A BRIEF SUMMARY OF OLIVER TWIST Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens tells the story of a
poor orphan born in a workhouse to a dying mother. He was named by an ignorant official
who was not bothered by any of the boys in the workhouse. Oliver grows up in a cruel
institution meant to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. His mother died at a very
young age and she had no ring on her finger which was pretty common at that time as
informed by the doctor. This indicates that child marriage or abandonment was a normal
occurrence at that time. When nine-year-old Oliver dares to ask for more food, he is
punished and sold as a child labourer. After escaping abuse, he travels to London, where he
is trapped by Fagin, who trains homeless children to steal. Though surrounded by crime,
Oliver’s kind heart and innocence remain intact. He meets Mr. Brownlow, a benevolent
gentleman who rescues him from the Fagin Gang and provides him with a home proving that
kindness also comes from aristocrats. However, Fagin and Bill Sikes fear Oliver will expose
them. Nancy, a poor woman in their gang, seems immoral on the surface but proves to be
deeply good-hearted. Despite her hardships, she risks her life to protect Oliver, which shows
that one can display kindness even in such situations. Her tragic fate exposes how Victorian
society judged and mistreated women of the lower class. Greed and corruption are revealed
in all characters of society — from Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, who misuse their power, to Monks,
a wealthy man trying to steal Oliver’s inheritance. n the end, Oliver’s identity is discovered,
justice is served, and he finally finds a loving family. Through Oliver Twist, Dickens exposes
the actual reality behind the fabricated scene of providing a shelter for the destitutes. It was
pragmatically a money generating factory, with its main aim focused on ‘wealth’ and not
‘welfare.’ Through the eyes of a 9 year old, Charles Dickens aims at gaining sympathy
through his target audience on these sensitive topics such as ‘child labour.’
STUDY OUTCOME
I learnt about the harsh conditions faced by the Victorian poor during that era, which is
more visibly accurate through real experiences by the author. Charles Dickens, at 12 years
old, had to work in a boot blacking factory, an experience which scarred him yet indirectly
served as an eye opener for future generations. This inspired him to write a series of stories
depicting these harsh conditions, on a cruel journey to expose the social evils of this society.
I also understood the system of the workhouse, a dollhouse on the outside but a
slaughterhouse on the inside. Child labor echoed through the walls of the house , parents
being separated from the children and vice a versa. The people in charge of taking care of
the residents of the workhouse thought only for themselves, their cost cutting style
represented the majority and they exploited the residents. I also learnt of people who are
willing to take a stand for what they think is wrong, not minding the consequences that
might follow. Charles Dickens made many aristocrats aware through his depictions of
overcrowded slums, workhouses, and neglected children that stirred public empathy. In
order to successfully influence the rigid society, he raised public opinion. By giving a voice to
the Victorian poor he made their struggles visible to a privileged class that had often ignored
them.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Treasure Chest- Literature Textbook of 9th grade
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