Focus on Drama: Oliver Twist

Author’s information
Charles Dickens, born in Landsport on February 7 in 1812, was one of the most important writers of the Victorian Age. There were some financial difficulties in the Dickens family, so Charles often had to leave school to work in bad circumstances, this will later be an inspiration for his literature. His works often reply to the societies’ differences, but he also added a lot of humor to his stories.

Information about the story
Oliver Twist is one of those important works, which is also known as The Parish Boy's Progress. This was Charles Dickens’ second novel, a social novel, it refers to a boy that escapes from a workhouse and gets into contact with criminally active boys. The story has been used for movies and series several times.


'Oliver Twist' Movie trailer 2005

Short summary
Oliver Twist was born as the son of a wanderer. He ends up in a workhouse where life is a living hell. One day a man arrives, send by the town council, telling that Oliver has turned nine that day and that he is no longer allowed to stay at the workhouse so he is send into the streets of London. One Mr. Sowerberry takes care of him, he is a coffin maker. This also isn’t the life for Oliver; he has to do everything and he sleeps under Mr Sowerberry’s counter. Oliver is thrown into the street again and he gets into contact with a criminal gang. He is trained to be a pickpocket but the gang members didn’t think of him as a good student. Bill Sikes is one of the gang members but thinks good of Oliver, Bill has a girlfriend named Nancy, she’s a hooker, which is seen to be sad. Oliver thinks she’s a loving girl. One day, Oliver is caught by the police because of wrong information collected from citizens who had seen a robbery at the kiosk, but after the kiosks owner admits that Oliver isn’t the bas guy, he is send out to the street again but one Mr. Brownlow takes care of him. Oliver runs away from this man and commits crime, which causes him to be put into prison, but not for long, because Mr. Brownlow negotiates with the police and gets him out. Oliver’s on the street again and the gang members attack him. He’s really injured but a man helps him and he has several women who take care of him and the towns doctor also helps along. Oliver’s recovering period takes quite a while. The man and his women visit, along with Oliver, all the people who have ever taken care of him, only Mr. Brownlow has taken a vacation to India, but all the others are happy to see Oliver Twist again.

References to The Victorian Age
The Victorian Age has a couple of characteristics (see above) which can be found in Oliver Twist. First is the melancholic sphere in Oliver Twist. He has miserable living conditions for a good part of the story and his goes from the street to al lot of bad places, and back again. This also shows the urge to be more realistic and less romantic than before. The sentimental part is the end, where Oliver visits his former homes and everybody is happy to meet him again. Oliver also regrets some things he has done, even though he is partly not guilty for the things he is claimed to have done. Partially, Oliver Twist is a idealistic story. It really clings to brotherhood and although people around him don’t see it, Oliver is a good and polite boy.
All together, the story of Oliver Twist is clearly a typical Victorian Age story; a lot of the characteristics are taken into his personality, surrounding and everything that happens to him.