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Clashing Social Classes and Environments in Oliver Twist

            Throughout the novel Oliver Twist there is a great discrepancy existing between the lower and upper class of society. From the onset of the novel it is clear that the upper class believe they are superior. They decree justice for the lower class but they treat them as mere criminals and petty thieves. Such actions demonstrate the clear hypocrisy of the upper class's actions. The first chapter of the novel details Oliver's birth and the tragic death of his mother while giving birth to him. Because his mother did not have a wedding ring on, it is inferred by the doctor that she was not married; this does not surprise him due to the fact that many poor people are not married. .
             The middle class edicts what is moral and proper in society, and they establish houses and workhouses to aid the poor. However, this philanthropic and "moral " tactic is severely corrupted. No decisions are presented to the lower class when it comes to their well-being. For example, when Oliver is sent to a "baby farm " during his infancy, is well-being is entrusted into the negligent hands of Mrs. Mann. She does not provide proper care for Oliver or the rest the children in her care. Furthermore, she barely feeds the children and pockets the money the government allots to her to spend on the children. Orphans such as Oliver are proclaimed criminals from their birth and are not permitted to beg in the streets of London. This policy directly undermines English society because it forces the poor to engage in criminal activity just to survive. .
             Ironically, the upper class is forcing the lower to become criminals; this is demonstrated when Oliver is indirectly forced to join a criminal gang. Oliver was left with no other alternative even though he knew he was betraying his morals. The upper class has created a society where the poor have to struggle against oppression and are left without a substitute to a better life.
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            


Essays Related to Clashing Social Classes and Environments in Oliver Twist

1. Oliver Twist

He was great humanist and critic of social conditions. The novel Oliver Twist comes from his early writings and it doesn't belong to his best works. ... Oliver Twist is a small orphan who runs away from the workhouse because of bad conditions. ... In this novel Dickens uses many contrasts as for example the London underworld and higher classes, country and city, innocence of Oliver Twist and harshness of criminals, good and bad characters. ... Charles Dickens in the first part describes the poor life of Oliver Twist. ...

  • Word Count: 1227
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Oliver Twist

An Analysis And Interpretation Of Oliver Twist Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist, in 1883, to show the reader things as they really are. He felt that the novel should be a message of social reform. ... In Oliver Twist, Dickens attempts to free his characters of any influence of their environment. ... This is almost the exact set-up of Oliver Twist. ... This is so true of the literary work of art of Oliver Twist. ...

  • Word Count: 1649
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Has Bibliography
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3. Oliver Twist: Enlightment or Enjoyment

Dickens" referral to the poor, rich, and other social classes shows that he may have been trying to prove a point. In the novel Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens seems to be trying to enlighten society, along with entertaining the reader. ... On page 10 of Oliver Twist Oliver needs more food and says "Please, sir, I want some more," to the person serving the food, which results in a verbal chastisement. ... Oliver's father is a part of the great upper class too. ... In the novel Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens seems to be trying to enlighten society, along with entertaining the reader. ...

  • Word Count: 581
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Lower Class, Working Class and Social Class

For example, in Oliver Twist, Dickens supports more naturalistic characterization of his characters (notably those in the criminal world) where they are governed by their instincts, passions, and environment. ... Unlike Oliver Twist, North and South presents a realistic depiction of the strike itself and its attempts to reach its goals- differing vastly from the "luck " a passive Oliver experienced of finding a home. ... For example, Dickens' plot line for Oliver Twist, is merely a sequence of events related by the forces that cause them to take place. ... The fact that no other character...

  • Word Count: 726
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Essay on Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist is arguably one of the most influential tales written in British history. ... Oliver Twist depicts the story of a young boy's life and how he must choose the path between good and evil. ... That is what this essay is about - good and evil, and how it is presented to us in the book Oliver Twist. ... I see Oliver Twist itself as a symbol. ... The research of good and evil that appears in Oliver Twist may be lost in the midst of time. ...

  • Word Count: 1323
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Crime and Poverty in Oliver Twist

This social casting led those who were more privileged to believe that those who were poor, were predisposed to crime, and therefore would become criminals. ... In the novel "Oliver Twist" Oliver is exposed to various accounts of criminal activity and is expected to eventually fall into an inescapable life of lawlessness. ... Oliver Twist was born into poverty as an infant. ... The main antagonist of Oliver Twist is Fagin (and his gang). ... He purposefully uses characters such as Fagin to raise the awareness of an evil man who enjoys his wickedness; in contrast to characters like Oliver and N...

  • Word Count: 717
  • Approx Pages: 3
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7. Great Expectations/Oliver Twi

While at the orphanage, Oliver of Oliver Twist also experienced a great amount of abuse. ... Escape is an integral theme in both Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. ... For example, in Oliver Twist, Oliver miraculously ends up at the house of Mr. ... Both Oliver Twist and Great Expectations seem to have much in common with each other such as the emotions shared by the main characters, themes dealing primarily with social injustice, and various writing techniques such as the use of coincidental incidences and abstractions. ... Oliver Twist. ...

  • Word Count: 1452
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Summary of Oliver Twist

Oliver is a young boy born into poverty. ... Oliver is looked after and nurtured back to health. ... Oliver Throughout Dickens' novel, Oliver is portrayed as a continuous victim to the villainous people around him. ... Stereotypes There were many examples of stereotypes in Charles Dickens' book Oliver twist. One of the main ones is the two classes of poor and rich. ...

  • Word Count: 1222
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9. Oliver Twist-Review

Oliver Twist The book written by Charles Dickens and of which highlighted the success of his career, is one that was titled, simply, Oliver Twist, which is the name of the main character in this pre-19th century novel. Oliver Twist enters the book as soon as he is given birth by his Mother in a childs workhouse, owned by a board of men. ... This phrase was where Oliver's road really began to start. ... Sowerberry who made remarks about Oliver's Mother. ... My summary of the book is that it is great to begin with because it brings you straight into the life of Oliver Twist and it ...

  • Word Count: 773
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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