"How does Charles Dickens in the early part of Oliver Twist use the character Oliver to present his view of an unfair and corrupt world?"
"How does Charles Dickens in the early part of Oliver Twist use the character Oliver to present his view of an unfair and corrupt world?" In the Victorian times, life for some people was an unfair and corrupt world. In the novel "Oliver Twist", this is shown in many ways. This novel is about a young, innocent boy called "Oliver" who is brought up in a hard disadvantaged world. The conditions were extremely cruel, especially for the poor and the young orphans such as Oliver Twist who were sent to work in the workhouses at a very young age. Due to Oliver's mother dying after giving birth and Oliver's father not being around this made Oliver an orphan, alone to face the unkindness things in his future. Charles Dickens chooses to have a young character Oliver Twist in his novel, because he was innocent, naive and harmless. A lot of things happened in Oliver's life things which weren't his fault. Oliver has a lot of courage and is a tough boy inside, because throughout his life he has had horrible experiences and has coped with them on his own. In the workhouse the boys were starving they had very little to eat many children broke down or died of hunger but not Oliver he was a strong boy mentally and physically. It wasn't Oliver's fault that he was brought up in a workhouse, he was an orphan and had to do strictly what the beadle and Mrs Mann told him to do. Workhouses were for
Explain the importance of Tom Gradgrind in Charles Dickens' wrote "Hard Times".
Explain the importance of Tom Gradgrind in Hard Times Charles Dickens wrote "Hard Times" in monthly instalments in "Household words" in 1854. It describes the life of the citizens in an industrial town whilst covering family values, the education system and the plight of workers. Tom Gradgrind is the eldest son of Mr Gradgrind and through him Dickens shows the impact of a factual childhood. Tom is first introduced with Louisa in chapter three when they are reprimanded heavily for looking at the "Tyrolean flower act". Gradgrind is "dumb with amazement" at the sight of his "mathematical Thomas abasing himself". Tom immediately gave himself up to be "taken home like a machine" yet Louisa is defensive of their actions showing her to be far more passionate than Tom. She also takes responsibility when her father immediately blames Tom, something which he is only too happy to let her do which is shown later in the book when Louisa "softens up old Bounderby" allowing Tom´s appalling behaviour to be excused. However, Tom does express affection to his sister by using the nickname "Loo" so he has not grown up to be as harsh as Bounderby although he sometimes flatters his sister for his own benefit forcing doubts to his sincerity. Another difference between Louisa and Tom is that she treats her hopeless situation with indifference stating "what does it matter", she is "tired" of life