The Theme of Childhood in Oliver Twist

How Does Dickens present the theme of childhood in Oliver Twist.

This essay shows the theme of childhood in Charles Dickens in the book

Oliver Twist. Oliver Twist's story begins with his birth in a

workhouse. His mother dies shortly after giving birth to him, though

long enough to kiss him on the forehead. As an illegitimate workhouse

orphan Oliver seems doomed to a life of misery. Though deprived of

education, affection and adequate food, Oliver still manages to

triumph from rags to riches, when he finally finds happiness with his

Aunt Rose Maylie and his guide Mr Brownlow.

Oliver Twist is born into poverty as an orphan with no known family or

inheritance. He is forced to be the property of the workhouse. He

spends several years there where he is overworked, and suffers from

exhaustion and malnutrition. Even though he is exposed to these

injustices, he feels safe there, this being the only home he's ever

known. Throughout the book Oliver has support from lots of different

people, for example Fagin, Nancy, Mr Brownlow, and The Maylies.

However Fagin’s friendship was used for Fagin’s personal gain. Oliver

was exploited just as many children in Victorian Britain were.

Charles Dickens was a social commentator of a period when social class

was important and where lower classes were stereotyped as being evil

untrustworthy crooks, and were to be avoided. Another example is the

blatant anti-Semitism in the book. Fagin is constantly referred to as

'The Jew'. in Victorian times Jewish people were seen as immigrants,

and people treated them with much the same discourtesy. Though in

Dickensian Times racism was not a recognized form of prejudice so

these comments would have been acceptable. Today it is strongly

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...pectable old gentleman, who is later known to be Mr

Brownlow. Another memorable occasion was when Sikes used Oliver's

stealth and vulnerability. In one of his schemes to overturn a house;

this is later discovered to be that of The Maylies. In both cases

there are positive outcomes to the crimes, and they both coincidently

bring about characters like Mr Brownlow, and The Maylies, who help to

secure Twist's future.

After carefully studying the novel Oliver Twist, I conclude Dickens

tried to socially change the way children were portrayed in Britain.

He acknowledged the problem and made it his duty to make a change. His

efforts worked and in our times modern day care-homes replace the

orphanages of Dickensian Britain. Due to Dickens writing, the

workhouses were abolished. Therefore I think Dickens did very well on

awakening the society to these conditions.