Návrat na detail prednášky / Stiahnuť prednášku / Univerzita Komenského / Pedagogická fakulta / AN - Anglická literatúra I.

Oliver Twist - Plot summary (03_plot_summary.doc)

Oliver Twist - Plot summary

The initial chapter describes the birth of the main character – Oliver Twist. His mother has been found lying in the street, her shoes in shreds from walking. She is brought to a workhouse in England, and the next night gives birth to Oliver, delivered by a surgeon and a drunken nurse.

Oliver Twist is born into a life of poverty and misfortune in the workhouse of an unnamed town some 75 miles from London. Orphaned almost from his first breath by his unmarried and nameless mother’s death in childbirth and his father’s conspicuous absence, Oliver is meagrely provided for under the terms of the Poor Law, and spends the first nine years of his life at a “baby farm” (pg. 5) in the care of a woman named Mrs. Mann, who starves the children under her care and pockets the money given to her for their food. Although many of the children die, investigations always determine that the death was “accidental”. Along with other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws, Oliver is brought up with little food and few comforts.

Around the time of the orphan’s ninth birthday, Mr Bumble, a parish beadle, removes Oliver from the baby farm and puts him to work picking oakum at the main branch-workhouse. “So they established the rule that all poor people should have the alternative . . . of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it.” (pg. 11)

Oliver, who toils with very little food, remains in the workhouse for six months. Then, the desperately hungry boys draw lots; the poor boy must ask for another portion of gruel. The task falls to Oliver, who at the next meal tremblingly comes forward, bowl in hand, and makes his famous request: “Please, sir, I want some more.” (pg. 12) A great uproar ensues. The boards of well-fed gentlemen, who administer the workhouse, while eating a meal fit for a king, are outraged by Oliver's ingratitude. Wanting to be rid of this troublemaker, they offer five pounds to any person wishing to take on the boy as an apprentice. A brutal chimney sweep almost claims Oliver, but, when he begs despairingly not to be sent away with him. “Oliver fell on his knees, and clasping his hands together, prayed that they would order him back to the dark room – that they would starve him – beat him – kill him if they pleased – rather than send him away with that dreadful man.” (pg. 20) So a kindly old magistrate refuses to sign the indentures. Later, Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker employed by the parish, takes Oliver into his service. Because of his sorrowful countenance, Sowerberry uses him as a mute, or mourner, at children's funerals.

While working for the undertaker, Oliver suffers new torments at the hands of Noah Claypole, a charity boy and fellow apprentice, and Mrs. Sowerberry. Eventually, in an attempt to bait Oliver, Noah insults the orphan’s late mother. Oliver flies into an unexpected passion, attacking and besting the much bigger boy. Mrs. Sowerberry, who dislikes Oliver, takes Noah's part, and punishes Oliver. That night, he runs away and wanders aimlessly for a time. However, he soon sets his destination as London.

During his journey to London, Oliver encounters Jack Dawkins, who is also known as The Artful Dodger. Dawkins provides Oliver with a free meal and tells him of a gentleman in London who will help him get established. Grateful for the assistance, Oliver follows Dawkins to the gentleman’s residence. Thus, Oliver unwittingly falls in with a criminal named Fagin, the "gentleman" of whom Dawkins spoke. Oliver lives with Fagin and his criminal associates in their lair at Saffron Hill for some time, naively unaware of their criminal occupations.

Later, Oliver innocently goes out to "make handkerchiefs" with two of Fagin’s underlings: “…he told Oliver he might go, and placed him under the joint guardianship of Charley Bates and his friend the Dodger.” (pg. 59) Oliver realizes too late that their real mission is to pick pockets, and, although he doesn't participate, he is hunted down and arrested. To the judge's evident disappointment, a witness clears Oliver, who, by now acutely ill, faints in the courtroom. A wealthy old gentleman named Mr. Brownlow, whom he was previously thought to have robbed, takes Oliver home and cares for him.

