The reality and themes of poverty during the events in Oliver Twist as well as what Charles Dickens’ saw in his own life played a critical role in the development of the novel. It is heavily evident that poverty is an ongoing theme in the novel, as Oliver is born into a life of poverty and struggle. This would ultimately lead to the famous lines of, “Please, sir, I want some more” (Dickens, 39) with Oliver wanting more gruel in the hall with all the other malnourished children. There are numerous factors that run in tandem with poverty in London during the Victorian Era and the trials people went through because of poverty. Housing was particularly hard to come by due to shortages in available housing, and this would only get worse as the population of London grew. A lot of large houses would become flats, and there wasn’t much upkeep on these properties. There was also a severe lack of sanitation for the people who lived in these exceptionally poor parts of London. There would be “tidal ditches” (where drains and sewers would empty) running through the streets, and this was the only water people on the street had to drink. As we see in the novel, there was always an overcrowding of individuals into small, tight spaces, which only made the lack of sanitation worse. Another sad fact that correlates with Oliver Twist are the homeless children on the streets of London. These were usually made up of children who were turned away from homes or who ran away from “ill treatment.” Charles Dickens likely saw this reality on a regular enough basis that it stuck with him as he went on to work as a journalist and a writer, with his particular interest in laws and things of that nature.
Works Cited:
“Hidden Lives Revealed: A Virtual Archive - Children in Care 1881-1981.” Hidden Lives Revealed. A Virtual Archive - Children in Care 1881-1981, www.hiddenlives.org.uk/articles/poverty.html.
Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist, Barnes & Noble Books, 2004.
Image source:
“Poverty.” Wikimedia Commons, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: Poverty_in_London,_18th_century_Wellcome_L0001078.jpg.