Adapting Oliver Twist:  Fingersmith
Janelle Beste and Noah Martin

This essay focuses on the themes from the novels Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and Fingersmith by Sarah Waters and the themes that could be motivated by similarities and differences in the lives of the two authors. Waters and Dickens had similar childhoods, both growing up in England, but differed in their adulthood. The novels are similar in the way that the main characters are brought up, both orphans, with a lack of affection and an emphasis on thievery. Identity is also seen as a theme in both novels as the main characters search for their own. The final similar theme discussed is deceit, as we see it through Fagin in Oliver Twist and the Gentlemen in Fingersmith. The novels differ in the style of language, specifically the use of language by the characters. They also differ with gender, looking at the leading men of Oliver Twist versus the leading women in Fingersmith. Lastly, the differences in sexuality are discussed, concentrating on the obvious lack of sexuality in Oliver Twist compared to the over-sexuality in Fingersmith.                                

Introduction | Similarities | Differences | Overview