Book Review: Oliver Twist

Writing is something that is very personal. It comes from the author's soul. Writing is ultimately a form of self-expression. One would be foolish to write about things that they don't know about. In most novels, the author's opinion is expressed all throughout. Charles Dickens' heart-wrenching tale, Oliver Twist, is a prime example.

Dickens was someone who was enraged with English society in the 1800'a. He made sure he pointed out everything that he despised about English culture. During that time period, children were orphaned, abused and treated like second class citizens. Oliver Twist was an orphan who was treated horribly by the unkind Mr. Bumble. Mr. Bumble told vicious lies about Oliver. He didn't care what happened to Oliver. Nobody cared if Oliver were to live or die until he met Mr. Brownlow. Most orphans in 19th century England were not as fortunate as fictional Oliver was. There were very few people who would believe a child over an adult back then. Dickens's was outraged by this.

In Literature, the author a lot of times presents to characters who are opposite from each other in order to prove a point. This happens to be the case In Oliver Twist, a classic tale about an orphan, written by Charles Dickens. Mr. Brownlow and Mr. Bumble are the polar opposites. They share none of the same qualities or values. One is the token good guy and the other is the bad one.

Heroic, kind, and generous characters have always been represented in writings whether it is Greek mythology or contemporary. Mr. Browlow is practically the definition of the "good guy". He takes in poor Oliver without knowing anything about him. Oliver Twist felt more secure than he ever had when he lived with the kind-hearted gentleman. No one could ever call Mr. Brownlow cruel. The same cannot be said about a lot of the characters in the novel. Oliver could have suffered miserably in a workhouse after being accused of pick pocketing but fortunately, he found his hero.

Whether it is a movie or a great TV show, there have always been characters that people love to hate. Mr. Bumble is one of them. He is cruel and greedy. He cares about no one but himself. It's all about what he wants and nothing else's maters. Not poor sick children and not his wife. The reader can't help but to be deeply angered by Mr. Bumble for his selfish, ignorant, immoral behavior. There isn't a moment were Bumble doesn't have some kind of motive.

There are few books that stand the test of time. People change and a lot of times things from the past become irrelevant. Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens is a rare exception. It's a novel that should be embraced by everyone. It is an excellent representation of what life was like in London during the 1800's, it discusses issues that are still relevant today, and it's a well-written, literary masterpiece from one of the world's most famous authors.

Students don't always comprehend what life was in the past by reading some boring text book. It helps when they can see it through the eyes of someone one else. That the kind of power Oliver Twist has. The reader can imagine themselves in his shoes.

Although the novel takes place in the 1800's, a lot of the issues in the book are present today. The number of children who are viciously abused has gone down quite a bit, it still exists. The same can be said for the number of people living in poverty. There are millions of people who don't have any rights or a place to call home. Greed and power are still values that people still have today. In America, Money is practically a second religion. Although society progresses, a lot of things don't change. That is why it is so important that people are confronted with their flaws and the flaws of others around them.