Resumo de Oliver Twist, Or The Parish Boy's Progress

The novel opens in a workhouse north of London where Oliver is born to Agnes, an unwed mother, who dies soon after his birth. The infant is sent to a branch workhouse to be looked after by Mrs. Mann who pockets a major portion of the stipends allotted to the orphans. When Oliver is nine years old, he is taken back to the workhouse to learn the business of picking oakum. Like other children, he finds life in the workhouse miserable. Most of the time they are ill-treated and sent to bed hungry. One day when Oliver asks for more food, he is beaten up and confined to a solitary cell. Later, he is sold to Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker, who makes him his apprentice. He is trained to be a mute at children's funerals. Though Mr. Sowerberry likes him, Mrs. Sowerberry and her loyal servant, Noah Claypole, make his life miserable. One day, after he hits Noah for taunting him and insulting his mother, Oliver is beaten up and confined to a dark room. Early the next morning, he makes his escape to London. The first chapter of Oliver's life thus comes to an end. On the way to London, Oliver meets a young man named John Dawkins who gives him food and promises to provide him shelter. Dawkins, also known as Artful Dodger, introduces him to the underworld by taking him to the house of Fagin. Unaware of the nature of the underworld, Oliver lives in the midst of criminals enjoying himself more than ever before. However, the day he goes out with Dodger and Bates and watches them pocketing the purse of a gentleman, his suspicions are aroused. He feels revolted and tries to run away from the scene. Unfortunately, the gentleman seeing him running away from the scene, suspects him of being the thief. As Dodger and Bates make their escape, Oliver is led to the office of the magistrate. He is almost charged for the theft, when the bookseller, who was a witness to the crime, enters the scene and declares him innocent. Unable to withstand the strain anymore, Oliver faints. Mr. Brownlow takes pity on the boy and carries him to his home in Pentonville. In the peaceful atmosphere of the house, Oliver recovers. Both Mrs. Bedwin and Brownlow shower him with affection. When Oliver regains his strength, Mr. Brownlow sends him on an errand to the bookstall. As he walks down the street, he is captured by Nancy and Sikes who lead him towards Fagin's den. Fagin and his associates try to tempt him towards criminal activities but the boy remains unmoved, displaying an inner strength and confidence. One evening, he is sent to accompany Bill Sikes on a secret mission. Oliver is forced to help Bill Sikes and Toby Crackit break into a house to rob it of its valuables. Unmindful of his protests, they push the boy in the through the window and order him to open the door. The boy takes the opportunity to alert the residents of the house but before he can summon courage, a servant of the house shoots at him. Sikes leaves him wounded in a ditch but Oliver's instinct for survival makes him walk towards the house and seek help. Though he is identified by the servant as an accomplice in the robbery, Mrs. Maylie and Rose take him in and nurse him back to strength. They believe his words and allow to stay with them. Rose and Mrs. Maylie shower him with motherly affection, which he has missed in his childhood. They provide him the much needed security and love he had craved all along. Striking a bond of friendship with them he becomes their companion in joy as well as in grief. With their help he is reunited with Mr. Brownlow. His benefactor catches hold of the man who is partly responsible for Oliver's plight. Through Monks, Mr. Brownlow discovers the identity of Oliver and learns about his share in the property of his father. Oliver, thus, regains his rightful place in society. He goes back to live in a town similar to the one in which he was born. Oliver Twist centers on both a social and a personal theme. The social theme states that for every orphan who is rescued and encoud to establish his identity in the world, there are many other orphans who are discarded to suffer and die a miserable death. Oliver is one of the orphans who has the strength to fight against his oppressors and is lucky to find a benefactor like Mr. Brownlow who helps the boy to assert his right as an individual. On a personal level, the theme of Oliver Twist is the struggle of an individual in a harsh world for his survival. Oliver finds himself helpless as he is oppressed by his superiors in the workhouse and corrupted by Fagin and his criminal associates. However, his innate goodness and instinct for survival help him to remain uncorrupted and he emerges stronger after his trial.

Resumos Relacionados