《雾都孤儿》-批判现实主义的力作英文毕业论文

PAGEI本科生毕业论文《雾都孤儿》——批判现实主义的力作院系：外国语学院专业：英语OliverTwistAMasterpieceofCriticalRealismPAGE23摘要维多利亚时代是英国现实主义小说的辉煌时代，查尔斯·狄更斯是英国十九世纪最杰出的批判现实主义作家。狄更斯从民主资本主义和人道主义的立场出发，揭露英国社会丑恶和不公，批判资本主义制度。他的作品主要以写实笔法揭露上层社会和资产阶级的虚伪、贪婪和凶残，并对贫苦人民的不幸，特别是妇女、儿童和老人的悲惨处境，表示了极大的同情。《雾都孤儿》是狄更斯第一部结构严谨，情节连贯的批判现实主义小说,它以资本主义社会为背景，描写了英国伦敦贫苦儿童的悲惨生活。本文将全面阐述《雾都孤儿》这部小说创作的历史背景、社会环境和人物特征，分析狄更斯《雾都孤儿》批判现实主义的创作用意和艺术特征，进而挖掘批判现实主义对西方文学的影响及贡献。关键词：查尔斯·狄更斯；雾都孤儿；批判现实主义

AbstractVictorianageisamagnificenttimeoftheEnglishrealisticnovels.CharlesDickensisthegreatestrepresentativeofEnglishcriticalrealisminthenineteenthcentury.DickensexposedthechieftraitsofEnglishsocietyandcriticizedthecapitalistsystemfromademocraticandhumanisticviewpoint.Hisworksexposethesocialupperclassesandbourgeoishypocrisy,greed,ruthlessness,andshowdeepestsympathywiththelowerclass,especiallywomen,childrenandtheelderly.OliverTwistisDickensfirststructuredandcoherentrealisticnovel.IttakestheEnglishcapitalistsocietyasthebackground,describingthemiserablelifeofLondonpoorchildren.Basedonthestudyofthecreationbackground,socialenvironmentandcharactersofOliverTwist,thisessayistoanalyzethewriter'sintentionandartisticcharacteristicsinOliverTwist.Furthermore,thepaperfurtherstudiestheimpactandthecontributionthatthecriticalrealismmadeonwesternliterature.KeyWords:CharlesDickens;OliverTwist;CriticalRealism

TableofContentsTOC\o"1-3"\h\u16948Acknowledgements I6647摘要 II27039Abstract III19814TableofContents IV30188Chapter1Introduction 113439Chapter2GeneralIntroductiontoOliverTwist 4240572.1TheSynopsisoftheNovel 4327202.2LiteratureReview 5300902.3TheCommentsoftheNovel 619563Chapter3CriticalRealisminOliverTwist 8144223.1TheDefinitionofCriticalRealism 8139163.2CharlesDickenstheGreatestEnglishRealist 9319133.3TheCriticalRealisminOliverTwist 1060383.3.1CondemnationoftheDecayintheSociety 11124203.3.2CondemnationoftheNewPoorLaw 12202323.3.3CriticalViewoftheCapitalisticSystem 1310973.3.4CriticalViewoftheMoralityofMoneyWorship 133083Chapter4TheWritingSkillsofCriticalRealisminOliverTwist 15123864.1Characters’Creation 15148424.2HumorandSatire 1623734.3ProfoundSymbol 1717805Chapter5Conclusion 192607Bibliography 21本科毕业论文Chapter1IntroductionDuringthereignofQueenVictoria,theEnglishnovelcameofage,swiftly,anddramatically.OneinnovationofVictoriannovelistswasRealism,whichpresentedadetailedportraitoflifeinnineteenthcenturyEngland.ManyfactorsexplaintheriseofnovelsasadominantgenreduringtheVictorianage.First,Englandgrewfromanagriculturalcountryintoanindustrializedoneandbecametheworkshopoftheworldaswellasitsfinancialandpoliticalcenter.Second,thewritinghadbecomeaprofession,whichmadeitpossibleforthewriterstomakealivingbywriting.Third,theconditionsofthetime,theterriblepovertyontheonehandandtheenormouswealthontheotherhandneededasecularformtoexplorehumanrelationsratherthansermonsgiveninchurch.TheVictoriannovelistswereprimarilyconcernedwithpeopleinsocietyandwiththeirrelationtootherpeople.Andthefunctionofanovelistwasalsoextendedfrommeredescriptionandmoralizationtosocialcriticism.Alltheevilsoftheexistinginstitutions－government,law,church,education,andpenalsystems,withtheirinjusticeandcorruptionandthewretchednesswereinflictedbybourgeois.Manyofthegreatnovelsofthedaywererousingpopularsuccesses.CuiTong(2010)pointedoutthatforagreatartist,heshouldlivewiththepeopleandmaintaincloselyties,whichreflectedinthecreationoftheprincipletofollow,andthenhewillcertainlyreflectthenatureofsomeaspectinhisworks.Inthenineteenthcentury,novelistsaregenerallyknownascriticalrealists.Thenovelsexploredtheconditionofthepoorandthemannersofthesociety,satirizedtheindividualsorinstitution,advocatedsocialreforms,andprovidingdiversionforpeopleofalllevels.WangLei(2007)statesthatintheirworks,thegreedandhypocrisyandcorruptionoftheupperclasswerecontrastedwiththehonestyandkind-heartednessoftheobscurecommonpeopleofthelowerclasses.HumorandsatirearetheveryimportantcharacteristicoftheEnglishrealisticnovels.Withregardtotheliteraryformthemajorcontributionmadebythenineteenthcenturycriticalrealistsliesintheirperfectionofthenovel.Therealisticnovelsnotonlypicturedtheconflictsbetweenseparateindividualswhostoodfordefinitesocialstatus,butalsoshowedbroadsocialconflictsabovethefateofmereindividuals.CharlesDickensandWilliamMakepeaceThackerayareregardedasthegreatestoftheVictorianperiod.Dickenswaspraisedas“theShakespeareinthenovelists,”“BritishBalzac”(KarlMarx).CharlesDickensisknownastheportrayerofchildlife.Heisparticularlyfamousforhisvividcomiccharacterizationsandhisforcefulsocialcriticism.Byexposingthesocialinjusticeandthevicesoftheupperclassesandbydepictingthemiserableexistenceofthecommonfolks,DickensgivesatruthfulpictureofcapitalistEnglandofthetime,showshiswarmsympathyforthesufferingbroadmassesofpeopleandvoicespopulardiscontent.HismajorworksincludeOliverTwist,ATaleofTwoCitiesOliverTwist(1836-1837),isbasedonreallifematerialssuchastheNewPoorLawof1834andthecurrenttrialofanotoriousfenceandthief-trainer.Byfollowingthemostunfortunateexperienceofapoororphanboy,Oliver,theauthormeanstogiveavividpictureoftheunderworldwithallkindsofthieves,prostitutesandmurderersaswellasthehorriblecrueltyoftheworkhousesystemofthetime.Here,thetitularheroOliver,inastrictsense,isnotreallyahero-beingoneofthemostpassiveandinactiveprotagonists,butheistheretosupplythewholeframeworkoftheEnglishsociety.Hebelongstothegentryclassbybirth,andyethegrowsupintheworkhouse;heistrainedbyFagintobeapickpocket,anintrigueofhismonstroushalf-brotherMonks,butheistooinnocentandvirtuoustobemadeone.Heisthefirstofthatbrilliantgroupofthechildcharacterswhoaretheveryimagesofinnocence,loveandhonesty.Today,manyscholarsanalyzeDickens’OliverTwistfromtheviewoftheplotandpattern,themoral,thesocialphenomenaandsoon.Justasthemostpeople’sanalysis,OliverTwistexposesitsreaderstoaworldofcrimeandmeanness,adog-eat-dogworld.Thepaper,analyzingthesocialphenomenaandtheessenceofconflictsinOliverTwist,therefore,helpustoknowtheCriticalRealismandhistoricalliteraryinthenineteenthcentury.

