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Questions and Answers
What is implied about Nancy's profession in the novel?
What is implied about Nancy's profession in the novel?
What is unique about Nancy's character compared to other 'good' characters in the novel?
What is unique about Nancy's character compared to other 'good' characters in the novel?
What is the purpose of Nancy's character in the novel?
What is the purpose of Nancy's character in the novel?
What does Nancy's outburst against Sikes and Fagin demonstrate?
What does Nancy's outburst against Sikes and Fagin demonstrate?
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What is implied by Nancy's speech in which she announces her regret for having returned Oliver to Fagin's care?
What is implied by Nancy's speech in which she announces her regret for having returned Oliver to Fagin's care?
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Why is the narrative vague about Nancy's identity as a prostitute?
Why is the narrative vague about Nancy's identity as a prostitute?
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What does Nancy's character serve as a forum for in the novel?
What does Nancy's character serve as a forum for in the novel?
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What is implied by Dickens's description of Nancy's manner as 'remarkably free and agreeable'?
What is implied by Dickens's description of Nancy's manner as 'remarkably free and agreeable'?
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What is unique about Nancy compared to other characters in the novel?
What is unique about Nancy compared to other characters in the novel?
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What does Nancy's character add to the novel?
What does Nancy's character add to the novel?
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Study Notes
Nancy's Character in Oliver Twist
- Nancy's behavior in the novel spans moral extremes, unlike other major characters who are either purely good or evil.
- Dickens's description of Nancy's manner as "remarkably free and agreeable" implies that she is a prostitute, which would have elicited little sympathy from Victorian readers.
- Nancy's position as a young, unmarried female pauper further supports the implication that she is a prostitute.
- Dickens confirms Nancy's profession as a prostitute in the preface to the 1841 edition of the novel.
- Nancy spearheads the scheme to bring Oliver back into Fagin's fold, demonstrating her involvement in the criminal world.
Nancy's Moral Sense
- Despite her profession, Nancy demonstrates a deep and passionate sense of morality, particularly in her outburst against Sikes and Fagin for mistreating Oliver.
- Her character serves as a forum for the novel to explore whether an individual can be redeemed from the effects of a bad environment.
Implications of Nancy's Speech
- Nancy's speech, in which she expresses regret for returning Oliver to Fagin's care, hints that the boys might also be involved in prostitution.
- The fact that Nancy points to Oliver while speaking about herself implies an absolute identification between the two characters.
- The narrative is deliberately vague about Nancy's identity as a prostitute and the boys' potential involvement in prostitution due to Victorian sensibilities.
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Description
Explore the complex character of Nancy in Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist, examining her moral ambiguity and societal implications.
