My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Set in the darkest corners of London Oliver Twist is a scathing critique of class divisions and the inhuman treatment of England’s poorest individuals.
Overall I enjoyed Oliver Twist. It was not what I expected. All I knew of it was the famous ‘please Sir can I have some more?’ line, and from that I assumed it was going to be a story set in an orphanage, which was true of the beginning but not of the majority of the tale. Instead the focus was on the people and conflicts around Oliver, an orphan with a mysterious past. There was robbery, arson, murder, betrayal and lies abound, and the story was far darker than I anticipated.
When reading classic novels I am always interested in examining representations of women. Throughout Oliver Twist women were presented as agents of temperance and guidance, and as life givers and manipulators. They were repeatedly referred to as being smarter or more clever than men, and yet none had any real power within the story. I found this deeply frustrating, as a modern reader, to see that women had so little agency.
One thing that I had a love/hate relationship with was the chapter titles. Many chapter titles are exceedingly long and gave details about what is to come in the chapter ahead. Sometimes they made me laugh, other times I was annoyed that they spoiled what was to come. For example one especially long one was:
“In which Oliver is taken better care of, than he ever was before, and in which the narrative reverts to the merry old gentleman and his youthful friends.”
Dickens’ habit of long reflective or recapping paragraphs at the beginning of chapters was also painful to read at times. However when you realise that it was written and published as a serial in a newspaper the style of chapter titles and introduction sections makes a lot more sense. It just doesn’t read like a typical novel in structure, and I did wonder if Dickens had even plotted out the entire thing when it was first published, as some characters seemed to shift their attitudes (perhaps in response to readers’ opinions) and the story really stagnates in the middle for quite a few chapters.
Dickens’ writing can be quite wordy in places, but there are some exquisite quotes to be pulled out that are so beautifully crafted I had to read them over and over. My two favourite examples are:
“[People] such as I, who have no certain roof but the coffin lid”
“…and, flying from memory and himself, plunged into the thickest of the throng.”
They both express complex situations – a prostitute with no hope for her future, and a murderer in the throes of guilt – and have stuck with me as markers of the emotional layers of this book.
There is also a lot of humour woven throughout the story. Dickens pokes fun at the clergy and administrators of the workhouses, along with corrupt police officers and judges, and an assortment of other characters who grace the pages. There is also plenty of humour in the little moments, such as this literary dig:
“There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts”
Despite its flaws I enjoyed Oliver Twist. It’s an important novel in the evolution of social justice ‘campaigning’ via fiction, as well as a timely reminder that all human are just that, human, and worthy of both kindness and respect.
And remember, if you are ever tempted to utter a phrase like this: “he went away; and he did die in the streets. There’s an obstinate pauper for you!” it’s probably time to read Dickens again.
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Charles Dickens draw a realistic situation of women of the time. Mainly speaking about prostitutes and others living miserable lives. I really love how deep are the women as characters in this book. Like Nancy (such a complex character). The contrast between Nancy (a wretched girl since birth) and Miss Maylie (who was rescued from misery in childhood and had a total different life). You see how absurd was the line that devided riches and poors, men and women.