STUDY GUIDE:
-Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
How did people react to Oliver Twist when the novel was
first published?
Oliver Twist was serialised in the journal, Bentley's Miscellany, from February 1837
to April 1839 and was also published in three volumes in 1838. While the book brought
Dickens critical acclaim and considerable wealth, there were mixed reviews to its
content and strong social message.
The Literary Gazette (November 1838) praised Dickens for bringing to light some of
most evil symbols of Victorian society: "the workhouse, the starving school, the factory
system, and many other things, at which blessed nature shudder and recoiled."
Similarly, the Quarterly Review of 1839 thought the book was a "sign of the times"
which reflected the social problems caused by the Poor Laws - the very laws which
inspired Dickens to write Oliver Twist.
But other sources were not so favourable. The Church, for instance, found the book to
be extremely immoral, forcing Dickens to defend the story as a reflection of real life. In
the years after the book's publication, the Jewish population also protested Oliver
Twist, specifically their portrayal through the character of Fagin. For many Jews, Fagin
was a cold-hearted monster and they resented the association between themselves and
such a man. Responding in 1863, Dickens did little to soothe the tension:
("Fagin, in Oliver Twist, is a Jew, because it unfortunately was true of the time to
which that story refers, that that class of criminal almost invariably was a Jew.")
There is, however, no evidence to suggest that Dickens was anti-Semitic and that this
influenced his characterisation of Fagin. But the fact that people were still talking
,about the book three decades after it was published is testament to its literary and
social importance. It remains one of Dickens' most controversial works.
-How does Dickens try to engage the reader in the opening
chapter of Oliver Twist?
Dickens is able to engage the reader in the first chapter of Oliver Twist through the
depiction of difficulty and struggle that define the protagonist's life.
The dominant element in the first chapter is how Oliver's life was difficult from birth.
The level of toughness Oliver needs to simply enter the world engages the reader.
Dickens invokes a gritty reality where only the tough can survive. For example, the first
paragraph focuses on a workhouse. The profound difficulty of living in the workhouse
forces the reader to imagine the fortitude required for mere survival.
Dickens describes the struggle in Oliver's birth: "Now, if, during this brief period,
Oliver had been surrounded by careful grandmothers, anxious aunts, experienced
nurses, and doctors of profound wisdom, he would most inevitably and indubitably
have been killed in no time." The reader is engaged with a character whose act of
breathing constituted struggle and necessitated perseverance.
The reader is drawn in until the chapter's conclusion. Oliver is born to a mother who
dies, becomes "a parish child—the orphan of a workhouse," and ends up being
"despised by all, pitied by none." The reader is hooked because he/she realizes that
Oliver's first moments in the world are defined by real struggle. Oliver is the ultimate
underdog. It's hard not to find such a narrative compelling. Dickens's opening chapter
clearly establishes that life is painfully hard for Oliver and it is only going to get worse.
The reader is engaged because they are compelled to see how much more difficult it is
going to be and if there can be any redemption for someone who sorely is in need of it.
Reaction to Oliver Twist:
My own personal reaction to this Dickensian classic is that I really liked it. I must
admit to being a bit of a Dickens fan, and I love the way that he produces vast novels
populated by such memorable characters. The story of the archetypal Dickensian
orphan who manages to survive the evil plots of others to enjoy the place in society that
he deserves is one that everybody can relate to, and it is certainly a gripping narrative
as we fear Oliver will be hung or captured or killed at various stages in the narrative.
Having said that I like it, at the same time however it is not the best Dickens novel by a
long stretch. When we think more closely about the story, there are a number of
problems with it, in my opinion, or aspects that make it less challenging than a work
like Great Expectations. Firstly, I would argue that the very goodness of Oliver is
problematic, as he remains innocent and angel-like in his goodness throughout the
,entire novel, no matter what is done to him. The best example of this is of course when
he pleads with Fagan to repent before his death at the end of the novel. This seems to
me to be rather unrealistic. Secondly, based on this first point, all of the characters with
the exception of Nancy are either good or bad. Nancy is the only character that is
presented as occupying a space in the middle of these two extremes. Again, this points
to a rather simplistic view of characters, as in reality we all have good and bad
elements. Apart from this quibbles, however, this novel is an excellent story that has
become a classic.
How does Oliver Twist get his name?
Mr. Bumble, the beadle, names the poor, wretched children of the workhouse in
alphabetical order. As 'T' is the next available letter in the alphabet when Oliver is born,
Bumble comes up with the name Oliver Twist. Dickens, like Bumble, was remarkably
skillful at devising unusual, but unforgettable names––Chuzzlewit, Pecksniff, and
Pumblechook, to name but three. And Oliver Twist is another memorable addition.The
name is actually a play on words. Oliver Twist is, in fact, "all of a twist". Although born
in a poorhouse, he really has an aristocratic background that is revealed at the end of
the novel. But despite all the hardships he faces, he remains very kind-hearted, an
unusual "twist" on the hard luck stories of many children who came out of the
poorhouse system.
