Charles Dickens’s renowned novel Oliver Twist intricately weaves a tale set against the gritty backdrop of 19th-century London, where poverty and social injustice loom large. The novel follows the life of the protagonist, Oliver Twist, an orphan born in a workhouse, as he navigates through the world where the society is defined by its stark contrasts of virtue and vice, kindness and cruelty. Despite Oliver’s innocence, he faces early adversity and is thrust into a harsh reality where survival is difficult. Throughout his tumultuous journey, Oliver encounters a spectrum of characters—from the compassionate Mr. Brownlow to the nefarious criminal Fabian and his gang—each representing facets of human nature. Dickens paints a vivid portrait of a society divided, where the destitute struggle to survive admits rampant exploitation and moral decay. Through these portrayals, Dickens challenges readers to confront the ethical complexities of human nature and consider how external and natural circumstances shape individual’s choices and destinies. Ultimately, Oliver Twist remains a timeless exploration of human nature’s capacity for both goodness and corruption, offering profound insights into the societal forces that shape individuals lives.
At the heart of Oliver Twist lies the juxtaposition of innocence and corruption. Oliver, the titular character, embodies purity and virtue from his deficient birth in a workhouse to his trials among thieves and conmen. His journey exposes the harsh realities faced by the marginalized, revealing how these environments can shape individuals’ moral compasses. Characters like Aragon and Bill Sikes, for instance, exemplify the extent to which poverty and desperation can lead to moral decay. Fagin, in particular, demonstrates the exploitation of vulnerable children for personal gains, highlighting the ruthless usage that thrives in the shadows of society's neglect. This portrayal of the society in 19th century England illustrates a cycle of societal abandonment and moral deterioration. Utilizing the novel to critique the societal structures that perpetuate exploitation and injustices, Dickens depicts individual moral struggle under the influence of environments. The workhouse, illustrated as a grim institution of neglect and dehumanization, symbolizes the systematic oppression of the poor. The criminal underworld, led by Fagin’s gang, highlights how poverty and injustice can drive individuals to criminality. Under the condition of poverty, as quoted:
“Many hunger-worn outcasts close their eyes in our bare streets, at such times,
who, let their crimes have been what they may, can hardly open them in a more
bitter world” (Dickens, 23).
This portrayal challenges readers to confront the unpleasant reality of how systematic inequalities breed environments where criminality becomes a means of survival rather than a choice.
Despite the darkness, Dickens interspersed moments of compassion and altruism throughout the narrative. In contrast to these inauspicious portrayals, figures like Mr. Brownlow, Nancy, and Rose demonstrate the potential for redemption and selflessness even in the bleakest of circumstances. Nancy, for example, despite being entangled in Fagin’s gang, displays acts of compassion that transcend circumstances. Her internal conflict between loyalty to Fagin’s gang and conscience serves as a poignant example of the umami capacity for moral agency and the potential for redemption, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Her ultimate decision to betray Sikes in order to protect Oliver from harm is a powerful act of self-sacrifice. This choice symbolizes a broader moral stand against the criminal environment in which she is ensnared. Moreover, Rose’s kindness to others such as caring for Oliver and advocating for justice, highlights her natural goodness and moral integrity. Although she grew up in an affluent family where most needs were provided, she cares and emphasizes the poor. Dickens’s depiction of these catalysts of Oliver’s journey offers both Oliver and the reader glimpses of compassion and moral guidance admits a world fraught with corruption. This duality enriches the novel’s examination of human nature, suggesting that even amidst profound societal flaws, individuals’ acts of kindness can inspire change.
Throughout the lens of Oliver, Dickens raises the question of whether criminality is nature or nurture. When Oliver was brought to Fagin’s gang, the narrator suggests that there are three requirements for turning a person into a criminal: loneliness, bad environment, and deliberate corruption.
“In short, the wily old Jew had the boy in his toils; and, having prepared his
mind by solitude and gloom to prefer any society to the companionship of his
own sad thoughts in such a dreary place, was now slowly instilling into his
soul the poison which he hoped would blacken it and change its hue for ever”
(Dickens, 18).
This passage highlights the role of external factors in shaping criminal behavior, emphasizing the impact of environment and manipulation on individuals’ moral compass. Dickens skillfully depicts how criminality and one’s destiny can be nurtured by the deliberate actions of others, exemplified by Fagin’s gang. Through this portrayal, the author raises important questions about the extent to which one’s destiny is controllable. Criminality, however, is also illustrated as nature. From the description of Monks’s upbringing and predisposition to criminal behavior, it is evident that some individuals may be inherently drawn to a life of crime regardless of external influences. For instance, as described by the narrator:
“He had left her, when only eighteen; robbed her of jewels and money;
gambled, squandered, forged, and fled to London: where for two years he
had associated with the lowest outcasts” (Dickens, 51).
Even though Monks is born in a wealthy and socially respectable family with well-off parents, he acts like a born criminal. Life offered Monks advantages that no one in Fagin’s gang could ever imagine—he even got a huge amount of inheritance. Despite his privileged upbringing, Monks choose a life of crime. Through the contrasting lives and decisions of how criminality could be built, Dickens highlights the complex nature of criminal behavior. This dual portrayal of criminality as both nurture and nature adds complexity to the novel’s exploration of human nature and fate.
Oliver Twist remains a profound exploration of human nature’s dualities—its capacity for both goodness and corruption. Through vivid characters and stark contrasts, Dickens critiques the societal factors that foster exploitation and moral decline. The author portrays the workhouse as a bleak institution emblematic of systemic oppression. Here, the poor are stripped of dignity and hope, thus forced into survival modes that often lead to criminality. Poor environment becomes a breeding ground for characters like Fagin’s gang. Dickens underscores the notion that poverty and injustice are catalysts for moral decay, highlighting how individuals are often fallen into the cycle of exploitation. The novel’s enduring relevance lies in its depiction of how external circumstances influence individuals’ destinies. By weaving together themes of nature versus nurture in criminality, Dickens invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human existence and the ethical challenges posed by societal inequalities. Ultimately, Oliver Twist stands as a timeless novel that propres readers to examine how societal structures and environments shape individuals’ choices and moral development. By contrasting how criminality can be nature and nurtured through the characters, readers are impelled to reflect on the complexities of human nature and how it leads to divergent destinies.
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