Written by the renowned author Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist is a series that depicts the story of the titular orphan and his adventures in 19th-century England, revealing the lives of criminals and the cruel treatment of the poor in the Victorian era. Born as an orphan and raised in a Victorian workhouse, Oliver Twist’s childhood was filled with misfortune—he was constantly beaten and bullied by his boss and peers and always hungry. Despite being removed from the workhouse to work in a coffin store, his life situation did not alleviate. After running off to seek a better life, Oliver met the gang led by the infamous criminal Fagin, who offered him food and shelter. His encounter with the criminals explores the lives of criminals in the era, exploring the intertwined relations between socioeconomic circumstances and criminal behavior, exposing how societal neglect and economic disparity may be prime factors in leading to the life of a criminal. Charles Dickens offers a poignant critique of the Victorian era’s rigid framework of social classes, often correlating poverty with criminal behavior. Through the characters of Oliver Twist, Fagin, Sikes, and more, the author explores the complexities of poverty and criminality, revealing the reasons behind falling into crime and the struggles faced by individuals living in poverty.
Set against the backdrop of the rigid social hierarchy and living under the British Poor Laws, which forced poor families to labor in workhouses, Charles Dickens realistically illustrates the lives of people living in poverty in the Victorian era and the general Victorian belief that poverty is sinful. Poverty was often seen as a moral failing and linked to criminality in the era, leading to a cycle of hardship and desperation for those living in poverty. Characters Oliver Twist encounters in the novel, such as the people living in the workhouse, are considered "criminals" as they had to be limited or even imprisoned in the workhouse, laboring for their lives yet making little money to survive. As Charles Dickens reveals, the British Poor Laws are a part of the cycle of poverty, causing the lower class to continue to live in poverty as they have no options in life to make their circumstances better, such as receiving education. As the author explains in the novel, the Poor Laws system punishes Oliver Twist and other orphans for their "crime" of being poor:
“He should be despatched to a branch-workhouse . . . where twenty or thirty other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws, rolled about the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing.” (Oliver Twist, 2)
As Dickens reveals, the Victorian era was a time of great inequality and social injustice, where the working class was treated harshly and had limited opportunities for social mobility. Their limited opportunities and constant lack of proper nourishment cause them to fail to improve their life situation, perpetuating the cycle of poverty, which was often criminalized rather than addressed with effective social programs.
As the living conditions of the poor are generally unfortunate, succumbing to criminal actions such as thievery and pickpocketing may become a means of survival for some individuals, with gangs alluring or forcing one into a life of crime. Although working in a workhouse may provide some relief, the harsh conditions and low wages imprison one in poverty. On the contrary, there are benefits of being a thief as it offers more economic gains and opportunities for a higher standard of living. Moreover, the threats of homelessness, starvation, and impoverishment may push characters into crime. Fagin, for instance, tries to allure Oliver Twist to become a thief, asking Bates and the Dodger to surround him, promising him materialistic rewards:
“‘No more it has,’ said Charley. ‘Why don’t you put yourself under Fagin, Oliver?’
‘And make your fortun’ out of hand?’ added the Dodger, with a grin.
‘And so be able to retire on your property, and do the gen-teel: as I mean to, in the very next leap-year but four that ever comes, and the forty-second Tuesday in Trinity-week,’ said Charley Bates.’” (Oliver Twist, 18）
When Oliver doesn't agree to give in to a life of thieving, Fagin forces him to participate in a burglary planned by Sikes, putting Oliver in a morally compromising situation. Other characters, such as Nancy, the Dodger, and Bates, are also forced into crime as they struggle to live under destitution, revealing the harsh reality of poverty and desperation that causes individuals to commit criminal acts to survive. The novel highlights the societal factors that push individuals into a life of crime for survival, revealing the injustices and economic discrepancies of Victorian England.
In Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens revealed a wide range of criminality to illustrate the criminal society of the Victorian era, exploring the idea that some individuals are predisposed to evil. Through characters such as Sikes and Monks, Dickens delves into the corrupting influence of criminality in society. The malevolent character, Edwards “Monks” Leeford, is depicted as a prime example of someone who is inherently evil, driven by his lack of moral guidance and his greed to keep his inheritance. As introduced in the novel, Monks is Oliver Twist’s half-brother and one of the main antagonists who tries to harm Oliver out of pure malice. Throughout the narrative, he is attached to violent fits and inexplicable hatred, scheming to destroy Oliver Twist’s reputation:
“I tell you again, it was badly planned. Why not have kept him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, sniveling pickpocket of him at once?” (Oliver Twist, 26)
As Charles Dickens depicts, although social conditions undoubtedly influence individuals, some may inherently possess tendencies toward malevolence. Despite Monks’s privileged upbringing, he still maintains a deep-rooted resentment and cruelty towards Oliver, showcasing how some individuals are naturally drawn to evil regardless of their circumstances. This highlights the complex nature of human behavior and the role that individual character plays in shaping one's actions. Furthermore, characters such as Bill Sikes are also an example of a ruthless character. His relationship with Nancy further emphasizes that some individuals may be intrinsically drawn towards cruelty and violence, underscoring his innate criminality as he displays violent and abusive behaviors towards her. In Charles Dickens’s portrayal, criminals, including Monks and Sikes, reinforce the belief that certain individuals are prone to evil doings, regardless of external influences. Throughout the novel, the author delves into the complexities of human nature and explores the possibility that some individuals are “born criminals.”
The Victorian era was a period of industrialization, yet with the rise of poverty and unemployment and the establishment of the Poor Laws, criminality became a prevalent issue in society. In Charles Dickens’s novel, Oliver Twist, the illustration of criminals’ lives in Victorian England reveals the harsh realities faced by individuals living in impoverished conditions, the wide range of reasons for committing crimes, and the inherent tendencies of evil that can manifest in certain people. Throughout the novel, the author explores the lives of the lower class, where poor families are “imprisoned” in workhouses under the Poor Laws, and orphans are believed to be destined for a life of crime. Moreover, his depiction of the criminals in the era showcases the external influence of economic pressures, desperation, and lack of opportunities that often lead individuals to a life of crime. For instance, Oliver Twist's encounter with the gang exemplifies the harsh conditions that force one into crime, with people alluring one to become a criminal by threatening or offering benefits. However, the author also reveals the potential of being inherently evil through characters such as Sikes and Monks, without any external influence. In the novel, Charles Dickens critiques the Victorian belief that poverty is sinful, revealing the unfortunate lives faced by the poor due to societal injustices and their limited opportunities in the workhouse. By presenting an intricate portrayal of criminality, the author emphasizes the complexity of human nature, highlighting that both societal factors and personal choices shape one’s path toward criminality.
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