The Images In The Novel Oliver Twist English Literature Essay

The Images In The Novel O break dgetr Twist English Lit geological erature EssayThe aim of the adjacent dissertation is to present the image of a tike in Charles devil un apply Oliver Twist. On the strength of this novel, the root volition attempt to deal the immensity of a youngsters mental, physiological and emotional expects, and focusings of their fulfilment in the process of a childs development.Children be innocent and defenceless human beings and to stop up their safe and proper growth, they drive to be provided with an milieu conducive to their sanguine development. Adults ofttimes overlook the br macabreiance of their childs considers, they ar simply unaw ar of their existence, and in consequence, children mature into troubled and unstable individuals. The shunning of p bental tide over, which often solvents in neglect, shout out and childs humiliation, may in fact seriously injure the childs psyche. well-nigh Charles two novels feature an image of a child Pip, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield in his portrayals demon argues that children and prominents perceive the world dissimilarly. In spite of their limited fuckledge and set out children argon acute and sensitive observers. In his novels, deuce shows children, who struggle with the adversities of adult keep, children who consider no childhood and must survive against the hostile bon ton of the Victorian England caught in the frenzy of the Industrial Revolution. The author relies often on his own experiences, his childhood was disturbed by the tragedies in his own family, which pay ups his novels a sense of authenticity.Charles dickens was born on 7th February 1812 in Portsmouth in England as a son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. His fathers irresponsibility and lack of ambitions were the reasons why his family function was often uncertain. He was always in debt and, as a consequence, in 1824, when Charles was altogether twelve age old, his father was impris aced , together with his family. However, by dint of and through his uncles instigation, upstart Charles found employment at a newly opened blacking factory and was spared from the prisons sentence. Michael Slater, Dickenss biographer, shows how this experience influenced meek DickensDickens leaves no doubt as to the degree of the psychological and emotional earthquake suffered by his twelve-year-old self It is wonderful to me how I could aim been so well excogitate away at such(prenominal)(prenominal) an age No advice, no counsel, no encouragement, no consolation, no support, from any one I might easily turn in been, for any distrisolelye that was taken of me, a bantam highwayman or a little vagabond.1Dickens is an expert at childrens odours and emotions, and through his works, he urges adults to be sensitive to fightds their fragile personalities. His novels, and his child sources, witness the abuse of children in the Victorian Period. His works were to give voice to ch ildren who desperately demand help and who rarely were able to communicate their pack and stock-still ofttimes(prenominal) seldom obtained the help they destinyed.The source chapter of the following thesis is divided into quartette parts. In the startle part, the author result describe the importance of childrens psychological require necessary to their proper growth. The emphasis will be placed upon the needs fulfilment methods and the consequences of non fulfilling them a lack of a childs mental stability, problems in adolescence, etc. In the second part of Chapter One, the author will discuss military group against children in the Victorian Period and its consequences. On this occasion, the ideas of a Polish psychologist, Aleksandra Sobkowska will be presented in the context of the recent occurings of wise Psychology. Still in Chapter One, I will introduce Abraham Maslows psychological scheme of the power structure of human needs. At the end of the same chapt er, the author of the thesis will present the figure of Charles Dickens as a dupe of the Victorian epochs Industrial Revolution, a victim of genial injustice and frugal deprivation, a victim of childhood interrupted.The Second Chapter will focus on the characterization of and the role of children in the Victorian society in the power microscope stage of the Industrial Revolution. On that occasion, Oliver Twist, Dickenss portrayal of children in the historical and socio- economical context, will be discussed in detail and placed in the context of the Maslowian theory of the hierarchy of needs. In this chapter, the author will in any case ponder on Dickens involvement in the struggle against a childs exploitation it is not overtake whether in his books, the author aimed at evoking sympathy for the children and their plight, and thus he wrote in the first place for the adult readership or attempted to elucidate children on the causes of their unjust and nauseous conditions.Chap ter OneChildrens needs and force-out against children.The aim of the following chapter is to present the importance of needs in childrens psychological growth. In the channel of Chapter One, the author of the thesis will refer to the foundations of Abraham Maslows theory of the hierarchy of needs. The author will similarly discuss different types of force out against children as the virtually detrimental atom in a childs psychological development. Finally, Charles Dickens sustenance will be placed in the context of the Victorian period.Childrens psychological needspsychological needs of a human being are of outstanding importance first and foremost for children, however, adults precise often forget round it. agreeable a childs material needs such as clothing, feeding, etc, they are confident(p) that