Orphanage of Fog City

Author: Charles Dickens
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-01-01
Features: Oliver Twist reflects different levels of truth regarding Oliver's background. By portraying a child of noble blood as an unfortunate orphan, using traditional myths, folklore, and popular love stories, Dickens demonstrates the enduring nature of the "law of good." While he could have joined other contemporary playwrights in depicting a foster parent raising an abandoned child (dozens of plays at the time included "orphan" or "abandoned child" in their titles), Dickens saw further. He captured the harshness of the recently revised Poor Law and the typical satirical flavor of workhouses. In the early chapters of Oliver Twist, though it was clearly intended to be a serial, Dickens did not openly announce it as the beginning of a novel. Instead, he wrote that it was an "essay" and a "glimpse" of the new Poor Law. Yet, this "glimpse" proved sharp in several chapters. The subtitle "The Parish Boy's Progress" strengthens the impact of this "glimpse." The depiction of life in the workhouse captivated readers, with Oliver's phrase "I want more" spreading far and wide, along with vivid characters like Mr. Bumble, the churchwarden, whose name became synonymous with tyrannical petty officials. Oliver Twist is a great social novel by Dickens, holding an important place in the history of world literature. It primarily reflects the life at the bottom of English society shortly after the passage of the Poor Law. Dickens's clear-cut love-hate attitude and vivid portrayal of characters are fully reflected in his writing. The characters he created are rich in distinct personalities, and the entire work possesses a strong emotional appeal. Dickens can be regarded as an outstanding master of language, skilled in using satire, humor, and exaggeration. The characters and language style in his works are imbued with a strong romantic flavor. A young woman of unknown origin, pregnant, collapsed in the street and was taken to the poorhouse. The next day, she gave birth to a boy and died. The orphan was named Oliver Twist. Ten years later, Oliver became an apprentice to a coffin maker. Unable to endure the abuse, he fled to foggy London and, unfortunately, fell into the hands of thieves. The small orphan struggled in adversity. Fortunately, due to his inherently kind nature, he received help from good people, who helped him repeatedly turn danger into safety. In the end, he was reunited with the family who loved him, and the mystery of his birth was revealed. Dickens was one of the most famous realist novelists of 19th-century Britain. He wrote more than ten long novels in his lifetime. When he wrote Oliver Twist, he was only twenty-five years old. This novel has been adapted into various films and television dramas, with screenings and broadcasts having had a widespread and profound impact.