The Theme of Childhood in Oliver Twist Essay -- English Literature

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 .. ...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.