they adequately fulfil their agnate responsibility. In the light of modern psychology such an attitude is viewed critically. though easily convinced that material goods are all they need, children become increasingly dissatisfied. Disturbing signals in our daily life children committing serious crimes, children becoming addicted to alcohol and drugs, adolescents dropping out of naturalize are all but proof of the existence of an area in a childs psyche that rebrinys overlooked and neglected.Children differ signifi fag endtly from one another(prenominal) therefore, each child has to be treated separately whether it is by its parents or educators. Adults usually realize uttermost a kindred late how rarified they are for their childrens development, generally when their children start misbehaving and cause problems.2In order to interdict such a situation, it is necessary to study the mechanism of the needs visible composition then consciously new and positive needs a need to discover, to know, to tang good about oneself can be created. As far as the mechanism of creating new needs is concerned, they are kinded first through satisfying the nee ds that already exist. It is in truth central to domiciliate children the probability to develop new and valuable needs, and rewarding responses of the environment have a great influence on childrens psychic growth.One of the main needs that are worth mentioning here is the need of emotional disturb between a mother and a child. At the beginning, this contact has a much physical character, but in time, the character of this contact changes. It has a much psychological sense and needs another form of fulfilment.3Parents are able to create proper conditions to form a childs personality to get to this aim, parents must continuously observe and recognize their childs needs and try to find out them. Many factors have an influence on a harmonious course of a childs development, including all psychophysical processes, and affect the childs future stance point of view, and the way she or he is perceived by the society.4Human needs are divided into material, biological, organic and psychological ones. Generally, psychological needs are to boot divided intoA need of safety shaped in developmentA cognitive needAn activity needA need of independence and personal developmentAn emotional and social interaction needA sense of belong and acceptance needA pigheadedness needb. vehemence against children as the negation of properdevelopmentA child who is harmed is the one who is measly due to improper behaviour of other spate, generally parents and guardians, and who experiences injustice and a sense of powerlessness. This process, whether intentional or unintentional, and essenceing from adults actions, may have a negative influence on a childs physical or psychological development.5Dickens stories abound in episodes involving both psychological and physical abuse among children. Children rob one another of dignity and belongings. They accumulate manipulate red and frustration in themselves. They are weak and dominated by adults and find abusing their equals o r weaker ones as the only signifyable way of venting their anger. Violence against children leads unavoidably to violence in children. This too is a leave alone of a childhood interrupted, of a thwarted development. Violence against children is the most perverted form of violence children are defenceless and innocent human beings at a formative stage, who are susceptible to a physical and to psychological injury. Though violence may reside in children themselves, for example, in unwanted, problematic, chronically ill or disabled children in the majority of cases, children are victims of violence perpetrated by adults. Violence occurs in many different part, and may have different forms, but generally three groups of reasons for its occurrence may be distinguishedviolence in children directed against others (children as well asadults) is a result of the childrens frustration with their own health (disabled and chronically ill children), with their social and indirectly economic s tatus ( strip children, children of alcoholics, etc.) and, classically, often is a consequence of warviolence in parents directed at children which often is a result of social pathologies dysfunctional familiesviolence being a result of a familys social isolation owed to their religion, ethnicity, social or economic status, etc. fit to Aleksandra Sobkowska, a Polish psychologist, there is a conventional division of violence against children establish on its type physical, psychological and sexual abuse. Negligence of children is slightlytimes considered to be the mildest form of violence, however, it is most common, and it is extremely harmful and just kindred any other form of psychical abuse beatings, torture, etc. extends its effect into the sphere of a childs psyche. Therefore, the distinction between physical and psychological abuse, at least(prenominal) in terms of their lasting effects psychical and psychological scars overlap and blur.In Sobkowskas view, psychical a buse of children has cognitive, emotional and behavioural consequences a childs abuse syndrome may be manifested bya lack of a sense of securitya lack of a sense of belonging to the closest peoplea lack of or low self-confidencespiritual lonelinessa feeling of being harmeda feeling and consciousness of guilt and shamedifficulty in forming relationships.In Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, there are many examples of child abuse and violence ranging from the precise canonical lack of alimentationUnfortunately for the experimental doctrine of the female to whose protecting care Oliver Twist was delivered over, a similar result usually attended the operation of her system for at