論文Oliver Twist The Indelible Nature of Goodness A Study of Oliver Twist

1、畢業(yè)論文1. IntroductionGoodness is one of the most essential characters for a person and it will never be out of date. It is to humans what water is to fish. People who own the quality of goodness are supposed to own happiness in a sense. Goodness can help us overcome every difficulty we may meet or at

2、least remain us in a positive mind. The person who owns the character of goodness undoubtedly will be happier than the one who is evil-minded, for goodness is such a thing that will benefit others as well as us. We should keep goodness in our mind no matter how hard the condition we are in. But to m

3、y disappointment, more and more people seem to ignore the importance of goodness. They look down people who are honest and kind-hearted, thinking that they are really silly animals. They show little sympathy to those who are in trouble and never offer to help others. On the contrary, they do harm to

4、 those who prevent them from the way to money and power. Whats more, they pick up “goodness” when it can profit them a lot. What a nerve! In their eyes, nothing is more important than themselves. It is obvious that such kind of people will never reach their satisfying goal. They never get real happi

5、ness in their whole life because of the countless desire.Charles Dickens is one of the greatest critical realist writers of the Victorian Age. Oliver Twist is probably the best known of all Dickens novels. It strongly exposes the workhouse functions as a sign of the moral hypocrisy of the working cl

6、ass. Oliver is Charles first child hero, who is an orphan living in a workhouse from his birth. Because he cant stand the terrible conditions in the workhouse, he escapes to London where he is trapped by Fagin and the cruel Bill Sikes who try and teach him to become a thief. Though treated with crue

7、lty and surrounded by coarseness for most of his life, he is a piteous, innocent child and his charms draw the attention of several wealthy benefactors. He lives a happy life at last. By the experience of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens emphasizes belief of goodness again.In Oliver Twist, Nancy is Bil

8、l Sakes mistress; Dickens first depicts her as a willing helper of Fagin who she helps to recapture Oliver. But later Nancy overheard Monks telling Fagin his plans to destroy Oliver; she reports their intention to Rose, which ultimately leads to her death. In this novel, her final decision to protec

9、t Oliver at a great personal cost expresses fully the incorruptibility of basic goodness, no matter how many difficulties it may face.In order to discuss one of themesthe incorruptibility of natural goodness, this paper analyses the character of Oliver and Nancy and environments impact. Oliver and N

10、ancy are two main representatives of basic goodness. On many levels, Oliver is not a believable character, because although he is raised in corruptible surroundings, his purity and virtue are absolute. Throughout the novel, Dickens uses Olivers character to challenge the Victorian idea that paupers

11、and criminals are already evil at birth, arguing instead that a corruptible environment is the source of vice. Oliver talks little and his courage to escape shoes an inner struggle to protect himself. He remains unaffected in spite of the surrounding evil forces. The bad environment harms Nancys cha

12、racter and soul as well, but in the end she sacrifices her own life with the purpose to protect Oliver.In a word, the difference between Oliver and Nancy is whether the environment destroys their characters or not.2. The virtue of Oliver and NancyIn his early period, Dickens insists that life is a c

13、ombat between vice and virtue, and vice is certain to be defeated by virtue. So virtue is one of the most important aspects in Oliver Twist. Dickens wants to give voice to those who served for this purpose. Oliver and Nancy are two typical heroes. This chapter discusses the only junction of Oliver a

14、nd NancyNatural goodness.2.1 The virtue of OliverOliver is Dickens first child hero. He is possessed with natural charm, innocence, and benefits of character. In fact, Dickens gives readers and exact depiction of Oliver at the beginning of the novel. “Oliver Twists ninth birthday found him a pale th

15、in child, somewhat diminutive in stature, and decidedly small in circumstance. But nature or inheritance had implanted a good sturdy spirit in Olivers breast.” (Dickens 8)From his birth, Oliver is living in workhouse, which is closed circumstance and creates his innocence. When Oliver puts up “the o

16、ld calico robes which had grown yellow” and “falls into his place at oncea parish child” (Dickens 4), he even does not know the facthe is an orphan.“Boy,” said the gentleman the high chair, “l(fā)isten to me, you know youre an orphan, I suppose?”“Whats that, sir?” Inquired poor Oliver.“The boy is a fool

17、.” (Dickens 15)In addition, Oliver is so pure that he can scarcely comprehend evil. As soon as entering into the society, Oliver gets into the hand of Fagin. The domestic relationship between Fagin and his gang of criminals makes Oliver warm, he is easily changed by Fagin and begins to find tumor an

18、d joy in the companionship of the thieves. “Oliver saw that she was very pale, and gently inquire if she were ill.” (Dickens 114) This description indicates Olivers virtuegoodness in nature. It was Nancy that recaptured him and sent him to the thiefs den again. But he still tries to help her rather

19、than hate her.Cockney slang, in this novel, other pauper children use rough Cockney slang, but Oliver, oddly enough, speaks in proper Kings English. Olivers careful speech is a symptom of his innate moral goodness. Even Sikes forces him to participate in a robbery, Oliver merely begs to be allowed t

