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Questions and Answers

Why do people who stay outside the workhouses often turn to crime?

Because they are lazy

To seek revenge against the wealthy

To survive due to the lack of other options (correct)

Because they are inherently criminal

What is the symbolic meaning of Oliver's inability to speak at his trial?

The lower class's lack of political power (correct)

His guilt in the crime

His lack of education

His fear of the law

What was the basis of the right to vote in 1830s England?

Education

Wealth (correct)

Social status

Age

What is the symbolic significance of Oliver being given false names?

That his true identity is uncertain Signup and view all the answers

What is the value system of the English legal system and the workhouses?

Based on retribution, punishment, and strict morals Signup and view all the answers

What is the contrast between the Brownlow household and the English legal system?

One is based on punishment, the other on forgiveness Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Oliver finding a portrait of a woman he resembles?

It reveals his true identity Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbolic significance of Mr. Fang's character?

He is a symbol of the law's fangs, ready to devour the poor Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the uncomfortable aspects of Oliver Twist from today's perspective?

Dickens's characterization of Fagin through Jewish stereotypes Signup and view all the answers

How does Dickens describe Fagin's face?

Villainous-looking and repulsive Signup and view all the answers

What is Fagin's wealth obtained by?

Having others do the thieving for him Signup and view all the answers

Why does Dickens continually refer to Fagin as 'the Jew'?

To make Fagin a representative for all Jews Signup and view all the answers

What does Fagin's 'stern morality' manifest itself as?

Punishment and denial of dinner for failure Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the 'stern morality' of charitable institutions?

Paupers have to choose between the harsh conditions of workhouses and the streets Signup and view all the answers

What is Oliver's motivation to be actively employed?

Because he notices Fagin's 'stern morality' Signup and view all the answers

What is Dickens's response to criticisms of his portrayal of Fagin?

He claims it reflects the fact that many leaders of London thieving rings were Jewish Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characterization of Fagin in Oliver Twist

Fagin is characterized using Jewish stereotypes, portrayed as a "very old shrivelled Jew" with a "villainous-looking and repulsive face".
His eyes "glisten" as he takes out a "magnificent gold watch, sparkling with jewels", reinforcing the stereotype of Jews as avaricious gold worshippers.
Fagin's wealth is ill-gotten, obtained through having others do the thieving for him, and some of those others have been hanged for doing his bidding.
Dickens refers to Fagin as "the Jew" or "the old Jew", making him a representative for all Jews.

Fagin as a Parody of the Protestant Work Ethic

Fagin represents a harsh parody of the Protestant work ethic, emphasizing the importance of being "actively employed" to avoid "misery of idle and lazy habits".
He punishes Charley and the Dodger by denying them dinner when they return home empty-handed, exemplifying the punitive nature of the work ethic.

The Poor and the English Legal System

Victorians castigated the poor for laziness, but the work ethic they preached was partly responsible for creating the perversion of that ethic that Fagin represents.
Paupers had to choose between the harsh conditions of the workhouses and the harsh conditions of the streets.
Begging was a punishable offense, forcing those who stayed outside the workhouses to turn to crime to survive.
Oliver's experience in the courtroom highlights the precarious position of the poor in the eyes of the law.

Oliver's Identity and Powerlessness

Oliver's inability to speak at his trial, caused by his exhaustion and sickness, metaphorically suggests the lower class's lack of political power and ability to voice its own concerns in a public forum.
In 1830s England, the right to vote was based on wealth, so the poor had no say with respect to the law.
The upper classes projected their own conceptions of the poor upon them, redefining poor people's identities with no regard for the truth.
Oliver's identity has been determined by other, more powerful people throughout his life, including his false name "Tom White" given by a court officer.