Oliver Twist as picaresque novel
Oliver Twist as picaresque novel
The picaresque narrative was an important predecessor of the novel. It emerged in sixteenth-century Spain. "Picaro" is a spanish for "rogue" and a typical story concerns the escapades of an insouciant rascal who lives by his wits and shows little if any alteration of character through a long succession of adventurers. Picaresque fiction is realistic in manner, episodic in structure and often satiric in aim. The first and very lively, English example was Thomas Nashe's The Unfortunate Traveller(1954). Dickens was very much interested in the heart of the picaresque novel. It was because he wanted to lead the readers through a number of adventures and satirical scenes. However, now we are going to discuss Oliver Twist by Dickens as picaresque novel.
In Oliver Twist, we find the environment which was surely capable to replace the kind-hearted spirit with more rougish spirit. Besides, here Oliver was a noble boy with " a good, sturdy spirit" though he had no word influence and insistence in the form of Fagin and the Artful Dodger. Again one must be surprised to see one of poor circumstances that rose the challenges of the world with talent and persistence. To find the pieces of ourselves within each twist and turn in their life, the heard inside as well as the painful memory of us was enraptured by a journey. Though now it seems more parallel to our own life. We can also make the hero or heroine as champion only for utilizing the resources around them. We live vicariously through these heroes or heroines. Through our different circumstances and our different aspirations, we are united with these characters by the fact.
In this novel Oliver in the depth
of his despair have become the pictures of destitution. Many have come to allow the image of Oliver, harrowed and gaunt, pleading for “some more”, to embody sadness, despondency and absolute wretchedness, no matter what other instances cause the image to rise.The novel also affords an opportunity for the cynic and the social critic to fire off against an indifferent and cruel society.Dickens is a master of such a craft with notable examples of social criticism found in the story of hero such as Oliver.
The excitement as well as danger surrounding the criminal underworld was also depicted in Oliver Twist by Dickens.
Some of its criminal characters — Fagin, Bill Sikes, the Artful Dodger-have become legends. In Oliver Twist Dickens discusses with London criminal underbelly,filling the novel with pick pockets,prostitutes,
murderers and house-breakers.Oliver himself is taken on the Chertsey burglary to carry out and authentic ‘rig’ or trick.Dodger and the others pickpockets, go off to witness at the execution of boys like them-boys
Fagin has informed on for the reward. When they get back, Fagin asks them ‘whether there had been much of a crowd at the execution that morning’— suggesting what may lie in store for Oliver. Fagin, Who harrowingly faces the gallows at the end, is early on overheard by Oliver muttering to himself, ‘what a fine thing capital punishment is!’.
In Oliver Twist we find various images of contemporary society. This novel portrays the despotic social scenario of England at that time. The novel’s subtitle is The Parish Boy’s Progress, which is satirical depiction of an orphan boy, Oliver, Who suffers from the miserable behaviour of the authorities charged to care for orphan children. Oliver eventually becomes involved with a gang of criminals. It shows how a young mind gets manipulated by evil just because he suffers from the cruelty of the government. The novel is a part of the emerging social satire of its time.
Moreover, the novel covers various social setbacks which were the reason for the injustice found in English society. The
story shows various aspects of social themes such as class struggles, poverty, criminality, religion, identity, charity, corruption, mob mentality, plight of orphans, plight of women and
injustice.
Thus, throughout the novel Dickens reveals his comic comments and criticism of the contemporary society. He also shows various kinds of criminal activities through the characters of this novel. However common features of picaresque novel can be found in this novel. Dickens made effort to provide details of picaresque scenes to complete his original motivation of novel writing.The very fundamental picaresque aspect which is thus suggested is especially
characteristic of some of the Spanish tales of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries ; and it is therefore appropriate to examine Dickens’s novel in the light of its Spanish picaresque background.
The picaresque narrative was an important predecessor of the novel. It emerged in sixteenth-century Spain. "Picaro" is a spanish for "rogue" and a typical story concerns the escapades of an insouciant rascal who lives by his wits and shows little if any alteration of character through a long succession of adventurers. Picaresque fiction is realistic in manner, episodic in structure and often satiric in aim. The first and very lively, English example was Thomas Nashe's The Unfortunate Traveller(1954). Dickens was very much interested in the heart of the picaresque novel. It was because he wanted to lead the readers through a number of adventures and satirical scenes. However, now we are going to discuss Oliver Twist by Dickens as picaresque novel.
In Oliver Twist, we find the environment which was surely capable to replace the kind-hearted spirit with more rougish spirit. Besides, here Oliver was a noble boy with " a good, sturdy spirit" though he had no word influence and insistence in the form of Fagin and the Artful Dodger. Again one must be surprised to see one of poor circumstances that rose the challenges of the world with talent and persistence. To find the pieces of ourselves within each twist and turn in their life, the heard inside as well as the painful memory of us was enraptured by a journey. Though now it seems more parallel to our own life. We can also make the hero or heroine as champion only for utilizing the resources around them. We live vicariously through these heroes or heroines. Through our different circumstances and our different aspirations, we are united with these characters by the fact.
In this novel Oliver in the depth
of his despair have become the pictures of destitution. Many have come to allow the image of Oliver, harrowed and gaunt, pleading for “some more”, to embody sadness, despondency and absolute wretchedness, no matter what other instances cause the image to rise.The novel also affords an opportunity for the cynic and the social critic to fire off against an indifferent and cruel society.Dickens is a master of such a craft with notable examples of social criticism found in the story of hero such as Oliver.
The excitement as well as danger surrounding the criminal underworld was also depicted in Oliver Twist by Dickens.
Some of its criminal characters — Fagin, Bill Sikes, the Artful Dodger-have become legends. In Oliver Twist Dickens discusses with London criminal underbelly,filling the novel with pick pockets,prostitutes,
murderers and house-breakers.Oliver himself is taken on the Chertsey burglary to carry out and authentic ‘rig’ or trick.Dodger and the others pickpockets, go off to witness at the execution of boys like them-boys
Fagin has informed on for the reward. When they get back, Fagin asks them ‘whether there had been much of a crowd at the execution that morning’— suggesting what may lie in store for Oliver. Fagin, Who harrowingly faces the gallows at the end, is early on overheard by Oliver muttering to himself, ‘what a fine thing capital punishment is!’.
In Oliver Twist we find various images of contemporary society. This novel portrays the despotic social scenario of England at that time. The novel’s subtitle is The Parish Boy’s Progress, which is satirical depiction of an orphan boy, Oliver, Who suffers from the miserable behaviour of the authorities charged to care for orphan children. Oliver eventually becomes involved with a gang of criminals. It shows how a young mind gets manipulated by evil just because he suffers from the cruelty of the government. The novel is a part of the emerging social satire of its time.
Moreover, the novel covers various social setbacks which were the reason for the injustice found in English society. The
story shows various aspects of social themes such as class struggles, poverty, criminality, religion, identity, charity, corruption, mob mentality, plight of orphans, plight of women and
injustice.
Thus, throughout the novel Dickens reveals his comic comments and criticism of the contemporary society. He also shows various kinds of criminal activities through the characters of this novel. However common features of picaresque novel can be found in this novel. Dickens made effort to provide details of picaresque scenes to complete his original motivation of novel writing.The very fundamental picaresque aspect which is thus suggested is especially
characteristic of some of the Spanish tales of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries ; and it is therefore appropriate to examine Dickens’s novel in the light of its Spanish picaresque background.
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