What is the main target of Charles Dickens's social
criticism in the novel Oliver Twist?
Charles Dickens was a social commentator who often brought attention to the
deprivation of the poor. Specifically, in Oliver Twist, Dickens rails against the
treatment of the poor in workhouses and the Poor Law of 1834.
While the concept of providing food and work for the poor is idealistically positive, the
reality of these workhouses and orphanages differed, and Dickens felt that the misuse
of funding, the living conditions, and the treatment of the individuals in these
institutions were inhumane and cruel.
, In the early chapters, Dickens satirizes Victorian social institutions. Once he is born,
Oliver Twist is marked for his position in society:
”But now that he was enveloped in the old calico robes which had grown
yellow...he was badged and ticketed, and fell into his place at once...to be
cuffed and buffeted through the world--despised by all, and pitied by none.”
When no woman can be found to care for poor Oliver--"the workhouse authorities
replied with humility"--he is "dispatched to a branch-workhouse where" the "offenders
against the poor laws" were sent. There the woman in charge "appropriated the greater
part of the weekly stipend to her own use."
Of course, Dickens also draws a sociological link between crime and poverty, as further
on in the novel, Oliver is taken into the world of crime with one of literature's depraved
villains, Fagin. Sadly, Oliver is exploited time and time again, yet his innate goodness
prevails. Like Tiny Tim, Oliver is another example that underscores Dickens's
contention that class rank does not have any correlation with integrity or virtue.
the central theme of Oliver Twist:
The central theme in Oliver Twist is good versus evil. More specifically, Dickens
explores the immense struggle that goodness must endure before it finally triumphs
over its oldest and most bitter enemy. All of the good characters in the story—most
notably Oliver himself—experience considerable challenges and hardship. Yet by
remaining true to themselves, they are ultimately able to triumph over the forces of
darkness.
Take the example of Oliver. Life's been a constant struggle for him ever since he could
walk. A poor orphan forced to endure the harshness of the workhouse and its appalling
conditions, Oliver's had the worst possible start in life. Given such an upbringing, we
might expect Oliver to go on and pursue a life of crime. Yet even when he falls in with a
gang of thieves, his innate goodness still shines through. He only commits crime out of
fear of what Fagin and Bill Sikes will do to him if he refuses.
Although bad things may happen to good people in Oliver Twist, goodness wins out in
the end, suggesting that it will always be much stronger than evil, however hopeless the
odds may often seem.
-Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
How did people react to Oliver Twist when the novel was
first published?
Oliver Twist was serialised in the journal, Bentley's Miscellany, from February 1837
to April 1839 and was also published in three volumes in 1838. While the book brought
Dickens critical acclaim and considerable wealth, there were mixed reviews to its
content and strong social message.
The Literary Gazette (November 1838) praised Dickens for bringing to light some of
most evil symbols of Victorian society: "the workhouse, the starving school, the factory
system, and many other things, at which blessed nature shudder and recoiled."
Similarly, the Quarterly Review of 1839 thought the book was a "sign of the times"
which reflected the social problems caused by the Poor Laws - the very laws which
inspired Dickens to write Oliver Twist.
But other sources were not so favourable. The Church, for instance, found the book to
be extremely immoral, forcing Dickens to defend the story as a reflection of real life. In
the years after the book's publication, the Jewish population also protested Oliver
Twist, specifically their portrayal through the character of Fagin. For many Jews, Fagin
was a cold-hearted monster and they resented the association between themselves and
such a man. Responding in 1863, Dickens did little to soothe the tension:
("Fagin, in Oliver Twist, is a Jew, because it unfortunately was true of the time to
which that story refers, that that class of criminal almost invariably was a Jew.")
There is, however, no evidence to suggest that Dickens was anti-Semitic and that this
influenced his characterisation of Fagin. But the fact that people were still talking
,about the book three decades after it was published is testament to its literary and
social importance. It remains one of Dickens' most controversial works.
-How does Dickens try to engage the reader in the opening
chapter of Oliver Twist?
Dickens is able to engage the reader in the first chapter of Oliver Twist through the
depiction of difficulty and struggle that define the protagonist's life.
The dominant element in the first chapter is how Oliver's life was difficult from birth.
The level of toughness Oliver needs to simply enter the world engages the reader.
Dickens invokes a gritty reality where only the tough can survive. For example, the first
paragraph focuses on a workhouse. The profound difficulty of living in the workhouse
forces the reader to imagine the fortitude required for mere survival.
Dickens describes the struggle in Oliver's birth: "Now, if, during this brief period,
Oliver had been surrounded by careful grandmothers, anxious aunts, experienced
nurses, and doctors of profound wisdom, he would most inevitably and indubitably
have been killed in no time." The reader is engaged with a character whose act of
breathing constituted struggle and necessitated perseverance.