20、o “run away and die in the field.” Oliver does not present a complex picture of a person torn between good and evilinstead, he is goodness incarnate.In short, “Oliver is aboriginal something with no vice, and no right to speak.” (Dickens 20) He shows his helpless when he is unjustly punished and den

21、ied his rights. However, when evil force surrounds him, he remains unaffected and displays an inner strength to protect him. It is his natural goodness and instinct for survival that help him to overcome the difficulties of life, and live a happy life at last.That fact that Oliver speaks and carries

22、 himself with a demeanor that is much more sophisticated than that of the rest of Fagins boy suggests that Dickens is using Oliver to show that even when people are born into squalid conditions, they can appreciate goodness and morality. When the Dodger and Charley pick Brownlows pocket, and again w

23、hen Sikes and Crackit order Oliver into the house, Oliver reacts with shock and horror at the idea of stealing. It is unclear where he has acquired such moral value. He could not have learned it amid the life or death struggles of the workhouse. It is his innate goodness that makes him resist vice i

24、nstinctively. Yet the suggestion that Olive is innately good complicates Dickens argument that corruption is formed by the horrible living conditions of the lower classes, rather than inherently born into their characters. Descriptions of Olivers face, in fact, seem to suggest that morality on accou

25、nt of the “expression of melancholy in his face.” The usually unperceptive Toby Crackit notes that Olivers “mug is a fortune” to him, meaning that his innocencelooking face is worth money to the thieves. Mr. Brownlow sees clearly the resemblance between Oliver and the women in the portrait, thus pro

26、viding both him and us with the first hint that the workhouse-born Oliver has an identity that is worth discovering. Dickens clearly protests against the idea stated by Mr. Bumble, that the poor born with an affinity for vice and crime. Yet it sometimes seems as if Oliver has been born with and affi

27、nity for virtue and love, just as he was born with his angelic face.2.2 The virtue of NancyAfter Nancy kidnaps Oliver, she regrets returning Oliver to Fagin. She does not want Oliver to be treated as her and decides to help him as possible as she can. So when she is ordered to deliver Oliver to Mr.

28、Sakes, she promises:“I have saved you form being ill wed once, and I will again, and I do now, continued the girl aloud, for those who would have fetched you, I have promised for you being quiet and silent. If you are not, you will only do harm to yourself and me too, and perhaps be my death.” (Dick

29、ens 120)Nancys outburst demonstrates her deep and passionate sense of morality. Nancy hopes that Oliver cannot follow in her steps, but she is incapable of changing Oliver fate. The only she can do is to protect Oliver from being beaten. Her character is a focus for the novel to express whether an i

30、ndividual can be redeemed from the effects of a bad environment.“I can not leave him now; I could not be his death. If I told others what I have told you, he would be sure to die. I must go back. I must go him in spite of all my suffering and his cruelty and illtreatment.” (Dickens 162)Nancys sorrow

31、ful words display her deep love for Sakes and that she wants to stay with him regardless of all of sufferings. This fully express her faithfulness to sakes, but her cost is lost her life, Even though Nancy has many characters defeats, her virtue defects her vice ultimately.2.3 The corrupted characte

32、rs of NancyIn his preface to the third edition of the novel (April, 1841), Dickens wrote that “it is useless to discuss whether the conduct and character of the girl seem natural or unnatural, probable or improbable, right or wrong, it is true” (Dickens 314).Nancy truly reflects the paupers in Victo

33、rian Age. A prostitute, embodies for Dickens all the degradation into which poverty can force otherwise good people.“They were not exactly pretty, perhaps; and looked quite shout and hearty. Being remarkable free and agreeable in their manners.” (Westbury 4)The narrators reference suggests that Nanc

34、y is a prostitute. At Londons dirty street, poor, womens profession is thieves and prostitutes.“I thieved for you when I was a child not half as old as his!” pointing to Oliver.Nancys words tell readers she has worked for Fagin when she is a child. Every child hopes to have a family. Fagin uses Nanc

35、ys this psychology to induce her into the family of thieves. But such a thief den makes her become degenerated and compels Nancy to kidnap Oliver for Fagin. When Nancy is ordered to go to the station, she dresses in nice clothing and pretends to be Olivers distraught sister.” (Hawes 161) The perfect

36、 touch to her disguise is a plainly displayed door key, which marks her as a member of a propertyowning class. Because she disguises herself as a middle-class woman, the police station recognizes her as an individual worth hearing. This indicates that Nancy gradually becomes corrupted and serves for

37、 Fagin.In this novel, Nancys “l(fā)augh” give readers deep impression. For example, “l(fā)aughing hysterically”, “the girl laughed again, even less composedly than before.” (Dickens 96) “Miss Nancy burst into aloud laugh.” (Dickens 139) In Victorian Age, cultured women have genital manners. They never “burs

38、t into laugh”, “drink to excess”, and speak rude words. Nancy, as an individual of low social status, is influenced without exception by the environment in which she is raised and the company that she keeps. Nancys “l(fā)augh” implicate her identitya paragon of corruption.In a word, the bad environment

