Explore how Dickens depicts the evil aspects of human nature with particular reference to two characters.
GCSE Prose PRE 1914 English and English Literature Coursework AQA A
Explore how Dickens depicts the evil aspects of human nature with particular reference to two characters.
The son of John and Elizabeth Dickens, Charles was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812, the second of eight children. Most of his childhood was spent in Portsmouth or Chatham, in Kent. His father was a clerk in the Naval Pay Office and although he was hard working, he was rarely able to live within his income.
Charles Dickens wrote the novel Oliver Twist, which was begun in 1837 and continued until April 1839, in which he expresses his concerns of the social context of his time. Dickens is concerned for the corruption of law and the consequences it leads to, therefore I have chosen Bumble and Fagin to show how dickens depicts the evil aspects of human nature with reference to these two characters.
In Dickens time the law was corrupt and unjust, which is clearly expressed through the magistrates and Bumble. This is emphasised especially through the way they treat Oliver: "stand away, officer," cried Fang, "let him, if he likes." Oliver availed himself of the kind permission, and fell to the floor in a fainting fit." Oliver is obviously in some distress, which Mr Fang is unable to see and he really doesn't care about Oliver. Charles Dickens is portraying his concerns of the corruption of law through people who have power, such as the magistrates and Bumble, and that is why I have chosen Bumble to show how Dickens depicts him.
Charles Dickens also portrays the personalities of his characters through their name; he does this with various characters. The name Mr Fang may suggest aspects of evil and it does, so Charles Dickens tries to portray the personality of a character through their name, in some cases.
The other character I have chosen to do is Fagin as Dickens has portrayed the criminal world through this character. This character is very interesting and many adaptations of the novel represent this character in many ways. Alan Bleasdale interpretation shows Fagin to be a cunning magician, who is intelligent and persuasive, and Fagin is a more of a realistic character in this adaptation. Whereas in the famous Oliver musical, Fagin is interpretated as a loveable rogue and he his not driven to care for Oliver by Monks, but it happens by coincidence. This appears more unrealistic than Alan Bleasdale interpretation.
In the beginning chapters, Dickens shows his outrage at injustice by describing the conditions in the workhouse. During Dickens time such institutions for the poor were badly controlled and the authorities were blind to the feelings of its inmates. Corruption too prevailed. Mr. Bumble is a representative of this group who would starve the infants and enjoy a glass of beer himself, which is clearly portrayed through Lionel Bart's musical with good use of juxtaposition. When Oliver asks for more food the management punishes him instead of understanding his needs. Dickens denounces the social conditions of his time through Bumble.
When you are first introduced to Bumble he is described as "a fat man, and a choleric" and straight away I pictured a man who is rich, as in Dickens time not many people were fat because many people were suffering from starvation. I also interpretated that he his ignorant as he described as a choleric. Combining the interpretation that he was fat and ignorant, I personally thought that he possessed authority and power.
Dickens illustrates him as a cold heartened man: "Although this invitation was accompanied with a courtesy that might have softened the heart ...
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When you are first introduced to Bumble he is described as "a fat man, and a choleric" and straight away I pictured a man who is rich, as in Dickens time not many people were fat because many people were suffering from starvation. I also interpretated that he his ignorant as he described as a choleric. Combining the interpretation that he was fat and ignorant, I personally thought that he possessed authority and power.
Dickens illustrates him as a cold heartened man: "Although this invitation was accompanied with a courtesy that might have softened the heart of a churchwarden, it by no means mollified the beadle." By illustrating Bumble in such a way it portrays him as an evil character and Dickens is representing evil ways of human nature through him.
When the audience are first introduced to Fagin, Dickens uses very harsh adjectives to describe him: "very old shrivelled Jew, whose villainous-looking and repulsive face was obscured by a quantity of matted red hair." Dickens illustrates a sinister character within the first line of description about Fagin. This shows that Dickens is criticizing this character obviously, and I interpretated this, as Fagin must have some corruption within him.
Dickens does not depict the evil aspects of human nature of Fagin in the introduction. But he uses very harsh adjectives to describe him, which suggests he his evil. As the novel progresses the reader discovers how cunning and manipulative Fagin is but when the reader is introduced to this character he appears loveable.
In the famous musical Oliver by Lionel Bart, Fagin is introduced, as a loving and generous man, who is not under the influence of Monks, as the character does not exists. However in Alan Bleasdale's adaptation the audience have clear understanding that Fagin is under the influence of Monks, which is why he appears kind and generous, to influence Oliver to be a thief. These two adaptations are very different, Alan Bleasdale's interpretation has captured Fagin as a more realistic character and Lionel Bart's version has captured him as a loveable rogue.
Dickens has depicted Bumble as an evil character in the introduction; however, Fagin appears to be kind and generous in the introduction. As the story progresses it concentrates more on Fagin, and Bumble is introduced later in the book.
The reader discovers that Fagin has a strong desire for materialism: "His eyes glistened as he raised the lid and looked in." Dickens has carefully chosen the use of language, he has used a powerful adjective: glistened, which illustrates that Fagin has a desire for what's in the box: Jewellery. Dickens has depicted the evil aspect of human nature through Fagin as Dickens has clearly expressed Fagin's attachment to materialism.
The reader begins to realise that Fagin is an evil character as the novel progresses.
