Oliver Twist Excerpt PDF

*Oliver Twist has violated the rules of the workhouse where he lives asking for more food. He is eventually confined to a dark and secluded room.* For a week after the commission of the impious and profane offence of asking for more, Oliver remained a close prisoner in the dark and solitary room to...

*Oliver Twist has violated the rules of the workhouse where he lives asking for more food. He is eventually confined to a dark and secluded room.* For a week after the commission of the impious and profane offence of asking for more, Oliver remained a close prisoner in the dark and solitary room to which he had been consigned by the wisdom and mercy of the board. It appears, at first sight, not unreasonable to suppose, that, if he had entertained a becoming3 feeling of respect for the prediction of the gentleman in the white waistcoat, he would have established that sage individual's prophetic character, once and for ever, by tying one end of his pocket handkerchief to a hook4 in the wall, and attaching himself to the other. To the performance of this feat5, however, there was one obstacle, namely, that pocket-handkerchiefs being decided articles10 of luxury, had been, for all future times and ages, removed from the noses of paupers by the express order of the board in council assembled, solemnly given and pronounced under their hands and seals6. There was a still greater obstacle in Oliver's youth and childishness. He only cried bitterly all day; and when the long, dismal7 night came on, he spread his little hands before his eyes to shut out the darkness, and crouching8 in the corner, tried to sleep, ever and anon9 waking with a start and tremble, and drawing himself10 closer and closer to the wall, as if to feel even its cold hard surface were a protection in the gloom11 and loneliness which surrounded him. Let it not be supposed by the enemies of 'the system', that, during the perio of his solitary incarceration, Oliver was denied the benefit of exercise, the pleasure of society, or the advantages of religious consolation. As for exercise, it was nice cold weather, and he was allowed to perform his ablutions12 every morning under the pump, in a stone yard, in the presence of Mr Bumble, who prevented his catching cold, and caused a tingling sensation13 to pervade his frame, by repeated applications of the cane14; as for society, he was carried every other day into the hall where the boys dined, and there sociably flogged15 as a public warning and example; and, so far from being denied the advantages of religious consolation, he was kicked into the same apartment every evening at prayer-time, and there permitted to listen to, and console his mind with, a general supplication of the boys, containing a special clause therein inserted by the authority of the board, in which they entreated16 to be made good, virtuous, contented, and obedient, and to be guarded from the sins and vices of Oliver Twist, whom the supplication distinctly set forth17 to be under the exclusive patronage and protection of the powers of wickedness18, and an article direct from the manufactory19 of the very devil himself.   3       **becoming.** Conveniente, appropriato. 4       **hook.** Gancio. 5       **feat.** Impresa. 6       **given... seals.** Redatto, pronunciato, firmato e sigillato. 7       **dismal.** Tetra. 8       **crouching.** Accovacciandosi. 9       **ever and anon.** Di tanto in tanto. 10     **drawing himself.** Avvicinandosi. 11     **gloom.** Oscurità. 12     **to perform his ablutions.** Lavarsi. 13     **tingling sensation.** Sensazione di formicolio. 14     **cane.** Bastone. 15     **flogged.** Frustato. 16     **entreated.** Supplicavano, pregavano. 17     **set forth**. Dichiarava. 18     **wickedness.** Malvagità. 19     **manufactory.** Manifattura.