Using Chapters I to XVII of Oliver Twist, Discuss the Various Presentations of Deprivation
Using Chapters I to XVII of Oliver Twist, Discuss the Various Presentations of Deprivation
Oliver Twist was a novel written by Charles Dickens to underline the cruelty that children suffered at the hands of society. Before the book was written, a 'poor' law was written that attempted to stamp out this cruelty. Perhaps the greatest statement that Oliver Twist makes is that attitudes do not change instantly once a law is passed and that it takes time. This fact is ever present throughout the novel.
Oliver was born in a workhouse near London. His mother was ill during his birth and died shortly after he was born and there was no knowledge of a father so he became an orphan, leaving him in the care of the town parish. He stayed at a 'branch-workhouse', situated three miles from the main workhouse. Here, his mistreatment started.
The "elderly female" in charge of this workhouse was responsible for the welfare of twenty to thirty orphans. She received sevenpence-halfpenny a week for each "small head" that she was looking after. However, "she knew what was good for children; and she had a very accurate perception of what was good for herself." The woman- Mrs. Mann, kept most of the money for herself and spent as little as possible on the boys. This resulted in Oliver becoming starved throughout his childhood.
"Oliver Twist's ninth birthday found him a pale thin child, somewhat diminutive in stature, and decidedly small in circumference."
It was on this day that Mr. Bumble, the parish beadle, came to collect Oliver and take him to the main workhouse. Mrs. Mann is then shown to be a liar, as she states to Mr. Bumble that she often gives the children Daffy, when they are ill, because "(Mrs. Mann) couldn't see 'em suffer before my very eyes, you know, sir." This is obviously a lie, as she had previously referred to Oliver as a brat. Oliver had spent nine years being half-starved, although at this point there was no evidence of any physical harm towards him. He also had no real name, as we learn that Mr. Bumble took great pleasure in inventing one, using a method of going through each letter of the alphabet and constructing a surname.
Oliver was then introduced to the workhouse and what plans had been laid out for him in the future. He was to become a Christian, be educated and learn a useful trade. However, the Board had constructed a new plan for the workhouse to 'thin out the number of inmates at the workhouse.' Food rations were cut to "small quantities of oatmeal......three meals of thin gruel a day.......an onion twice a week.......and half a roll on Sundays." The eventual goal was to cut expenses, and this was achieved after the bills of the undertaker had reduced from a ...
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Oliver was then introduced to the workhouse and what plans had been laid out for him in the future. He was to become a Christian, be educated and learn a useful trade. However, the Board had constructed a new plan for the workhouse to 'thin out the number of inmates at the workhouse.' Food rations were cut to "small quantities of oatmeal......three meals of thin gruel a day.......an onion twice a week.......and half a roll on Sundays." The eventual goal was to cut expenses, and this was achieved after the bills of the undertaker had reduced from a sudden raise. "the board were in ecstasies."
Once Oliver had made that fateful mistake of asking for more food at supper, he was immediately beaten and ordered to instant confinement. A reward was then offered to anyone who took Oliver from the parish.
From this evidence so far, it is clear to see that children in particular suffered heavily to suit the financial gain of others. At first, it was Mrs. Mann who was collecting a substantial profit from the weekly allowance given to her from the parish. She decided that her gain was more important than the clean upbringing of a child and the correct nourishment for a young person was second to her well being. Next, the parish Board took measures to change the opinion of workhouses and decrease the number of poor folk going to them. "To starve slowly within the workhouse or to speed up the process outside."
For the next week, Oliver was subject to public floggings in front of the other boys at meal times and isolation in a cold and damp room, to serve as a reminder and to make sure that the other young orphans did not make the same mistake. Then, a chimney sweep saw the notice outside the parish offering five pounds to any person wishing to take Oliver. Mr. Gamfield, the chimney sweep, then bartered with the Board to find a fair price for the boy. It was in this discussion that the reality of Oliver's childhood was well summed up in the opinion of a rather harsh man, referred to as 'the man in the white waistcoat.'
"He wants the stick now and then: it'll do him good; and his board needn't come very expensive, for he hasn't been over-fed since he was born. Ha! ha! ha!"
However, Oliver was not sold to that man as he pleaded with the magistrates not to let him go with such a mean man. Oliver was returned to the workhouse, before at last being sold to Mr. Sowerberry, a local undertaker, who seemed a kind man.