In chapter thirteen, Charles Dickens portrays Fagin's determination to get Oliver back: " "What's become of the boy?" said the Jew, seizing the Dodger tightly by the collar, and threatening him with horrid imprecations." This brings about suspicion in the reader as Fagin is showing much determination to retrieve a little boy. But one consequence of Oliver not being under the control of Fagin is that he could snitch on Fagin's criminal activities. But this is only a possibility, so why his Dickens illustrating this character with such determination? The reader begins to understand that Fagin is under the influence of Monks for which is why he shows such determination to retrieve Oliver. Dickens has portrayed Fagin as a self-obsessed character as he his only concerned about the consequences that would occur to him or benefit him with the retrieval of Oliver. Again, Dickens has depicted Fagin of his malicious human nature.
The reader has clear understanding of how Fagin's mind works; he is a character who has a strong attachment to materialism and he his self-absorbed. The reader begins to develop an understanding of Fagin's character; he has much dexterity within the criminal world and is a sly, cunning, and resourceful man.
This is also portrayed through Alan Bleasdale's interpretation; however this character has been expressed as more intelligent.
When Bumble is introduced back into the novel in chapter 17, he discovers an advertisement about Oliver and he immediately sets out to find more information. When Bumble meets Mr. Brownlow he attempts to destroy Oliver's character. Dickens depicts the evil aspects of this character through the way he treats other people and this is mainly portrayed through how Oliver is treated: " "that Oliver was a foundling, born of low and vicious parents. That he had from his birth no better qualities than treachery, ingratitude, and Malice." " Not only is this not true but Bumble has created a false background of Oliver's history, which he tries to deceive Mr Brownlow with.
Dickens has portrayed the evil characteristics of Bumble and he has depicted the evil aspects of human nature through this character. He is desperate to get his reward. In his greed he blackens the character of Oliver and describes him as a foul child. Mr. Bumble does not mind spoiling the reputation of Oliver as long as it would earn him five guineas. Once again Dickens reveals the corrupt parochial world through the character of Mr. Bumble.
The most amusing scene in the novel is the one in which Mr. Bumble is shown assessing the property of Mrs. Corney before proposing marriage to her. His exclamations of greed, his flirtatious manner, and his display of affection make Mr. Bumble into a rather comic character.
Mr. Bumble is married for two months but he looks unhappy in his relationship. Mrs. Corney dominates and insults him, which causes unpleasantness between them. She does so in the same room in which both of them had expressed their love for each other. The woman, who had acted coy before, now behaves like a demon, hitting her husband and tearing his hair, which is Dickens's humor.
Within the relationship Mr Bumble finds himself in a difficult position, he believes that he his in command of the relationship and the wife has to obey: "The prerogative of man is too command." By Mr. Bumble saying this it caused Mrs. Bumble great unpleasantness and there is a rather comic moment where Mrs. Bumble attacks Mr. Bumble with success: "clasping him tightly round the throat with one hand, inflicted a shower of blows." What Charles Dickens is trying to illustrate is that Mr. Bumble was so full of his own importance that he didn't care about others. Now, that Mrs. Bumble is present she can control Mr. Bumble to an extent and put things into perspective for Mr. Bumble. Charles Dickens is depicting Mr. Bumble and the reader feels that that is what he deserves.
Dickens has depicted both Bumble and Fagin in the development of both characters. He has clearly expressed his concerns for the corruption of social conditions; how children are treated, the way law his administered and the consequences it leads to: crime. All of these factors are illustrated through how dickens has depicted the evil aspects of human nature through Bumble and Fagin.
The reader is expecting the evil characters of Bumble and Fagin to obviously have the ending that they deserve and this is what Dickens gives to the reader.
Dickens builds up a great deal of tension to Fagin's death and when Oliver and Mr. Brownlow go to meet Fagin, before his death, Dickens portrays him as a helpless animal: "The condemned criminal was seating on his bed, rocking himself from side to side, with a countenance more like that of a snarled beast than a face of a man." Dickens has transformed this character, from the ruler of the criminal world to a powerless animal and he has gained the readers sympathy by doing this. But, because of his evil ways, death is his punishment, and that is what I personally think he deserves.
When Fagin his approaching his death he his not even willing to share a prayer with Oliver and he his portrayed as a crazy criminal. He starts discussing an escape route with Oliver to help him and Dickens is still depicting this character; even in his last moments of life, he cannot even say a prayer, instead he plans an escape. Charles Dickens from start to finish has depicted this character of his evil human nature.
In Bumble's ending, Dickens clearly portrays that Mr. and Mrs. Bumble's relationship isn't going well and eventually they have split up. Not only did they split up but they became paupers in the very workhouse that they once ruled. Dickens has given the ending to these two characters for what they deserve.
Overall, Bumble is portrayed as a character that is so full of his own importance and his marriage with Mrs. Corney becomes rather comic and we feel he has suffered at his own hands. Fagin is portrayed as a sinister character, who is attached to his materialism and who only cares about himself.
Charles Dickens has depicted the evil aspects of human nature through Bumble and Fagin. Dickens has criticized both these characters to express his concerns for the social conditions of his time such as law, authority, power and crime, and I believe he has clearly expressed these factors through depicting the characters of Bumble and Fagin.