39、inevitably poisons Nancys characters, lets her become a thief in Fagins service. To some degree, the fact that she commits crime does not due to her free willing but to survival.3. Environment impact on the characters of Oliver and Nancy Oliver Twist opens with a bitter Criticism directed at the nin

40、eteenthcentury English Poor Laws. These laws were a manifestation of the Victorian middle class emphasis on the virtues of hard work. The middle class was compelled to work, and to alleviate the stigma attached to middleclass wealth, the middle class promoted work as a moral virtue. But the result i

41、s to lead English society to subject the poor to hatred and cruelty. Many members of the middle class were anxious to be different, from the lower classes, and one way to do this was to stigmatize the lower classes as lazy goodfornothings, Victorian society interpreted economic success as a sign tha

42、t God favored the honest, moral virtue of the successful individuals efforts, and thus interpreted the condition of poverty as a sign of the weakness of the poor themselves. Workhouses were deliberately made to be as miserable as possible in order to prevent the poor from relying on public assistanc

43、e. But the paupers suffered so much that most of them chose to die in the streets rather than seek public aid. Meanwhile, the residents in the workhouse wait for death in the terrible condition.In Oliver Twist, environment plays a great part on someones character, especially on Oliver and Nancy.3.1

44、The social environmentOliver Twist opens with a bitter Criticism directed at the nineteenthcentury English Poor Laws. These laws were a manifestation of the Victorian middle class emphasis on the virtues of hard work. The middle class was compelled to work, and to alleviate the stigma attached to mi

45、ddle-class wealth, the middle class promoted work as a moral virtue. But the result is to lead English society to subject the poor to hatred and cruelty. Many members of the middle class were anxious to be different, from the lower classes, and one way to do this was to stigmatize the lower classes

46、as lazy goodfornothings, Victorian society interpreted economic success as a sign that God favored the honest, moral virtue of the successful individuals efforts, and thus interpreted the condition of poverty as a sign of the weakness of the poor themselves. Workhouses were deliberately made to be a

47、s miserable as possible in order to prevent the poor from relying on public assistance. But the paupers suffered so much that most of them chose to die in the streets rather than seek public aid. Meanwhile, the residents in the workhouse wait for death in the terrible condition. In Oliver Twist, Dic

48、kens meant to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the petty middleclass bureaucrats, who treat a small child cruelly while voicing their belief in the Christian virtue of giving charity to the less fortunate.3.2 Environments impact on Olivers characterEven though Oliver is endowed a perfect virtue, differe

49、nt environment still influence him more or less. In the workhouse, every taunt him and this make Oliver feel that he is lower than others. When Mr. Bumble said Oliver is one of “all the ungrateful lest, band worstdisposed boys as ever I see”, Oliver sobbed: “No, no, Sir, I will be good in deed; inde

50、ed, indeed I will.” (Dickens 179) By those words, Oliver admits that he is a bad boy; In fact, Oliver is so little that he cant realize what is vice or goodness. It is a show of innocence. But when Oliver enters into the world of goodness, his gentility appears. When he comes to the countryside, he

51、discovers a “new existence”. The country scenes purify Olivers thought, so he has a new view of paupers“the poor people were so neat and clean” (Dickens 178). From then on; he fills gratitude on the world. The Mayflies and Brownlow believe in forgiveness and kindness. Oliver receives good education

52、and gets warmness from these people. This proves good environment plays a positive role to Olivers characters.3.3 Environments impact on Nancys characterThe Victorian idea that paupers and Criminals are already evil at birth is just a superficial explanation of Nancys vice. Well, what makes Nancy co

53、rrupt on earth? One reason is environments impact. The Poor Law of 1834 allowed the poor to receive public aid only if they worked in established workhouse. Lurking behind the establishment of workhouses were the assumptions that moral virtue lay in work that work led necessarily to success, that po

54、verty was the result of laziness, so poverty was a sign of moral degeneration. Nancy is a victim of the Poor Law, and people around her influence her deeply. “Stay another moment”, interposed Rose. “Will you return to this gang of robbers, and to this man, when a word can save you? What fascination

55、is it that can take you back, and make you cling to wickedness and misery?” “Pity us, lady, pity us for having only one feeling of the woman left and for having that turned, by a heavy Judgment, from a comfort and a pride into a new means of violence and suffering.” (Dickens 196) In this passage, Di

56、ckens emphasizes the key role that environment plays in distinguishing vice from virtue: the same loyalty to a loved one that would be a virtue in Rose is a self-destructive force for Nancy. Though Nancy is compassionate and intelligent, she refuses Roses attempts to save her from her life of crime,

57、 thus proving that the damage done by a bad environment is irrevocable. Yet Nancys decision to return to a life of? “Vice” is probably the most noble and fool act in the novel. Her love for Sikes and her compassion for Oliver together compel her to sacrifice her own life. Gradually she is immersed i

58、n this thief circle. Nancy, the paragon of vice, appears more virtuous than Rose when she loses her life by helping Oliver. Rose has been raised amid love and plenty; on the other hand, Nancy has struggled for survival in the street, and her life is full of crime and violence. Rose and Nancy were bor