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A Life Predetermined: The Absence of Equal Opportunity in Dickens’ Oliver Twist
First published in 1837, Charles Dickens’ second novel Oliver Twist serves as a critique of the Victorian class system, striving for social reform. Dickens’ main character, Oliver Twist, is exemplified as a victim of this system throughout the text, beginning with the circumstances of his birth. To no fault of his own, he is unable to better his situation, trapped by the system until finally rescued by Mr. Brownlow. Exemplifying Oliver Twists’ hardships, among others, Dickens criticizes the Victorian class system for its complete lack of equal opportunity, predetermined by the Victorian social class.
The circumstances surrounding Oliver Twist’s birth define him as a “bastard” and, ultimately, an orphan. Oliver Twist’s mother is found without a wedding ring, damning Oliver Twist from the very beginning as he was presumably conceived from sex before marriage (Dickens 3). According to the surgeon, this is “the old story,” a situation that has been seen time and time again, negatively stereotyping Oliver Twist. Oliver Twist’s mother is also unidentified, “found lying in the street. … but where she came from, or where she was going to, nobody knows” (3). Oliver Twist’s mother dies shortly, leaving Oliver Twist an orphan. As a result of these factors, Oliver Twist “was badged and ticketed, and fell into his place at once -- a parish child -- the orphan of a workhouse -- the humble, half-starved drudge--to be cuffed and buffeted through the world--despised by all, and pitied by none” (3). Oliver Twist is given absolutely no opportunity to establish himself, immediately “processed,” and put in his place by the system. Historically, this all occurs due to the poor laws which were put in place, rather unsuccessfully, to provide relief for the poor at the parish or local level. Split into three groups, the poor’s able-bodied were sent to work, children were placed in apprenticeships and money was delivered to the impotent (eh.net). Oliver’s situation mirrors other, similar situations during this time period, such as Rose’s, whose name possesses a “stain ... which the world visits on innocent heads” (280). Like Oliver, Rose has not committed a legal crime, and yet is outright blamed and punished for her lineage.
The idea that Oliver’s life was predetermined by the system perpetuates the novel. This is later reinforced when eight or 10 month-old Oliver Twist is shipped off to the workhouse with “other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws” (4). The word “other” suggests that Oliver Twist is, too, a juvenile offender. Dickens asserts his sense of humor here, as a boy of Oliver Twist’s age is literally incapable of crime. And yet, Charlotte later claims Oliver to be one of those “dreadful creaturs … born to be murderers and robbers from their cradle” (46). Mr Grimwig agrees, as he “demanded, with a sneer, whether the housekeeper was in the habit of counting the plate at night; because, if she didn’t find a tablespoon or two missing some sunshiny morning, why, he would be content to—and so forth” (107). Mr. Grimwig proposes to Mr. Brownlow that Oliver steals his silver at night, claiming he is a thief Such are examples of determinism in criminology. Determinism is the philosophical idea that “human behavior that behavior is caused by biological and psychological factors specific to individuals and/or the structural factors that comprise one’s environment” (Crews). Determinism suggests that individuals such as Charlotte and Mr. Grimwig believe that crime is in Oliver Twist’s biology, waiting to present itself from the moment he was born. Oliver Twist is given very few options otherwise, either “being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it” (12). This quotation suggests that either option leaves Oliver Twist at the mercy of the system, either starving or dying. Dickens reinforces this by featuring a woman who has starved to death, whose funeral arrangements are being handled by Mr. Sowerberry. The woman’s husband blames the system for her demise, exclaiming “I swear before the God that saw it! They starved her!” (39). While the word ‘they’ is a general term, one interpretation is that the husband is making a reference to the societal structure. Society has starved the woman to death. The system uses food as a way to control its members, as Mr. Bumble explains that Mrs. Sowerberry has “over-fed him, ma’am. You’ve raised a artificial soul and spirit in him, ma’am,” giving Oliver Twist the will to rebel.
Due to his social standing, little opportunity can be found for Oliver outside of the workhouse, condemning him to either a life of service or death. Oliver is given the opportunity to become a chimney sweeper, a cabin boy or an apprentice to a parish undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry, all of which can be associated with his demise. Chimney sweepers “have been smothered in chimneys before now” and as a cabin boy, “the skipper would flog him to death, in a playful mood, some day after dinner, or would knock his brains out with an iron bar” (17, 23). As an apprentice to the parish undertaker, he deals with death on a daily basis, but Dickens also makes a point to treat Oliver Twist’s bed space, “the recess behind the counter in which his flock mattress was thrust,” as a “grave” (31). He eventually runs away from Mr. Sowerberry and, therefore, “must die in the streets unless some one helped him” (54). Oliver Twist is trapped by the system, destined to die in the streets like others before him. Oliver Twist is fortunately adopted and rescued by Mr. Brownlow by the conclusion of the novel, demonstrating that Oliver is incapable of doing so himself.
While Oliver miraculously escapes the system, the system remains in place, as others succumb to their predetermined fate. Despite being compelled to steal, the Artful Dodger is “charged with attempting to pick a pocket, and they found a silver snuff-box on him” (350). He is punished for doing what is necessary to survive the system. Nancy’s life comes to a grisly end when she is beaten to death by Sikes. As a whore and a thief, she is punished by Dickens for her choices. Dickens asserts that she cannot escape her situation before she dies. She is given the opportunity by Rose to better herself, but rejects her, explaining that “I wish to go back … I must go back, because -- how can I tell such things to an innocent lady like you? -- because among the men I have told you of, there is one: the most desperate among them all: that I can’t leave; no, not even to be saved from the life I am leading now” (324). Nancy is far too invested in her life to be rescued now. As punishment for his killing of Nancy, as he is haunted by Nancy’s eyes prior to death, Sikes accidentally and ironically hangs himself (416). This is ironic in that Sikes would have likely been killed via hanging anyway had he been caught for his crimes, as he was guilty than more than just murder. A prime example of this is Fagin, who is sentenced to death for his thievery by hanging after being testified against by Noah. All were compelled by and yet punished by the system for their desperate actions.
In Oliver Twist Dickens criticizes the Victorian class system so as to inspire social reform. Oliver Twist serves as a primary example of the hardships that the poor experienced during the Victorian era. While Oliver escapes, the system remains intact for the remaining characters, including Nancy, Sikes and Fagin. Dickens’ characters live their lives in a world, predetermined, and completely absent of equal opportunities.
Work Cited:
Boyer, George. “English Poor Laws.” EH.Net Encyclopedia, edited by Robert Whaples. May 7,
2002, http://eh.net/encyclopedia/english-poor-laws/.
Crews, Gordon A. “Determinism.” Wiley Online Library, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 26 Mar. 2014,
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118517390.wbetc022.
Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. Toronto New York: Bantam Books, 1982.