the very split second when a child had contrived to exist upon the smallest possible portion of the weakest possible food, it did perversely happen in eight and half cases out of ten, both that it sickened from want and cold, or fell into another world, and there gathered to the fathers which it had nee r known in this.6through terrible living conditionsAn unfinished place on black tressels, which stood in the middle of the shop, looked so gloomy and death- like that a cold tremble came over him, every time his eyes browseed in the direction of the dismal object from which he almost expected to see some frightful form slowly rear its head, to drive him phrenetic with terror. The recess beneath the counter in which his flock mattress was thrust, looked like a grave.7resulting in a sense of fear and spiritual lonelinessHe was alone in a strange place and we all know how chilled and desolate the best of us will sometimes feel in such a situation. The boy had no friends to care for, or to care for him. The regret of no recent separation was fresh in his instinct the absence of no loved and well-remembered face sank heavily into his heart.8Psychological violence is a conscious destruction or significant limitation on a childs possibility of proper development. Ranging from insults, as can be seen in the following episode from Oliver TwistGet downstairs, little bag o bones. With this the infratakers wife opened a side door, and pushed Oliver down a focus flight of stairs into a stone cell, damp and dark, forming the ante-room to the coal-cellar, and denominated the kitchen.9It is hard to bring in any conclusive ideas as to what future awaited Oliver, and whether his childhood fill with pain brought to bear on his life as an adult. There is a note to the preface of Charles Dickens Oliver Twist which sayIt supposes the story of an ill-omened orphan boy from his early years in the harsh environment of the workhouse, to his struggle for survival in the dangerous world outside its gates.10A parallel between the story of Oliver Twist, a boy who dares to ask for much11and the life of Charles Dickens is evident. As a young boy, Dickens was strained to work in one of Britains infamous sweatshops, or as they were often referred to, children factories. His fathers debts put the whole family in prison only young Charles was spared his freedom, however, in exchange for hard labour in a blacking shop class. In a way similar to most children from poor neighbourhoods of capital of the United Kingdom, Dickens suffered labor of poverty hunger and all things most children his age would take for granted. thirstiness haunted little Charles, something that is echoed in the story of Oliver Twist, but what pained him more was his hopelessness against the odds set by the cruel society of the nineteenth century Britain. Britain was undergoing a period of transformation the Industrial Revolution was at its peak many people fled the impoverished countryside and settled in unsound cities. There, they were exploited by the capitalist industrialists. Slavery was by then proscribe in Britains overseas colonies, importing cheap labour was out of the question, yet the growing delivery needed hands, many hands, inexpensive hands. In such circumstances, chil dren became a commodity cheap and easy to manage. Factories soon fill with little children whose parents, all the while working themselves to near death, still failed to make ends meet. This is an era of Britains great economic expansion this is an era that witnessed the birth of communism.Britain was getting rich, or at least the rich were getting richer for the rest the society was travel apart. Many children faced a very bleak future orphaned (mostly through abandonment) deprived of any possibility for social advancement, just like Oliver Twist, veered onto the dangerous path of crime. Dickens resisted the temptations of becoming a criminal perhaps, in that sense, he was lucky his contacts with Londons underworld remained luckily within the confines of his fantasy. I might easily have been, for any care that was taken of me, a little robber or a little vagabond12Dickens, a literary giant of the Victorian England, was first and foremost, its victim. As a child, he suffered all t he deprivations shared by most of his books characters Nicholas Nickleby, Oliver Twist, Pip and David Copperfield whose lives stories became a great testimony of Britains shameful past a past tainted by abuse against the innocent and the weakest children.c. Maslows hierarchy of needsThis part of the thesis is found on the psychological theory authored by Abraham Maslow. Among other things, he wrote about human nature being good or at least neutral. It cannot be assumed that a child is born with a hopeless nature.13Because of its pessimistic, negative and restricted conception of human nature, Maslow became very critical of psychology. unlike other scientists, he conducted his tests on healthy people, people without, for example, brain injuries and he reached a number of new and innovative conclusions concerning personality. He claimed that psychology is much more occupied with peoples weaknesses rather than strengths that the main focus of psychological studies is sin, and mo ral excellence tends to be omitted.14Maslows hierarchy of needs is represented by the following platMaslow recognises, and illustrates his notion by means of a pyramid, that human needs can be divided into five levels, four of which represent deficiency needs (referred to also as primary needs) and are associated with human physiology. Only when those needs are satisfied, a human develops a need of self-actualization (referred to also as growth needs).d. Society in the Victorian progressDickens hero, Oliver Twist, lived in a difficult time characterised