Bullying is presented at the moment of Oliver’s birth, “The result was that, after a few struggles, Oliver breathed, sneezed and proceeded to advertise to the inmates of the workhouse the fact that a new burden had been imposed upon the parish”. Here Dickens has tried and successfully achieved to show that when Oliver finally shows signs of breathing “after a few struggles” that these struggles continue for the rest of his life.
Dickens also uses the phrase “a new burden”, suggesting that the torment and bullying has already started, through Oliver not having an identity to begin with. He’s simply another “parish orphan” an “it” which he is referred to as being earlier on at the start of the first chapter, when Dickens speaks of whether Oliver would ever come to have an identity, a gaining of integrity at all “it remained a matter of considerable doubt whether the child would survive to bear any name at all”. This shows us just a taster of bullying inside workhouse with worse to follow throughout his life.
Dickens shows us how officials like Mr. Bumble had no feelings for children but only love for the power that they brought them. I think when Mr. Bumble goes and collects Oliver to bring him to the poorhouse, he says, " Will you go along with me, Oliver?” Oliver replies, " Will she go with me?" indicating to the woman who looked after him. He was hoping she would not as he disliked her and he wanted to go to the workhouse, unknowing what this entailed.
Dickens yet again shows his true cynical feelings on exploitation of the poor and helpless by using great descriptions to show how underfed the boys were. " The bowls never wanted washing, as the boys polished them with their spoons till they shone again. They looked at the copper with such eager eyes as if they could have devoured the very bricks of which it was composed." This gives us a good idea of how children were treated. Other evidence of Institutional bullying can also be seen when the description of how Oliver is dressed and comes to have an identity is seen in Chapter one of the book, minutes after his birth of which is a battle but a battle won by Oliver, against the forces of nature. This is shown in the book, where Dickens says, “he was enveloped in the old calico robes, which had grown yellow, in the same service”. Normally, when a child comes into existence, a huge fuss is made to make sure the child has comforts and luxuries such as beautiful clean clothes and gleaming white worn in baptism, which represents the symbol of purity and innocence within the child. But in contrast Oliver is just another orphan who needs taking care of or as seen as the society at the time “a drain on society”. Also by describing Oliver’s clothes as “grown yellow” it shows that there is no care or love there for Oliver and gives us an indication of what is to come in the rest of the novel.
Bullying is also shown where it speaks of Oliver having been, “bagged and ticketed, and fell into place at once- to be cuffed and buffeted through the world- despised by all, and pitied by none”. This shows us the cruelty of the majority of society at the time that nothing else was important to them but themselves and material things such as money.
Another way in which bullying is shown, is through the character of Fagin, who is himself a victim of society as described by Dickens as being an “old shrivelled Jew” and having a “villainous and repulsive face”. Irony is shown here, as by describing Fagin as being a victim of society this suggests he has a weakness but actually Fagin has the power to manipulate and control the boys and mentally forcing them into pick pocketing and other crimes. Power can also be seen when Dickens describes him as being evil through a metaphor “ toasting fork”. Fagin lures Oliver into becoming one of his “dogs” which is how Fagin describes the boys under his reign for example the artful dodger. Through this Oliver is introduced to a gang of pickpockets and a life of crime, which holds many harmful and evil human beings and is also the way in which Oliver meets Sykes.
“Clever dogs” is referred to a lot by Fagin it is a form manipulation and shows the power, which he has over the boys. To refer to people as dog’s shows they are treated inferior to others and you can teach them tricks and reward them with treats this is shown in the novel where Fagin teaches the boys the dirty, scheming, tricks and rewards them with shelter and food.
We are not only shown bullying from Fagin but we also see oppression. Dickens presents this when he associates place with the bullies. Fagin is described as being “filthy” this can be seen through the description of his place, when Dickens refers to it as “wallowing in filth” and also refers to it as “dirtier or more wretched place he had ever seen.” This helps to show the oppression brought out through the bullies in Oliver Twist, like Fagin. Dickens is emphasising on this and shows it very strongly through his use of the comparative form, when he uses the word “dirtier”.
Bill Sykes is another of the wicked and cruel bullies in this novel as Fagin bullies Oliver Bill bullies not only Oliver but Nancy too and he takes it to the extreme of killing here. One particular part where we see Bill Sykes as a true bully is in the chapter, where Nancy is murdered by Sykes himself, an evil and cunning man by this point in time. Bill Sykes in himself is seen and perceived as a bully, an aggressor and a brutal and bold man, willing to seek out such violence, on anyone- “breaking fiercely”.
Throughout the novel Dickens describes Bill Sykes and Nancy as being a couple, however, we see only a burning passion of hatred between them “there was fire in the eyes of both”. Tension is built up throughout this chapter and Dickens uses many effects to illustrate Bill Sykes as a bully he uses adverbs, punctuation and metaphors, to show Dickens is truly trying across. Bullying towards Nancy can be seen through Bill Sykes violence on pages 437-456. In this chapter Dickens uses internal punctuation to add to the effect and build up of tension of the reader by writing without the use of any full stops. This is effective as it gives the readers a sense of what he is doing “Without one pause, or moment’s consideration; without once turning his head to the right or left, or raising his eyes to the sky, or lowering them to the ground, but looking straight before him with savage revolution: his teeth so tightly compressed that the strained jaw seemed starting through his skin; the robber held on his headlong course, nor muttered a word, nor relaxed a muscle, until he reached his own door”. Further on in this chapter just as Nancy is about to be killed tension is very high, the choice of words help to build this up Sykes commands Nancy “Get up” then he “seized a heavy club and struck her down”. This part of the novel is very strong in what it is describing to you to show Sykes true brutality. Also used is “heavy hand” the power is reinforced which belongs to Sykes, through the use of alliteration.
Dickens himself emphasises throughout this chapter how despicable and unworthy Bill Sykes is, by referring to him as the “murderer”, “house breaker” and “robber”. To reinforce Sykes power and brutality towards Nancy, Dickens goes on to describe the murder “that was the worst” “that was the foulest” and “ most cruel”. This is effective as superlatives are used by Dickens to try to reinforce the nastiness and brutality of Sykes himself. A sense of the power belonging to Sykes is also described through the word “struck”. This word shows the real harshness of Bill and helps to convey his sense of power.
A narrative structure reversal is also found in this chapter as shown at the start Sykes “entered it, softly, with a key” and he “double locks the door”. This creates a contrast, as although he is sneaking and doesn’t want to wake Nancy, at the same time he is extra cautious by “double locking the front door”. This part of the book contrasts with the start where Dickens says “brings new life”. The murder of Nancy not only shows how brutal Bill can be but at the same time his cowardliness, by after committing the murder running away.
Dickens created this book, to show us as the readers that today bullying in such a way, still goes on and he tries to make us more aware of the brutality of life. He also tries to make us more aware of the workhouses, and the fact that Victorian society knew and was made aware of the injustices going on at that time.
Whether we live in society today, or did back then, Dickens makes us wary of the fact that there are always going to be people like Fagin in society, people in who should pay for the torture and bullying in which they inflict on others. By the end of this book, we see Fagin having paid for the bullying he inflicted on Oliver, when he is executed.
