M.K.Bhavnagar University,Department of English

Name:- Pandya Riva M.Roll no :- 25

Paper no :- 6Topic:- Social issues in Oliver

Twist.

Introduction Charles Dickens was an English writer

and social critic . He created some of the worlds best

known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.

Dickens wrote a lot of novels about the struggles of poor and battle between right and wrong.

about the novel Dickens presents a portrait of

the childhood of a considerable number of Victorian orphans.

It is a story of criminal world.

Oliver Twist one of the title character and protagonist in the novel.

Dickens intensifies his satire on life and society under the poor laws.

Dickens also shows the victimization of women in Victorian society

Social issues Powerlessnes

s of Childs and women

Society and class

Mob mentality

City v/s countryside

Other issues, pickpocket,

chain snatching

Powerlessness of children Dickens was interested in the plight of

the powerless in the novel. Oliver and children were the primary

symbol of it. Oliver and children were controlled and

over powered by wealthy and powerful adult. like, Mr. Bumble and Fagin.

Dickens also introduced the issues of child labor in work house.

Oliver and other children are treated terribly and fed very little.

Oliver's famous sentence “Please sir I want some more” illustrates not only his starvation but also his desire for the love.

Dickens Characterizes Oliver as “ A close prisoner in the dark and solitary room to which he had been consigned by the wisdom and mercy of the board”.

Powerlessness of women Women in this era were treated as

second class citizens in society. This age become an icon of 19th century middle class femininity and domesticity.

Especially Nancy who ends up giving her life in trying to act against the Men who have power over her.

When she is asking to take Oliver to skies she tells him that she would help him but she doesn’t have the power

Women were powerless at the hands of society.

Society , class and poverty Dickens spends lot of time of narrative

energy in depicting the plight of poor and working class in Oliver Twist.

The final chapters of this novel serve to reinforce the moral superiority of the middle class.

Dickens also described superficial class and theme of poverty.

He challenged the Victorian idea of charity for the so called Deserving poor , he showed that the workhouse was failed to solve the problem of poverty and unwanted children.

City v/s country In Oliver Twist the city and the countryside

each take on symbolic meaning .

The city is corrupt and dirty, while country is pure and clean.

It is in city that Oliver is forced into immortality ,while in the Country that Oliver is able to recover his health.

Mob mentality This dichotomy is likely related to the

danger of the mob mentality that is so prevalent in the novel.

In the city everyone is so close together ,it seems to always be the immoral contingent that wins out or drowns out few moral voices.

In the country ,the people are not a mob but a community.

Some other issues There are some more issues like

chain snatching, pick pocketing, corruption in society.

The basis of the new power system The evils of criminal world in London. The victimization of children

Thus, Dickens shows various social issues in this novel .He point out especially the issue of poor children who treated by the power of devils. Its also against the new poor law system because it established a system of working class for the poor or sick..

Thank you..

Reference www.googleimages.com www.gradesaver.com www.study.com