How does Charles Dickens create sympathy for Oliver Twist in the first four chapters?

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Oliver Twist- How does Charles Dickens create sympathy for Oliver Twist in the first four chapters?

                                 Judith B Nutakor

                                                11c                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Charles Dickens the author of the much acclaimed book, Oliver Twist. Charles Dickens was born in 1812 at Portsmouth the eldest of eight children two of whom died in childhood. Growing up, he saw his father go to the Marshalsea Prison with his mom and five other siblings because he did not manage his money well. He was put into a workhouse since his family had to sell all of their possessions. In the workhouse he had to stick labels on boot-black. However he later returned to school for a short while, teaching himself shorthand and was working as a court reporter by the age of sixteen. This gave him the chance to see how harsh the England justice judged; later on he got the job of a newspaper reporter commenting on parliament giving him more first hand knowledge of London and how the poor and rich lived. Charles Dickens begun writing sketches and stories about life in London in 1832. Sketches by Boz is the first sketch of his that was published in 1833 and the put together in 1883 which sold very well. Most of his publications appeared as a monthly serial. He gained recognition in Great Britain and America. As well as publishing he also gave public readings from his books. From the fruits of his labour he purchased a large house out of London, Gad’s Hill where he later died in 1870 because his workload was putting a strain on his health. With such a background we can say Charles Dickens is the best candidate to write a story like Oliver Twist to draw attention to how the poor lived.

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 Picture two eight-year-old boys at night sleeping. The first going to bed with great excitement awaiting tomorrow because he had a new bicycle or toy train set. His soft chubby hands spread widely across the bed, for he lay on it big frame alone, and if ever he was to wake up it did probably be his mum come to give him a goodnight kiss or his nanny come to see if he was alright and even if he was not alright all he had to do was draw himself closer to his big comforter and soft pillows, completely ...

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