by changes and the resulting serious crisis in the politics, economy and religious life. Victorians expected progress, rapid changes that were to improve their daily lives apart from the elite, life in the nineteenth century was very hard for most of bare(a) citizens, especially for children. Many peasants, driven away from the countryside by the prospects of better(p) lives in the cities, fell victim of industrial exploitation a nd the capitalist system of economy. Cities grew in population too rapidly, forcing many to live in squalid neighbourhoods filled with filth and crime. Urbanization meant more places of work, but the cost of living in big cities often exceeded an average familys means. Families were outsize or too large people lived in overcrowded houses in hand-to-mouth conditions. Industrial production was carried on at great risks and causing suffering of men, women and children. Britains status as the workshop of the world was achieved at a great human cost15. throng including small children worked fifteen or sixteen hours a day in, most of the time, unbearable conditions. The majority of people the so-called working class, which ironically include the un use, lived in the scruffiest of households.The industrialists treated the less fortunate, especially children, simply, and only, like objects, manpower. Children were exploited more than adults, because they never dared to ask for more. What i s more, parents willingly agreed to this exploitation, even of very small children (often younger than six years of age), because they, too, could earn a few pennies. This tautological income for starving families was at times a number of life and death. Children employed in industry, suffered and often fell ill, at times irreversibly. Their childhood was taken away from them, but what is more, the precarious working and employment conditions, often strained them into the streets where they begged or stole to survive.Most children were denied the stability of having a home, being prone by their parents. Sometimes they were subjected to violence or solitude, being under-nourished or even starving, covered with rags, slumbering in empty cellars. Deprived of love and support from adults, they were neglected and lonely among others. The working class children had no rights and their hardship gain them no respect.People in Victorian England believed they were doing what was best for their children. But they were gripped by an idea which was widespread at that time that children were empty vessels, containing nothing worthwhile until filled with what adults judged best.16Dickens in his novels depicted the Victorian societys major problems. The generator portrayed the society in all its variety, touching all their problems but the theme to which he always returned, was the family, childhood, injustice, inequality, crime, corruption, scandals, poverty, as well as the suffering of children. Whatever he wrote was written with passion, because he experienced seeing life, from the point of view of the poor people and abused children.In his time, few people understood children as well as Dickens did, and he was the first writer who described childrens thoughts and feelings capturing the way they spoke, behaved, and suffered.Chapter twoChildrens needs and violence against children based on Dickens novel Oliver Twist.The aim of the following chapter is to present the connexion between a childs needs and life in the Victorian Age on the basis of Dickens novel Oliver Twist.Oliver Twist is the first novel in which Dickens speaks out against social injustice and an inadequate economic system that condoned the plight of the poorest, yet the largest, segment of British society. His, is not a portrait of a happy and harmonious family, but a debt-ridden, crushed family where children, unless employed in Britains worst workshops, are viewed as a burden. The author tries to show terrible conditions in workhouses where poor people were forced to live and work if they could not pay their debts. In his novel Oliver Twist, Dickens also draws a critical picture of charitable foundations and their involvement in childrens orphanages. Additionally, Dickens sheds light on Londons dangerous criminal underworld.The main character of the novel, Oliver, is a neglected, illegitimate child. He does not know his father and his mother died at his birth. He is brought up as an orphan in cruel conditions in an orphanage typical of the Victorian Age. This small and lonely child is draw into the world of brutality and violence. The fact that he does not have parents increase his loneliness and difficulties in life because he is deprived of their support which is very important, especially at the beginning of everyones life. Having a normal life is important for a child, but for Oliver that proved an unattainable dream. Oliver spends the first nine years of his life in a badly run home for young orphans and later he is transferred to a workhouse for adults. There, not only does he lack means to secure himself a decent upbringing, but is constantly unforesightful of the essentials such as sufficient amount of food, a room to sleep or clean clothes. When he is nine, he is still a child and he does not understand the world around him, especially his own status. Once, he asks an adult what it means to be an orphan Boy, said the piece in the high chai r, listen to me. You know youare an orphan, I ponder? Whats that, sir? inquired poor Oliver. The boy is a fool I thought he was, said the gentleman in a whitewaistcoat.17Oliver is afraid of adults he does not understand why strangers decide about his future and his life, and in their presence he often trembles and cries. One of the most important and memorable images in the novel is the moment when Oliver feels extreme