Upon being introduced to the undertaker's wife, she immediately seems to view Oliver in a bad way because of where he is from. "I see no saving in parish children.....for they always cost more to keep, than they're worth." It seems that almost everybody at this time makes sweeping generalisations about orphans from poor backgrounds. Then, when Oliver is given his first meal (of cold scraps), his famine is further noticeable when he devours the lot in the space of a few minutes. ".....the horrible avidity with which Oliver tore the bits asunder with all the ferocity of famine."
Even a charity boy, Noah Claypole, who works with Mr. Sowerberry takes an immediate dislike towards Oliver upon meeting him and views Oliver as the dirt upon the sole of his shoe. He takes to ordering Oliver around, appropriately labelling him 'Work'us' and aims kicks at him whenever he is within range. He also continually insults Oliver on his background. "Neither his father nor his mother will ever interfere with him. All his relations let him have his own way pretty well." This, coming from a boy whose father is a drunken soldier and his mother a washerwoman. It further highlights the fact that the stereotype poor orphan is viewed as the bottom of the society chain. Oliver was certainly not alone in his class, and this is the point that could be viewed as disturbing. Hundreds upon thousands of boys are treated much the same as Oliver and Dickens used this novel as an example of what went on.
When Oliver finally could take no more abuse towards his mother, he attacked Noah Claypole after he made the comment "yer mother was a regular right-down bad 'un......and it's a great deal better that she died when she did or else she'd have been hard labouring in Bridewell, or transported, or hung...." Oliver could stand no more and lashed out at Claypole. However, when he told his story to the Bumble it was entirely over-elaborated to make sure that a worse opinion of Oliver could be formed, if at all possible. "He tried to murder me, sir; and then he tried to murder Charlotte; and then missis...." In fact, Oliver had not laid a finger upon either. Mr. Bumble, on hearing this story then relayed it to the gentleman in the white waistcoat. "(Noah) was been all but murdered sir-by young Twist.....he has likewise attempted, sir, to murder the female servant.....and his missus.....and his master, too, I think you said, Noah?" Noah replied that Mr. Sowerberry was out, but if he hadn't have been then Oliver would have tried to murder him as well. Once again, the story was wholly elaborated upon, portraying Oliver as a mass murderer. It is comical how such stories can be concocted, but sad when the reality is that all such people in the same position as Oliver will now suffer.
Mr. Sowerberry beat Oliver upon his return. He later run away and was befriended by the Artful Dodger (real name Jack Dawkins). He was then led to London and Fagin, a leader of a gang of pickpockets. Fagin lives off of a small side alley, in what can only be described as a furnished squat. A few beds, shelves and cupboards decorated the rooms but the main abundance within the rooms were handkerchiefs. Although Oliver did not know it, they were all stolen. Fagin also had a collection of jewellery which Oliver saw one morning, but Fagin dismissed it as his 'worldly possessions'. This was home to Fagin and his gang of pickpockets, which were boys, some not much older than Oliver. They had all be trained to work for Fagin and, judging by the resulting rewards, were very good at what they did. Instead of being homeless, starving and eventually dying the boys had dived into a world of crime to stay alive and provide a warm home for themselves. For such children, and that is what they all still were, it shows great poverty and deprivation. Oliver was taken out with Jack Dawkins and Charley Bates to learn his new found 'trade', although they were foiled and Oliver got caught, although his innocence in the act was later proved.
The man that had been robbed, Mr. Brownlow, took pity upon Oliver and took him in to look after him as Oliver had fallen ill. The illness was probably the result of the long journey to London, which he had undergone on foot. In contrast to his previous experiences, Oliver was well looked after, fed and cared for. He lay in bed for a few days, being nursed on and checked and fed regularly. All this, against what would most probably have been the case of neglection at the workhouse and death quickly afterwards.
In summary, because of his background and situation, Oliver was taken advantage of time and time again. It seems that children were shown no mercy and used for financial and personal gain. Mrs. Mann, the Board and Fagin all tried to use Oliver to increase their own quality of life and boost their financial income. This shows how cruel and ruthless situations were and the social deprivation that Oliver was forced through, like so many other orphans. Conditions were harsh for those at the bottom end of the social ladder and Dickens illustrates this well throughout the novel, as well as offering a contrast to these conditions with the rich Mr. Brownlow and his kind and generous personality. Along the way, he was the only person that showed trust of any kind towards Oliver and offered him a chance to repay that trust, which eventually he did.
Neil Christie 10N English Studies-Oliver Twist 12/01/00
