several books. Although each book is different, they also share many

similarities. Two of his books, Great Expectations and Oliver Twist,

are representatives of the many kinds of differences and similarities

Perhaps the reason why these two novels share some of the same

qualities is because they both reflect painful experiences which

occurred in Dickens' past. During his childhood, Charles Dickens

suffered much abuse from his parents.1 This abuse is often expressed

in his novels. Pip, in Great Expectations, talked often about the

abuse he received at the hands of his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery. On one

occasion he remarked, "I soon found myself getting heavily bumped from

behind in the nape of the neck and the small of the back, and having

my face ignominously shoved against the wall, because I did not answer

those questions at sufficient length."2

While at the orphanage, Oliver from Oliver Twist also experienced

a great amount of abuse. For example, while suffering from starvation

and malnutrition for a long period of time, Oliver was chosen by the

other boys at the orphanage to reque

by becoming his anonymous benefactor.

In Great Expectations, the use of coincidence is also noticeable.

Havisham's house is often made to sound depressing, old, and lonely.

For instance, Pip finds out that Magwitch and Molly, Mr. Jagger's

Carey, John. Here Comes Dickens - The Imagination of a

earth. Supposedly, there is no sanctity on the planet, which is a

Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. New York: Dodd, Mead, and

belief that goes against the idea of a Heaven on earth.20

Just as Fagin is Oliver's means of escape, Magwitch, an escaped

Havisham's old home) at the same time as Estella.

and the institution; the second, moral, between the respectable and

explaining the severity of these experiences seems to be a job which

Even while his life was in danger while in the hands of Fagin and Bill

example, when questioned about his first visit to Miss Havisham's

Some common words found in the essay are:
Oliver Twist, Pip Pip's, Pip Oliver, Bill Sikes, Miss Havisham, Miss Havisham's, Oliver Pip, Marshalsea Prison, Charles Dickens, Joe Gargery, oliver twist, charles dickens, university press, miss havisham's, oliver twist expectations, dickens charles, blacking factory, slater michael, press 1971, main characters, havisham's house, miss havisham's house,
Approximate Word count = 1642
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)