Oliver stays with Mr. Brownlow, recovers rapidly, and blossoms from the unaccustomed kindness. His bliss, however, is interrupted when Fagin, fearing Oliver might peach on his criminal gang, orchestrates Oliver's kidnapping. When Mr. Brownlow sends Oliver to pay for some books, one of the gang, Nancy, accosts him with help from a brutal robber named Bill Sikes, and he is quickly bundled back to Fagin's lair. The thieves steal the five pound note Mr. Brownlow had entrusted to him, and strip him of his fine new clothes. Nancy, however, is sympathetic toward Oliver and saves him from a beating by Sikes, who is also Nancy's abusive lover.

Afterwards, Oliver is forced to participate in another crime; this time, burglary. Nancy reluctantly assists in recruiting him, all the while assuring the boy that she will help him if she can. Sikes, after threatening to kill him if he does not cooperate, sends Oliver through a small window and orders him to unlock the front door. The robbery goes wrong, however, and Oliver is shot. After being abandoned by Sikes, a wounded Oliver ends up under the care of the people he was supposed to rob: Rose Maylie and the elderly Mrs. Maylie. Convinced of Oliver’s innocence, Rose takes the boy in and nurses him, once again, back to health.

Meanwhile, a mysterious man named Monks has found Fagin and is plotting with him to destroy Oliver's reputation. Nancy, by this time thoroughly ashamed of her role in Oliver's kidnapping, and fearful for the boy's safety, goes to Rose Maylie and Mr. Brownlow to warn them. She knows that Monks and Fagin are plotting to get their hands on the boy again. She manages to keep her meetings secret until Noah Claypole (who has fallen out with the undertaker and moved to London to seek his fortune), using the name Morris Bolter, joins Fagin's gang for protection. During Noah's stay with Fagin, the Artful Dodger is caught with a stolen silver snuff box on his person, convicted at court and transported to Australia. Later, Noah is sent by Fagin to spy on Nancy, and discovers her secret. Fagin angrily passes the information on to Sikes, twisting the story just enough to make it sound as if Nancy had informed on him. In actuality, she had shielded Sikes, whom she loves despite his brutal character. Believing her to be a traitor, Sikes murders Nancy in a fit of rage, and is himself killed when he accidentally hangs himself while fleeing an angry mob.

Monks is forced by Mr. Brownlow, an old friend of Oliver's father, to divulge his secrets: he is Oliver's paternal half-brother and, although he is legitimate, he was born of a loveless marriage. Oliver's mother, Agnes, was their father's true love. Monks has spent many years searching for his father's bastard child –  not to befriend him, but to destroy him. Brownlow asks Oliver to give half his inheritance to Monks because he wants to give him a second chance; and Oliver, to please Brownlow, complies. Monks then moves to America, where he squanders his money, reverts to crime, and ultimately dies in prison. Fagin is arrested and condemned to the gallows; in an emotional scene, Oliver goes to Newgate Gaol to visit the old reprobate on the eve of his hanging.

On a happier note, Rose Maylie turns out to be the long-lost sister of Oliver's mother Agnes; she is therefore Oliver's aunt. She marries her long-time sweetheart Harry, and Oliver lives happily with his saviour, Mr. Brownlow. Noah becomes a paid informant; Mr. Bumble loses his job and is reduced to great poverty; and Charley Bates, horrified by Sikes' murder of Nancy, becomes an honest citizen, moves to the country, and works his way up to prosperity.

The final passage of the novel sums up Dickens’s moral and religious vision.  “I have said that they were truly happy; and without strong affection and humanity of heart, and gratitude to that Being whose code is Mercy and whose great attribute is Benevolence to all things that breathe, happiness can never be attained. Within the altar of the old village church there stands a white marble tablet which bears as yet but one word: “Agnes!”…… I believe that the shade of Agnes sometimes hovers round the solemn nook. I believe it none the less because that nook is in a Church, and she was weak and erring.” (pg. 360)

On the one hand, Dickens considers a firm and true belief in God to be an essential prerequisite of both moral rectitude and earthly happiness. On the other hand, the novel has not been kind to characters such as Mr. Bumble, who prattle on about Christian values, but whose behaviour is notably lacking in “Benevolence” and who are quick to condemn others as sinners. The description of Agnes’s grave is an attack on puritanical religion, which would consider adultery to be an unforgivable sin. The novel’s faith in Christian values is as wholehearted as its attacks on Christian hypocrisy are biting.