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The Inequalities of the Victorian Era in Oliver Twist

This fragment of Oliver Twist reflects a part of the Victorian era, an epoch

characterised by inequality in which social classes could be differentiated through food

consumption and privilege. The author of this book, Charles Dickens, who lived

through this period and reflected part of his life in his work, shows his social criticism

by using satire, mixed with irony to judge the inequalities that existed and contrasting

the cruder parts of society with the wealthy ones, using, in this extract, mainly the

examples of the cold and Mrs. Corney. Focusing on the excerpt I have read, I will

analyse the elements already mentioned, as well as how the techniques Dickens used to

write it influence the reading of the extract.

The diction of the fragment is quite simple, so that it is easy to understand the

story. It is likely that this is because Dickens wanted to be read by the whole of society,

and for that, and given the social differences, also perceptible in education, the language

did not have to be too complicated for everyone to be able to afford it. A curious fact

about the narrative voice of this extract is that, even though the text is in the third

person, sometimes the narrator addresses the readers directly, as in “our readers have

already been introduced as the birthplace of Oliver Twist” (Dickens, 1992, p. 151). This

is often used to keep readers' attention and to make them feel part of the story. Another

important factor is the accuracy of the descriptions. Every detail is mentioned in such a

way that you can fully imagine the setting in which the action is taking place as in this

quote “The snow lay on the ground, frozen into a hard thick crust, so that only the heaps

that had drifted into byways and corners were affected by the sharp wind that howled

abroad” (Dickens, 1992, p. 151). The allegory is also present in the text, we can find it

in the teapot, where, according to Mrs. Corney, not even two glasses of water fit. This is

another symbol of the power she possesses, for even though she has everything she has,
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she wants to have more. Last but not least, this extract also shows how, despite the clear

language, the plot is a bit confusing. The extract begins with a description of the

weather and social differences, then moves on to the workhouse where Oliver Twist was

born. It then follows with a brief description of Mrs. Corney's room and what she is

doing. And finally he makes a kind of comparison by saying “I shall never get another-

like him.” (Dickens, 1992, p. 151) and not specifying whether it is because of the

husband or the teapot. In fact, “An anonymous reviewer thought it a “succession of

sketches of character, scenes, and events" rather than a narrative with "a cunningly

conceived plot, or a progressively arresting tale”” (Sadoff, 2014, p. 23). So, the story

does have simple language, but a complicated plot. Besides, several elements that

appears in the text are used to keep the reader's attention and allow the reader the option

to get into the story.

The use of satire in found throughout the fragment, since, as its very definition

states, it is “a novel, film, or other work of art which uses humour, irony, exaggeration,

or ridicule to expose and criticize prevailing immorality or foolishness, esp. as a form of

social or political commentary” (Oxford University Dictionary, n.d.; satire, n.d.).

Dickensian is a term that has been created to define this satirical style used by Dickens

to criticise society. This is reflected in the whole extract, but it is most prominent in Mrs

Corney's thoughts when she refers to herself as “a poor desolate creature” (Dickens,

1992, p. 151). The irony is quite present as Dickens (1952, p. 151) describes the place in

which she finds herself as “a little room”, yes, but with a “fireplace”, with “grateful

meal” and she finds herself drinking tea, therefore, and comparing it to the first part of

the extract in which it is quoted that “the well-housed and fed to draw round the bright

fire and thank God they were at home” (Dickens, 1992, p. 151),so she is among the

privileged, which also serves to show the hypocrisy and the ambition, the need to
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always want more, of society. Furthermore, irony is also seen in the last part of the

extract when Mrs Corney is complaining about how small the teapot is, another factor

of hypocrisy, and she looks at her husband's painting and it is unclear whether when she

says “‘I shall never get another-like him.’” she is referring to the teapot itself, or to the

painting of her (deceased) husband. Another satire mixed with exaggeration can be

found when Dickens refers to the poor who have committed crimes and who are going

to die, that when they open their eyes again they will not find themselves in a “more

bitter world” (Dickens, 1992, p. 151). With this hyperbole the writer is criticising the

society of that time, showing it as the worst. However, despite the fact that there was

inequality and injustice, worse scenarios could have been unfolded.

The environment in which Charles Dickens was brought up is reflected in his

work, because “The novelist’s creative achievement is, as we have been seen, born of

the union of his experience and his imagination” (Cecil, 1935, p. 27). That is, he had to

work as a child and lived in very poor conditions as a young man, so, although the story

is invented, it has a touch of his personal experience. With this extract we can see how

Dickens, who fought for the rights of people, seeking a fairer society, used his writings

in a critical way to show the crudest part of society. However, when he grew up he

became a part of the bourgeoisie. In this way, the different social classes can be seen

reflected as antitheses in the text “for the well-housed and fed to draw round the bright

fire and thank God they were at home; and for the homeless, starving wretch to lay him

down and die” (Dickens, 1992, p. 151). With the same quotation we can see how having

a fire or food is a privilege and a fortune that poor and homeless people cannot afford.

In fact, it not only reflects a difference in social status, but a step between life and death,

whoever has enough to eat and a home, will not die of cold like the others who has no

place to stay.
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One of the consequences that inequality generated was criminality, in the poor

classes to get money and food from the bourgeoisie. This fact appears somewhat

subjective in this fragment, however, it does mention “Many hunger-worn outcasts

close their eyes in our bare streets, at such times, who, let their crimes have been what

they may, can hardly open them in a more bitter world” (Dickens, 1992, p. 151), which

could be interpreted, according to some critics, as Dickens' “social sympathy for the

villains” (Brueck, 1981, p. 66), for even though they have committed crimes, he

sympathises with them. Perhaps because of the life poor people have led, perhaps

because he identifies with them, or perhaps both or neither. However, the fact that they

commit crimes is implicit in this last quote from Oliver Twist.

In conclusion, this fragment mainly reflects the criticism of the inequality of

Victorian society through the use of satire, irony and exaggeration. Dickens, who has

been part of both social classes, use the antithesis to compare the affluent society, who

has food and wealth and the poor people, who has nothing and has had to commit

crimes to live. The author uses different elements to capture the reader's attention and a

simple diction to reach all social classes, although the plot is not so clear, as it relates

many things. In addition, it also shows an ambitious and hypocritical society, as Mrs.

Corney's example shows that no matter what you have, you will want more.
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References

Brueck, K. T. (1981). Poverty and villainy in “Oliver Twist”: Unraveling the paradox.

Dickens Studies Newsletter, 12(3), 66–70. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45290768

Cecil, D. (1935). Early Victorian novelists: Essays in Revaluation. London: Bobbs-

Merrill.

Dickens, C. (1992). Oliver Twist. Wordsworth Editions.

"Dickensian, adj." OED Online, Oxford University Press, March 2022,

www.oed.com/view/Entry/52265. Accessed 31 March 2022.

Sadoff, D. F. (2014). Boz and Beyond: “Oliver Twist” and the Dickens Legacy.

Dickens Studies Annual, 45, 23–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44372225

“satire, n.” OED Online, Oxford University Press, March 2022,

www.oed.com/view/Entry/171207. Accessed 30 March 2022