Critical Essay Part I

     "I wished to show, in little Oliver, the principle of Good surviving through every adverse circumstance, and triumphing at last."   ~Charles Dickens 

            As seen in both the novel and Polanski’s movie adaptation, Oliver Twist is portrayed with innocence as a major personal trait; however, this picture of innocence varies throughout these two sources, therefore altering the audiences’ image of Oliver as a whole.  These sources show Oliver remaining pure in a corrupt place, but these images go about different ways to create his character.  In Dickens’s novel, Oliver is described as being unaware of his surroundings, therefore giving the reader the image of Oliver as a small, meek child, but Polanski ultimately reinterprets the character of Oliver.  The movie adaptation works as a translation of Dickens’s novel by changing the way in which the audience views his character.  While the novel merely portrays Oliver as a meek child who is unaware of his surroundings, the movie’s actual visual sources show Oliver as innocent, yet independent a the same time giving the audience two different understandings of the character of Oliver as whole.

     The novel Oliver Twist follows the orphan on his quest for his true identity.  Throughout this quest for selfhood Oliver comes into contact with the corruptive side of reality, ultimately challenging his innocent character as a whole and leaving one to ask how does one remain pure and innocent in a cruel and corrupted world.  In Charles Dickens’s novel, Oliver Twist a central theme is maintaining innocence in a corrupt location; in this case, London.  Dickens’s portrayal of innocence in this novel specifically mirrors that of the Victorian idea of childhood.  This notion of childhood depicts children, such as Oliver Twist, as being innocent, but susceptible to moral and criminal corruptions.  The novel focuses on this idea by portraying Oliver as a young, naïve, innocent child who, throughout the progression of the novel, is forced to cope with the gang of criminals as well as interpreting their physical actions as being that of right or wrong.  According to Charles Dickens in his preface to Oliver Twist, “I wished to show, in little Oliver, the principle of Good surviving through every adverse circumstance, and triumphing at last (Miller 36).”  In this novel, Dickens wrote the character of Oliver Twist as a model of innocence.  Oliver is an overall symbol of a good person who encounters and prevails over the corruption of evil.   

            Throughout this novel, Oliver’s purity is tested time and again, especially when he is introduced to the life of the criminal upon his arrival in London.  In being a symbol of innocence, Oliver also carries the trait of being naïve.  In being raised as an orphan, Oliver had no opportunity to determine any aspect of his own life, but rather lived in a structured environment where he was told what to do and when to do it and was given what he need in order to survive.  Therefore, when he arrived in London, Oliver simply accepted The Artful Dodger’s invitation to accompany him to his living quarters.

“This unexpected offer of shelter was too tempting to be resisted, especially as it was immediately followed up by the assurance that the old gentleman already referred to, would doubtless provide Oliver with a comfortable place without loss of time (Dickens 62).”

In this passage, it is suggested that while Oliver has never met this “old gentleman” he still trusts that what The Artful Dodger, in whom Oliver has just met, has said is true.  This scene shows Oliver in a naïve, innocent state.  Oliver has only ever had a place to sleep and provisions given to him, making these known needs for him showing why, when the Dodger offered, Oliver accepted.  Oliver does not find the need to take caution when accepting this proposal, but rather accepts it simply based on the fact that this is what he needs in order for survival.  The Dodger, being more experienced than Oliver, concerning getting around in the real world, recognizes Oliver’s innocent personality and manner, and purposefully offers Oliver something he knows he will accept.

            As stated previously, Oliver’s purity is tested throughout the novel mainly when introduced to the life and ways of a criminal.  Criminality is, more often than not, associated with corruption; so one would find it unlikely that Oliver Twist is able to maintain his innocent stature and personality while in the company of the gang of criminals.  However, preserving innocence in Oliver’s case is a possible circumstance due particularly to his naïve outlook on the world.  When introduced to Fagin and the other boys of the criminal gang, Oliver is introduced to their lifestyle of pick pocketing.  Oliver, however, does not see this as wrong doing due to the game-like quality it takes on while Charley Bates and the Dodger pick the pockets of Fagin. 

 “Oliver wondered what picking the old gentleman’s pocket in play had to do with his chances of being a great gentleman; but thinking that the Jew, being so much his senior, must know best, followed him quietly to the table, and was soon deeply involved in his new study (72).”

Oliver simply sees this act of thievery as a game to be enjoyed.  He believes, as Fagin has told him that he will one day be a great man, but unaware to Oliver, their definitions of being “a great man” differ.  Oliver is searching for a meaning to his life and believes that he will someday find a purpose for his life; on the other hand, Fagin sees Oliver as someday becoming a profitable thief.  Oliver is seen as naïve in the sense that he comprehends Fagin’s words as being solely of truth; he does not fully understand that what this gang is practicing is wrong, but rather follows their lead.   

            Throughout this novel, Oliver is seen as being unaware of his surroundings, making him naïve to what takes place around him, including his interactions with the criminal gang.  According to John Lucas, “Oliver Twist…tries to show the criminals for what and as they are (Lucas 25).”  Oliver Twist does not recognize these criminals for what they really at first because the world is, in a sense, incomprehensible to him.  When he is first introduced to the criminal lifestyle, he does not realize the actual harm of their actions, but eventually does come to understand the reality that they are, in fact, committing crimes.  When Oliver’s actual awareness comes to light is when he personally experiences the thieving actions of Charley Bates and Dodger out in the public eye.

“What was Oliver’s horror and alarm as he stood a few paces off looking on with his eye-lids as wide as they would possibly go, to see the Dodger plunge his hand into this old gentleman’s pocket, and draw from there a handkerchief, which he handed to Charley Bates, and with which they both ran away round the corner at full speed (Dickens 76).”

This selection, from the novel, shows Oliver’s unwillingness to give into corruption.  He sees Bates and Dodger commit the crime and instantaneously recognizes it as an evil act.  Oliver’s innocent and naïve personality guarded him from these occurrences of criminality.  Joseph Miler suggests that, “At first Oliver Twist is not at all aware of himself or of his situation…But self-awareness does come to Oliver eventually (36).”   According to Miller, Oliver gains an awareness of his surroundings, much like what is seen in this section of the novel.  Oliver’s innocence works to shield him from being affected by the criminal corruption seen and experienced through the criminal gang.

            Oliver is a character who is depicted as a naïve and innocent child.  These traits shield him from being fully aware of his surroundings.  Miller suggests, “He has little awareness or understanding of his plight.  He has merely a vague knowledge that he is living in a kind of earthly hell, not the lease unpleasant part of which is the fact that he does not comprehend most of what is going on around him (46).”  Miller explains that Oliver’s innocence aids in his unawareness.  Oliver does not see the criminals the same way in which society sees them, and it is this that allows Oliver to remain pure and innocent even with corruptive evils surrounding him.