The reader is drawn in until the chapter's conclusion. Oliver is born to a mother who
dies, becomes "a parish child—the orphan of a workhouse," and ends up being
"despised by all, pitied by none." The reader is hooked because he/she realizes that
Oliver's first moments in the world are defined by real struggle. Oliver is the ultimate
underdog. It's hard not to find such a narrative compelling. Dickens's opening chapter
clearly establishes that life is painfully hard for Oliver and it is only going to get worse.
The reader is engaged because they are compelled to see how much more difficult it is
going to be and if there can be any redemption for someone who sorely is in need of it.
Reaction to Oliver Twist:
My own personal reaction to this Dickensian classic is that I really liked it. I must
admit to being a bit of a Dickens fan, and I love the way that he produces vast novels
populated by such memorable characters. The story of the archetypal Dickensian
orphan who manages to survive the evil plots of others to enjoy the place in society that
he deserves is one that everybody can relate to, and it is certainly a gripping narrative
as we fear Oliver will be hung or captured or killed at various stages in the narrative.
Having said that I like it, at the same time however it is not the best Dickens novel by a
long stretch. When we think more closely about the story, there are a number of
problems with it, in my opinion, or aspects that make it less challenging than a work
like Great Expectations. Firstly, I would argue that the very goodness of Oliver is
problematic, as he remains innocent and angel-like in his goodness throughout the
,entire novel, no matter what is done to him. The best example of this is of course when
he pleads with Fagan to repent before his death at the end of the novel. This seems to
me to be rather unrealistic. Secondly, based on this first point, all of the characters with
the exception of Nancy are either good or bad. Nancy is the only character that is
presented as occupying a space in the middle of these two extremes. Again, this points
to a rather simplistic view of characters, as in reality we all have good and bad
elements. Apart from this quibbles, however, this novel is an excellent story that has
become a classic.
How does Oliver Twist get his name?
Mr. Bumble, the beadle, names the poor, wretched children of the workhouse in
alphabetical order. As 'T' is the next available letter in the alphabet when Oliver is born,
Bumble comes up with the name Oliver Twist. Dickens, like Bumble, was remarkably
skillful at devising unusual, but unforgettable names––Chuzzlewit, Pecksniff, and
Pumblechook, to name but three. And Oliver Twist is another memorable addition.The
name is actually a play on words. Oliver Twist is, in fact, "all of a twist". Although born
in a poorhouse, he really has an aristocratic background that is revealed at the end of
the novel. But despite all the hardships he faces, he remains very kind-hearted, an
unusual "twist" on the hard luck stories of many children who came out of the
poorhouse system.
What is the main target of Charles Dickens's social
criticism in the novel Oliver Twist?
Charles Dickens was a social commentator who often brought attention to the
deprivation of the poor. Specifically, in Oliver Twist, Dickens rails against the
treatment of the poor in workhouses and the Poor Law of 1834.
While the concept of providing food and work for the poor is idealistically positive, the
reality of these workhouses and orphanages differed, and Dickens felt that the misuse
of funding, the living conditions, and the treatment of the individuals in these
institutions were inhumane and cruel.
, In the early chapters, Dickens satirizes Victorian social institutions. Once he is born,
Oliver Twist is marked for his position in society:
”But now that he was enveloped in the old calico robes which had grown
yellow...he was badged and ticketed, and fell into his place at once...to be
cuffed and buffeted through the world--despised by all, and pitied by none.”
When no woman can be found to care for poor Oliver--"the workhouse authorities
replied with humility"--he is "dispatched to a branch-workhouse where" the "offenders
against the poor laws" were sent. There the woman in charge "appropriated the greater
part of the weekly stipend to her own use."
Of course, Dickens also draws a sociological link between crime and poverty, as further
on in the novel, Oliver is taken into the world of crime with one of literature's depraved
villains, Fagin. Sadly, Oliver is exploited time and time again, yet his innate goodness
prevails. Like Tiny Tim, Oliver is another example that underscores Dickens's
contention that class rank does not have any correlation with integrity or virtue.
the central theme of Oliver Twist:
The central theme in Oliver Twist is good versus evil. More specifically, Dickens
explores the immense struggle that goodness must endure before it finally triumphs
over its oldest and most bitter enemy. All of the good characters in the story—most
notably Oliver himself—experience considerable challenges and hardship. Yet by
remaining true to themselves, they are ultimately able to triumph over the forces of
darkness.
Take the example of Oliver. Life's been a constant struggle for him ever since he could
walk. A poor orphan forced to endure the harshness of the workhouse and its appalling
conditions, Oliver's had the worst possible start in life. Given such an upbringing, we
might expect Oliver to go on and pursue a life of crime. Yet even when he falls in with a
gang of thieves, his innate goodness still shines through. He only commits crime out of
fear of what Fagin and Bill Sikes will do to him if he refuses.
Although bad things may happen to good people in Oliver Twist, goodness wins out in
the end, suggesting that it will always be much stronger than evil, however hopeless the
odds may often seem.
