and themes used in the article:
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Social Injustice and Poverty:
- Oliver Twist's birth in a workhouse and his subsequent life in the cruel system of state care highlight Dickens's critique of social injustice and the plight of the poor in Victorian society.
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Morality and Character Development:
- The central theme revolves around Oliver's moral nature and his resistance to the negative influences in his environment. Despite facing exploitation and adversity, Oliver consistently demonstrates a moral core that sets him apart.
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Class Distinctions:
- Dickens challenges the Victorian assumption that morality is tied to one's social class. The novel showcases heroic and exploitative behaviors among both the poor and the well-off, emphasizing that character is not determined by economic status.
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Exploitation of Children:
- Oliver's journey exposes the exploitation of children in the working class, particularly by characters like fa*gin, who exploit them as thieves. This theme reflects Dickens's concern for the vulnerable members of society.
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Complex Characters and Redemption:
- Characters like Nancy challenge stereotypes; though assumed to be immoral due to her circ*mstances, she is revealed to have a deeply moral nature. Her selfless support of Oliver and her redemption arc contribute to the complexity of character portrayals.
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Role of Compassion:
- Compassion emerges as a driving force for characters like Mr. Brownlow and the Maylies, who become Oliver's allies. Their compassionate actions stand in stark contrast to the greed and selfishness exhibited by characters like fa*gin and Monks.
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Mystery and Suspense:
- The narrative incorporates elements of mystery and suspense, especially in the rising action, as Oliver's true identity is gradually revealed. Choices made by people in authority shape Oliver's fate, adding layers of complexity to the plot.
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Justice and Consequences:
- The falling action involves the revelation of identities, exposure of wrongdoing, and the dispensation of justice. Characters like fa*gin and the Bumbles face consequences for their actions, emphasizing a sense of moral accountability.
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Resolution and Moral Responsibility:
- The novel concludes with a resolution that reinforces the idea that moral character is a human attribute. The characters' decisions, actions, and moral responsibility play a crucial role in determining their fates.
In summary, "Oliver Twist" stands as a powerful critique of Victorian society, tackling issues of poverty, morality, and class distinctions through a rich tapestry of characters and a compelling narrative structure. Dickens's ability to weave together social commentary and engaging storytelling solidifies the enduring relevance of this classic novel.
