Great Expectations and Oliver Twist
During his lifetime, Charles Dickens is known to have written 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 found within his work.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 request mor
e gruel at dinner one night. After making this simple request, "the master (at the orphanage) aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arms; and shrieked aloud for the beadle."3 Obviously, escape is an important theme in both Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. Even though they both have different goals in mind, Pip and Oliver are seeking various forms of escape from conditions which make them unhappy: Pip from his poverty, and Oliver from his loneliness and starvation. 14 John Carey, Here Comes Dickens - The Imagination of a Novelist (New York: Schocken Books, 1974) 149.Kincaid, James R. Dickens and the Rhetoric of Laughter. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1971.In Great Expectations, the use of coincidence is also noticeable. For instance, Pip finds out that Magwitch and Molly, Mr. Jagger's servant, are the parents of Estella long after he first met them. Then, later on, Pip just happens to be visiting Satis House (Miss Havisham's old home) at the same time as Estella. However, the conflict between the individual and the institution leads to Dickens' criticism of social injustices such as injustices towards the poor.23 Also in the form of satire, Dickens attempts to "challenge the pleasurability of fortune."24 Welsh, Alexander. The City of Dickens. Oxford: Claredon Press, 1971.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Oliver Twist, Pip Pip's, Pip Oliver, University Press, Bill Sikes, Miss Havisham, Miss Havisham's, Oliver Pip, Marshalsea Prison, Charles Dickens, oliver twist, charles dickens, university press, press 1971, miss havisham's, dickens expectations, dickens trials imagination, books 1965, britain basic, basic books, slater michael, basic books 1965, trials imagination massachusettes, britain basic books, imagination massachusettes harvard,
Approximate Word count = 1733
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
