Oliver Twist and 19th Century England

Life in the 1800s England

• Rapid urbanization saw many poor people moving to cities for work opportunities.
• Workhouses were established for the destitute, providing living arrangements, work, and meals.
• Conditions in workhouses were harsh; inhabitants experienced subsistence living, often struggling to stay warm.

Oliver Twist's Early Life

• A woman arrived at a workhouse, gave birth to Oliver Twist, and subsequently died.
• After birth, Oliver was placed in an orphanage until the age of nine.
• Leaving the orphanage for a workhouse left Oliver sorrowful, as he lost his sense of belonging with fellow orphans.

Experience in the Workhouse

• At the workhouse, Oliver encountered malnutrition and a desolate environment shared by other boys.
• Encouraged by peers, Oliver attempted to ask for more food, inciting anger from workhouse managers.
• Faced with despair, he decided to escape and journeyed to London, endured hunger for several days.

Arrival in London

• In London, Oliver met Jack Dawkins, who guided him into the city.
• Jack introduced Oliver to Fagin, an old man who provided food and shelter.

Life with Fagin

• Oliver noticed other boys gathering at Fagin's house to present stolen items like watches and jewelry.
• Introduced to a life of thievery, Oliver witnessed the boys pickpocketing people, realizing their criminal activities.

Charles Dickens' Early Life

• Charles Dickens began in a comfortable environment with a good education.
• At age 12, Dickens’ life changed dramatically when his father was imprisoned for debt.
• He worked in a factory labeling bottles, earning very little and experiencing hardship.
• The factory work exposed him to the struggles of poor people, shaping his compassionate outlook as a writer.

Transition to Writing Career

• After his father's release, Dickens returned to school, but his passion for writing was evident.
• Initially worked in the legal field but transitioned to journalism, where he began writing popular stories.
• His writing often highlighted societal issues, specifically relating to poverty.

Impact of Poverty on His Work

• Dickens lived near a workhouse, witnessing the plight of malnourished children, inspiring his novel Oliver Twist.
• Oliver Twist depicted the harsh realities faced by children in workhouses and the streets of London.
• These stories were serialized in magazines, shocking readers with their basis in reality and highlighting hidden poverty.

Views on Poverty and Education

• While sympathetic to the poor, Dickens believed poverty led to crime, exemplified by characters like Fagin in Oliver Twist.
• Advocated for education as a primary escape route from poverty; he personally benefitted from returning to school after his early hardships.

Contributions and Legacy

• Supported Ragged Schools that provided education to impoverished children.
• His notable works include Nicholas Nickleby (1839), David Copperfield (1850), and Great Expectations (1861).
• Dickens’ novels often blend humor with social critique, mocking those who value status and wealth.
• His stories remain popular today and have been adapted into numerous films, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of his themes regarding poverty.