Born in a public workhouse of a destitute mother, it was
uncertain whether Oliver Twist, whose mother nearly dies in childbirth, would survive.
In his description, the humor of Dickens evidences itself in the fourth paragraph of the
novel after Dickens narrates that poor Oliver lay struggling for breath on an old
mattress:
Now, if during this brief period, Oliver had
been surrounded by careful grandmothers, anxious aunts, experienced nurses and doctors
of profound wisdom, he most inevitably and indubitably have been killed in no
time.
When the little Oliver
makes it safely into life, the doctor hands the baby to his mother, who kisses him, and
dies. For the next year, Oliver is "brought up by hand" in a "systematic course of
treachery and deception as the parish authorities "farmed out" the orphans. An elderly
woman in charge of the orphans kept a large percentage of the money the children made,
and fed them with the rest. So, Oliver was underfed and rarely had a
bath:
Hunger
and ill-usage are great assistants if you want to cry; and Oliver cried very naturally
indeed.
Perhaps the most
famous scene of Oliver's childhood is the scene in which he asks for more to eat:
"Please, sir, I want some more." His statement convinces a boardmember that Oliver
"will come to be hung." When Oliver is almost apprenticed as a chimney sweep, he begs
the magistrate not to sign him; the man feel sympathetic and does not sign. After this,
Oliver goes to work for an undertaker named Mr. Sowerberry, but has problems with
another boy, Noah, who is a charity-boy, by whom Oliver is beaten severely. After this,
Oliver runs away to London where he meets a strange young man named John Dawkins, better
known as "the artful Dodger." After feeding Oliver, the Dodger takes Oliver in the dark
to London. In the morning, Oliver wakes and sees no one in the room but "the Old Jew,"
whom the reader learns is Faggin. Faggin trains Oliver to be a pickpocket. One day as
Oliver is learning his trade, a Mr. Brownlow chases the boys and apprehends Oliver. He
later has Oliver released into his company.
Ironically,
the reader later learns that Mr. Brownlow is actually the grandfather of Oliver. But at
this point, the kind gentleman has merely taken in Oliver, who falls ill. After he
recovers, Oliver is stolen back by Fagin's boys. Mr. Brownlow searches for Oliver and
finally rescues him. Brownlow does all he can to help restore Oliver to his
family.
Like his dear friend, Dick, who dies in the
workhouse, Oliver is child who is positive and always thinks well of people. He is
sensitive, compassionate, loving, loyal, and gentle.
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