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Abstract

Adaptation is a means by which an author or director reinterprets an original work to critique the original message or reinvent the work for a new audience. Sarah Waters explores the effect of adapting Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, in her novel Fingersmith. Each of these works is set in the Victorian Era and incorporates social issues of this time into the plots. By closely examining these works and the dichotomies each of these portrays, an enhanced understanding of the time period and works will be gained. Waters introduces themes of lesbian sexuality, issues of gender and identity in the Victorian Era but writes for a twentieth century contemporary audience. Portraying these issues in a Victorian society draws attention to the pre-conceived beliefs contemporary readers possess, and ask the reader to re-examine these beliefs in order to decide whether or not these are true representations.