“ Oliver Twist” written by Charles Dickens is a historical fiction novel published in 1938. This book dives into the harsh realities of life in 19th-century England. The book revolves around a 9-year-old orphan boy named Oliver Twist who was accidentally brought to a life of crime and shows his journey throughout the book. Throughout Oliver's journey, the themes of social injustice, poverty, and manipulation are disclosed. The author uses characters and a compelling narrative to address the social issues during this point in time. Oliver Twist was born inside a metalworking factory, but when his mother died during childbirth, he was taken to a factory where kids were being mistreated and poorly fed. After Oliver is pressured by his friends to ask for more food, he gets punished by Mr Bumble and decides to run away to London. Oliver says,” Please sir, I want some more.” to Mr Bumble, making this the most famous quote from the whole book. This quote is so important to the book and Oliver himself because not only does he not get more food, but he is also treated terribly and like a criminal. By running away to London he hoped to find a better life for himself. Once he arrives, Oliver starts being involved in criminal activities. He meets Artful Dodger, a pickpocketer, and an older man named Fagin, who trains kids to steal things. Although Oliver never even thinks about stealing and doing illegal things, he gets so caught up in Fagin’s world that it influences him to do bad things. Another important character who greatly influenced the overall message of the book was Nancy, who was part of the gang. Even though she is involved with the gang, she has a strong desire to help Oliver escape. Her willingness to help Oliver showcases the conflict between good and evil, as she was also struggling with her own life. This emphasizes the idea that despite the darkness of our society today, there is always the possibility for redemption and kindness. A novel that greatly connects to Oliver Twist is Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte writes it and it follows the story of a girl named Jane who battles through life's struggles. The main theme of the book is social class and social criticism, which relates to the message that Charles Dickens tries to get across in his book “Oliver Twist”. Oliver Twist has impacted many people by spreading awareness of poverty and the amount of social criticism in 19th-century London. While reading this novel, it made me reflect on how social injustice and poverty influence the world today. Millions of men, women, and children are still facing different types of forced labor, as well as exploitation and racial injustice. All of these examples tie in with the book because they all share a similar message that the Author tries to convey throughout his novel. The author wanted to spread the message that goodness can overcome evil and that everyone deserves a chance for a better life no matter their background. The way the author presented the characters and how the novel unfolded helped deliver the main theme and thematic concepts of good vs. evil and the importance of integrity and not treating people poorly based on their social class. In conclusion, “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens is about the struggles the vulnerable faced in society at that time. Throughout Oliver’s journey, we witness the harsh realities of poverty and child exploitation, as well as his search for his own identity. Charles Dickens sends a strong message through the book about the need for kindness and compassion, and that everyone deserves a chance to be treated well. This book not only shows how tough life can be for kids at that time but also makes us reflect on the unfairness of our society today and reminds us that no matter how hard things get, there’s always hope and a chance for a better life.
Mia Tripkovic
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