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Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic of Fagin's face in Dickens's Oliver Twist?
What is a characteristic of Fagin's face in Dickens's Oliver Twist?
Why does Fagin's wealth seem 'ill-gotten'?
Why does Fagin's wealth seem 'ill-gotten'?
What did Dickens claim his portrayal of Fagin reflected?
What did Dickens claim his portrayal of Fagin reflected?
How does Dickens's narrator typically refer to Fagin?
How does Dickens's narrator typically refer to Fagin?
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What is implied by Dickens's portrayal of Fagin, despite his claims?
What is implied by Dickens's portrayal of Fagin, despite his claims?
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What is Fagin's motivation for punishing Charley and the Dodger?
What is Fagin's motivation for punishing Charley and the Dodger?
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What is a characteristic of the Victorian stereotype of Jews?
What is a characteristic of the Victorian stereotype of Jews?
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What does Fagin's gold watch symbolize in the novel?
What does Fagin's gold watch symbolize in the novel?
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What was the consequence for paupers who refused to enter the workhouses?
What was the consequence for paupers who refused to enter the workhouses?
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What is the irony in the Victorian's criticism of the poor?
What is the irony in the Victorian's criticism of the poor?
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What is the result of begging being a punishable offense?
What is the result of begging being a punishable offense?
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What does Fagin's character represent in the context of the Protestant work ethic?
What does Fagin's character represent in the context of the Protestant work ethic?
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Study Notes
Characterization of Fagin in Oliver Twist
- Dickens's portrayal of Fagin is problematic due to Jewish stereotypes
- Fagin is described as a "very old shrivelled Jew" with a "villainous-looking and repulsive face"
- Dickens perpetuates the Victorian stereotype of Jews as avaricious gold worshippers
- Fagin's eyes "glisten" when he takes out a "magnificent gold watch, sparkling with jewels"
Anti-Semitic Stereotype
- Fagin's wealth is ill-gotten, obtained through thievery by others, some of whom have been hanged
- Dickens's narrator refers to Fagin as "the Jew" or "the old Jew", implying he represents all Jews
Dickens's Response to Criticism
- A Jewish acquaintance criticized Dickens's portrayal of Fagin
- Dickens claimed that his portrayal reflected the fact that many leaders of London thieving rings at the time were Jewish
- However, it is difficult to accept that Dickens's portrayal of Fagin does not involve a certain degree of bigotry
Fagin's Representation of the Protestant Work Ethic
- Fagin's character is a harsh parody of the Protestant work ethic, which emphasizes the importance of hard work and diligence.
- Oliver's anxiety to be employed stems from Fagin's "stern morality", which is demonstrated when Charley and the Dodger return home empty-handed.
- Fagin's morality is rooted in the idea that "idle and lazy habits" lead to misery, and he punishes those who don't adhere to this principle by denying them dinner.
Critique of the Victorian Work Ethic
- The Victorian era preached a strong work ethic, but this same ethic contributed to the perversion of values that Fagin represents.
- The harsh conditions of charitable institutions, such as workhouses, forced paupers to choose between a difficult life inside or outside these institutions.
- Begging was a punishable offense, leading those who stayed outside workhouses to resort to crime as a means of survival.
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Description
Analyzing Charles Dickens's portrayal of Fagin in Oliver Twist, focusing on the authors' use of Jewish stereotypes and the Victorian era's anti-Semitic attitudes. Understand the historical context of the novel and its representation of Jewish characters.
