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Charles Dickens used his novel to point out truths about Victorian
England that polite society tried to ignore.
The major action of Oliver Twist moves back and forth between two
worlds: The filthy slums of London and the clean, comfortable house
of Brownlow and the Maylies.
The first world is real and frightening. While the other is idealized,
almost dreamlike, in its safety and beauty. The world of London is a
world of crime.
Plot Structure
The plot structure of Oliver's life traces a zigzag pattern. His life
moves at a steady pace from his birth to his life at the
Sowerberry's.
After his exit from the shop of the undertaker till his entry into the
Maylie household, it moves up and down.
His accident at Chertsey creates a crisis in his life which leads him
to a life of peace and contentment. From then onwards his
fortunes move upwards till he settles down with Mr. Brownlow
to lead a life of security and respectability.
Figurative Language
SYMBOLISM, IMAGERY, ALLEGORY
The locket represents the physical union between Agnes Fleming and Edward
Leeford, Olivers father it contains a lock of each of their hair, physically
bound together. But a locket is designed to be "locked" and kept a secret. The
kind of union it represents isnt the kind of union that the world recognizes.
The ring would represent a union that the world would recognize, but the ring
was never completed: it has Agness name carved into it, but only her first
name. Her maiden name, "Fleming," was given up and she never took the
next step to become "Agnes Leeford" by marrying Edward. So the ring, which
should represent unity, inOliver Twist, represents only an incomplete union.
Themes
Institutional cruelty
The cruelty of institutions and bureaucracies toward the unfortunate is
perhaps the preeminent theme ofOliver Twist, and essentially what makes it
a social novel.The cruelty of these institutions, however, is not separated
from the cruelty of individuals.
Mob mentality
The horrifying power of mob mentality is also an important theme inOliver
Twist, and one that is closely related to that of institutional cruelty, a mob in
which individuals are not held accountable for their actions, and so can be
as heartless as they like.
The importance of upbringing
Proper upbringing, posited as essential throughout the novel, is illuminated
best in the scene whereNancy and Rose first meet. In this scene, Dickens
juxtaposes the low life of Nancy to the angelic and utterly perfect Rose.
Oliver manages to rise above his upbringing. Surrounded by selfish, ignorant
and cruel people for most of his childhood, given no love, care, or
tenderness, he still manages to maintain his kind disposition, and never
gives into the low morals of those around him.