The novel Oliver Twist ( 1838) projects the early social issues of Victorian England society. It seems that the depictions of William Blake in his Songs of Experience about London city is depicted by Dickens about the poor conditions of the children and the depressing state of the city. The novel satirizes the hypocrisy of religious institutions and other charity organizations for their poor services and mistreatment towards the lower sections of the society. The novel satirizes much of the lack of sympathy towards the poor children and depicts the criminal activities who are leading helpless poor children to immoral pathways. Dickens novels give insight into the historical complexities of the age and A Tale of Two Cities offers the historical backdrop of two countries.
Dickens novel are filled satires and social criticisms and Oliver Twist shows the corrupted institutions of charities such as orphanage. The orphanage are supposed to be catering the service of poor children and paupers but the novel reflects the mistreatment and ill treatment of children. Oliver and other children in the orphanage were treated poorly and they were not given enough meals for their stomach. Oliver is disappointed at the service of the orphanage and he was forced to leave the orphanage due to the attack on his mother’s memory. The religious institution is also mocked in the novel where the church services seems to operate only for the care and service of the upper class rather than the low section of the society.
The major issue in London was the crime and criminality. The novel shows the criminal Fagin who uses poor little children for pickpockets and thieves. Oliver was asked by one of his acquaintances John Dawkins to join their group in stealing materials from people and shops. Oliver tried to steal the handkerchief from an old man but it was the book seller Mr. Brownlow who protected and defended him from the accusations. Dickens is trying to project that the sympathy for the poor children are given only by the people belonging to the lower sections of the society. Dickens is also trying to send a social message that criminals like Fagin are destroying the innocency of the child by indulging them in the immoral practices.
The another issue which Dickens tries to satirize in the novel is the mob mentality and lynching. It is also common in the present scenario and is continuing today. The novel depicts the realism of mob mentality where Oliver was kidnapped again by Nancy when he was taken by Mr. Brownlow for they do not want Oliver to be separated from their group or fear the exposure of their group. The rest of the novel depicts the search for Oliver by Fagin and Monks because Monks is Oliver half brother and did not want Oliver to inherit the property all alone and wanted to destroy him. However, Nancy was killed by Sikes who gets to know that Nancy betrayed them and he eventually attempted suicide by hinging himself on the bridge to escape mob lynching reflecting the serious mentality of destruction and destroying people’s lives.
One Reply to “Oliver Twist as a Social Satire”