Oliver Twist’ was written by Charles Dickens. ‘Charles Dickens was a figure of whom everyone had something to say, he was a public man and a famous man, and he assumed both of these slightly different roles in his early twenties.’ Oliver Twist was originally published in the 1830s. Throughout this novel Dickens makes use of irony, satire and humour, which culminates to form Oliver Twist, a classic of 19th century fiction. Hypocrisy is a major feature throughout the novel, promoting such aspects as the workhouse, which is designed to help the poor and stop them from residing in the filth of the streets. However, the workhouse is a place enveloped in dirt and filth. This is a constant feature throughout the novel and not only pokes fun at characters such as Mr. Bumble but reveals the inhumane treatment of orphans and the anti-Semitism, which culminates in the stereotypical Jew- Fagin, at the time this book was written. This book is a true classic of 19th century fiction.
Irony is present throughout Oliver Twist and is one of the main literary devices that Dickens uses. Just as hypocrisy is a major feature in the novel so is satire as such characters as Mr. Bumble and Fagan are satirized by Dickens; along with various institutions present in the book. Dickens uses irony to convey the dire circumstances Oliver and the other orphans find themselves in. Dickens gives accounts of the lower classes living conditions and ironically refers to Oliver and his fellow orphans to be “without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing,” when truthfully the young children are starving and wearing rags. This is what leads to Oliver being forced to ask for more gruel and his eventual removal from the workhouse.
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…t the lower classes experience.Dickens’ satire and use of irony and humour throughout the novel describes the charitable institutions as places that breed corruption, inhumanity, and alienation. The treatment Oliver received is a prime example of this. In Dickens’ time society’s failure to recognize these problems destroyed the lives of many innocent children. Dickens highlights these problems extremely effectively throughout his novel using various literary techniques such as irony, satire and humour and also uses his characters to represent such corrupt institutions. By exploring the problems of the past, perhaps we will be more capable of identifying the downfalls that may arise in the institutions of our time.
Bibliography
Dickens, Charles, Oliver Twist, (wordsworth edition limited 2000)
Smiley, Jane, Charles Dickens: A Life, (Penguin Group US 2002)