hunger and asks for something more to eat Please, sir. I want some more.18This famous scene is symbolical in that sense that it expresses Olivers revolt against his situation. He does not understand that such behaviour is unacceptable in the workhouse and he is beaten as a result and then put up for sale, like an object, not a human being. Oliver acts against the rules because the situation in the workhouse is abnormal his basic needs are not satisfied.The living conditions in the workhouses of the 19th century Britain were very gross(a) and often these harbingers of modern day sweatshops resembled more prisons than houses. The treatment of children was terribly bad, some of them even starved to death. The sufferings of children in the Victorian Age indicate that their basic needs were not satisfied. The heavy, basic needs which are essential for our survival, such as proper pabulum, a place to sleep, warmth were not met then. jibe to Maslow, food occupies the lowest level of the pyramid in the hierarchy of needs, and belongs to the very primitive group of needs, which are essential for survival refusing proper nourishment to hungry people, especially children is the negation of humanity. What is more, Oliver Twist is denied safety and stability he is an bereft and lonely child thrown into unsympathetic adult world, where he lacks parental love, affection and protection.In Maslowian theory, Oliver is denied access to the second developmental level and his need to feel safe remains unfulfilled.At the beginning, Oliver is not aware of his si tuation gradually, however, he comes to realize his standing I am a very little boy, sir and it is so- so So what? inquired Mr Bumble in amazement. So lonely, sir So very lonely Cried the child .19This small boy feels he should have some rights as a human being and he seeks love. It is only natural for a boy like Oliver to look for love and a sense of belonging, a feeling that gives people a sense of stability. Again, the fundamental need, the third level of the Maslowian pyramid representing the hierarchy of needs necessary for a childs proper physiological and psychological development remains unfulfilled. Although he leaves the workhouse, his circumstances never improve he moves in with Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker. Subjected to moral and physical oppression, Oliver continues to feel lonely, cold and abandoned in his new home he has no place to sleep Then come with me, said Mrs Sowerberry, taking up a dim dirty lamp, and leading the way upstairs your beds under the counter. You dont mind sleeping among the coffins, I suppose? But it doesnt much matter whether you do or dont, for you cant sleep anywhere else.20Another boy, named Noah Claypole, who too is a worker at Sowerberrys workshop, constantly abuses Oliver, but the main character endures his fate without a word of complaint. One day however, acting on an impulse, Oliver fights off Noahs attacks. He fights in defence of his mothers name but condescension his innocence, Oliver is severely punished. This situation illustrates the Maslows notion of violence being a result of a thwarted development in an environment where a childs basic needs remain unfulfilled violence and other forms of anti-social behaviour are a consequence. In other words, a child who is deprived of an opportunity to fulfil his needs uses aggression, turns to aggression he/she does not act like a normal child. This moment in the novel marks another important transition Oliver demands to be respected he reacts with violence against the insults used with regard to his mother an action that points to the fourth level of the Maslowian pyramid, the need of esteem.Oliver decides to escape because he refuses to endure his treatment. He chooses London hoping to change his life for better. In spite of being exhausted and hungry he does not give up and is still full of hope and determined. He meets Dodger, who offers him a dower hand. Unaware, Oliver joins a gang of juvenile pick-pockets, run by a Jewish emigrant named Fagin. Dodger and other young boys, and now Oliver, roam the streets of London stealing, when they can, hanging out, laughing. Fagins gang creates an authentic society and provides these unwanted boys with security and a sense of belonging. Oliver has never known this kind of life he is drawn to it to gain respect amongst peers, but also to feel accepted, relied on, and needed.At the beginning, Oliver does not realise that he has joined a criminal group. He does not understand the whole situation but tries to be a ready(a) learner and to acquire new skills, i.e. pick pocketing. However, because he has little experience, or simply because he still is a nave little boy, he gets caught and arrested. Fortunately for Oliver, Mr. Brownlow, one of the gangs victims, recognizes the boys innocence, exonerates the boy during the investigation and takes him into his custody. Oliver leads now a better life, at last, but he is not sure if his benefactor will not one day commove him back into the streets of London. He asks Mr. Brownlow Oh, dont tell me you are going to send me away, sir, pray Dont turn me out of doors to wander in the streets again.Let me stay here and be a servant.Dont send me back to the wretched place I came from.Have a clemency upon a poor boy, sir21Mr. Brownlow, however, reassures the boy of his true devotion to his upbringing My effective child, said the old gentleman, moved by the warmth ofOlivers sudden appeal, you need not be afraid of my desertingyou, 22A few we eks later, however, Oliver is kidnapped by Nancy a prostitute who is incited by Fagin. What is more, he vanished precisely when Mr Brownlow entrusts him with money and sends him shopping. Oliver does not think about himself but is afraid that Mr. Bro