For the past few weeks, I have been reading the classic novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. The book is set in mid-19th century London and is about a young orphan boy named Oliver Twist. The novel exposes the unsavoury lives of criminals during the time and the inhumane treatment of orphans. To escape from Mr. Bumble, the workhouse official, and his abusive treatment, Oliver Twist walks seventy miles to arrive in London, naively hoping for a better life. After walking for seven days fatigue and hunger set in and he collapsed in a small town near his destination, London. Oliver Twist finds himself being invited by the Dodger, a skillful pickpocket into Mr. Fagin’s lodge. Mr. Fagin as we learn later is an older Jewish man with a described unpleasant appearance who teaches young orphaned or abandoned children the art of pickpocketing. Here, Oliver Twist is being taken care of by Mr. Fagin and he notices a box of riches his first morning there while eating breakfast.
“Oliver thought the old gentleman must be a decided miser to live in such a dirty place, with so many watches; but, thinking that perhaps his fondness for the Dodger and the other boys, cost him a good deal of money, he only cast a deferential look at the Jew, and asked if he might get up” (P.56).
This quotation explains Oliver Twists thoughts on the abnormal amount of riches Mr. Fagin has. He believes that Mr. Fagin lives in such a run down slum because he has a good heart and wants to keep supporting the Dodger and the other young misfortunate boys. Oliver’s thoughts in this quotation lead us to assume he is very naive and still does not understand the cruelty of people especially when money is involved. Charles Dickens also portrays Oliver’s naiveté by the way he soon forgets the box of watches not even wondering how one living in such a place could come by such riches.