How Does Dickens Approach Such Stereotype That Poor People Are Supposed To Be Bad From Birth?
In the Victorian England life of poor was hard. At that time population grew significantly. It caused unemployment and a lasting poverty (Daniels, 2003). Common people usually lived in overcrowded rooms, for they could not afford to pay rent. Sanitary conditions were unhealthy. Children had to work to help a family to survive. Many of them were homeless and often got criminals (Daniels, 2003). However, society usually did not ease lives of poor. It was believed that they were wicked by birth and did not deserve a relief. Stereotypes of the Victorian England implied that it was natural for poor to have such a way of life because it was God who put those people in that situation (Daniels, 2003). Charles Dickens was one of those who sympathized with lives of poor. A good example of contradicting and doubting the stereotypes of Victorian England is his novel ‘Oliver Twist’.
Charles Dickens experienced great challenges and woes in childhood himself. That time made him understand the nature of poverty, its cause and rules (BIO. True story, Charles Dickens, biography. 2014). The author did not agree with a common idea that all poor people were mean, and he revealed his views in his works. The novel ‘Oliver Twist’ empathizes on poverty and describes it by major characters. It is a story about a boy who remains a good-hearted person despite all the hardships he faces. ‘Oliver is born in a workhouse, to a mother not known to anyone in the town. She dies right after giving birth to him, and he is sent to the parochial orphanage, where he and the other orphans are treated terribly and fed very little.’ (Grade Saver, Oliver Twist summery). After working in a workhouse, Oliver escapes and makes his way to London. It is a place where the boy challenges his good personality and struggles not to give up his values.
When approaching London, Oliver finds himself in a company of boys who are pickpockets and thieves ruled by Fagin. The author uses the character of Oliver Twist to contradict the stereotypes whereas Fagin represents an utter evil in the novel. ‘Indeed, Fagin is meant to inspire nightmares in child and adult readers alike. Perhaps most frightening of all, though, is Chapter 52, in which we enter Fagin’s head for his “last night alive.” The gallows, and the fear they inspire in Fagin, are a specter even more horrifying to contemplate than Fagin himself. ‘ (Spark Notes, Analysis of Major characters, 2013). He is a mean person who does not want Oliver Twist to have a better destiny. When Oliver is accused of a crime he has not done he meets Mr.Brownlow who starts caring for the boy and takes him to his home. At this point Fagin interferes Oliver’s new life and kidnaps him with Nancy’s help. (Grade Saver, Oliver Twist summery). Nancy is another character of the novel, which is rather complicated. She does not represent an absolute evil as Fagin, but Nancy is not a pure goodness as Oliver Twist either. ‘As a child of the streets, Nancy has been a thief and drinks to excess. The narrator’s reference to her “free and agreeable . . . manners” indicates that she is a prostitute. She is immersed in the vices condemned by her society, but she also commits perhaps the most noble act in the novel when she sacrifices her own life in order to protect Oliver.’ (Spark Notes, Analysis of Major characters, 2013).
Oliver Twist reminds Nancy her own childhood. ‘I thieved for you when I was a child not half as old as this. I have been in the same trade, and in the same service, for twelve years since; don’t you know it? Speak out! Don’t you know it?’(Dickens, 1837,16.82). Those remembrances encourage the young woman to help Oliver Twist, and she sacrifices her own life to rescue the boy. Nancy’s character also breaks stereotypes. Her role in the novel is showing that incredible nobility and bad sides can coexist in one personality. The character underlines the idea that poor people can’t be just negative or positive. The author leads readers to understanding that both goodness and viciousness have its reasons. ‘In much of Oliver Twist, morality and nobility are black-and-white issues, but Nancy’s character suggests that the boundary between virtue and vice is not always clearly drawn.’ (Spark Notes, Analysis of Major characters, 2013).
Charles Dickens was the author who dedicated himself to the fight against social injustice. His main tool was his great talent as a writer. Dickens revealed a true nature of poverty and described complexity of personalities of poor people. His characters were contrary to the stereotypes of the Victorian England. Besides, Charles Dickens was a philanthropist and did a lot of charity (Davis, 2012). His compassion for poor people and understanding of how heavy their burden was at that time are visible in a majority of his works and the way of life he had.
References
BIO. True story, Charles Dickens, biography. 2014. Retrieved from
http://www.biography.com/people/charles-dickens-9274087
Daniels, B. Poverty and Families in the Victorian Era. 2003. Retrieved from
http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/articles/poverty.html
Dickens, C. Oliver Twist. 1837.
Davis, M. Did Charles Dickens really save poor children and clean up the slums? 2012. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16907648
Grade Saver. Oliver Twist summery. Retrieved from
http://www.gradesaver.com/oliver-twist/study-guide/short-summary/
Spark Notes. Analysis of Major characters. 2013. Retrieved from
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/oliver/canalysis.html
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