Oliver Twist Debate

Topic: Be it resolved that in his work Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens seems to be arguing that influence and environment (nurture), rather than inherent vice (nature), cause criminal behaviour.

CON- for nature

Opening Statement:

It is apparent that Oliver Twist is a novel that contrasts the nature of good with the nature of bad. Furthermore, it is inherent vice that makes the criminals within these pages and not influence or environment. The characters of Fagin, Oliver, and Monks clearly demonstrate this fact proving proof that nature is what directs and shapes us.

Argument 1:

Fagin is a character of evil nature. Even when he could have been given some sort of redemption he refuses and remains evil. In prison he tries to induce Oliver to fool the guards and set him free, “Say I’ve gone to sleep-they’ll believe you. You can get me out, if you take me so.” (Ch. 52, p.414) There are several passages that suggest Fagin has been a criminal for a very long time and that his nature is not easily changed. When we are introduced to Monks, he says that Fagin has been in the business of criminalizing boys for a good while, “Why not have kept him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocket of him at once (…) Haven’t you done it, with other boys, scores of times?”. (Ch.26, p.194) In earlier chapters, Oliver also seems to make this connection. “Deeply laid plans for the destruction of inconveniently knowing or over-communicative persons, had been really devised and carried out by the old Jew on more occasions than one, he (Oliver) thought by no means unlikely. (Ch.18, p.130) Fagin also confesses, shortly after Oliver catches a glimpse of him admiring stolen jewels, that: “The folks call me a miser, my dear. Onl...

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...young child’s lips, (…) through the struggles and sufferings, and troubles and changes, of his afterlife, he never once forgot it.” (Page 96, chapter 7) In a place where children were never given blessings, yet alone kind words, it could only have been Dick’s good nature, despite his surroundings, that led him to tell Oliver “God bless you” (page 97, chapter 7)

A: Noah Claypole is a perfect example of how nurture causes criminal behaviour because of his drunken father who was discharged from the army.

R: How do we know Noah did not inherit these traits from his father? There is no conclusive evidence that supports Noah’s having become a criminal because of his parents influence. If his father engaged in poor behaviour, it is just as easy to prove that Noah is a bully because of inheritance.

Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. London: Penguin, 1837.