Chapter2GeneralIntroductiontoOliverTwistThischapterintroducesthenovelOliverTwistgenerally.Itdescribesthesynopsisofthestoryfirstly;then,itintroducesthecurrentstudyaboutthenovelandgivesabriefcommentofthenovel.2.1TheSynopsisoftheNovelThenoveltellsthestoryofapoorchildnamedOliverTwist;heisborninaworkhousein1830sEngland.Hismother,whosenamenooneknows,isfoundonthestreetanddiesjustafterOliver'sbirth.Oliverspendsthefirstnineyearsofhislifeinabadlyrunhomeforyoungorphansandthenistransferredtoaworkhouseforadults.AftertheotherboysbullyOliverintoaskingformoregruelattheendofameal,Mr.Bumble,theparishbeadle,offersfivepoundstoanyonewhowilltaketheboyawayfromtheworkhouse.Olivernarrowlyescapesbeingapprenticedtoalocalundertaker,Mr.Sowerberry.Whentheundertaker’sotherapprentice,NoahClaypole,makesdisparagingcommentsaboutOliver'smother,OliverattackshimandincurstheSowerberrys'wrath.Desperately,OliverrunsawayatdawnandtravelsLondon.OutsideLondon,Oliver,starvedandexhausted,meetsJackDawkins,aboyofhisownage.JackoffershimshelterintheLondonhouseofhisbenefactor,Fagin.ItturnsoutthatFaginisacareercriminalwhotrainsorphanboystopickpocketsforhim.Afterafewdaysoftraining,Oliverissentonapick-pocketingmissionwithtwootherboys.Whenheseesthemswipeahandkerchieffromanelderlygentleman,Oliverishorrifiedandrunsoff.Heiscaughtbutnarrowlyescapesbeingconvictedofthetheft.Mr.Brownlow,themanwhosehandkerchiefwasstolen,takesthefeverishOlivertohishomeandnurseshimbacktohealth.OliverthrivesinMr.Brownlow’shome,buttwoyoungadultsinFagin’sgang,BillSikesandhisloverNancy,captureOliverandreturnhimtoFagin.FaginsendsOlivertoassistSikesinaburglary.Oliverisshotbyaservantofthehouseand,afterSikesescapes,istakeninbythewomenwholivethere,Mrs.MayliesandherbeautifuladoptednieceRose.TheygrowfondofOliver,andhespendsanidyllicsummerwiththeminthecountryside.butFaginandamysteriousmannamedMonksaresetonrecapturingOliver.Meanwhile,itisrevealedthatOliver’smotherleftbehindagoldlocketwhenshedied.Monksobtainsanddestroysthatlocket.WhentheMayliescometoLondon,NancymeetssecretlywithRoseandinformsherofFagin’sdesigns,butamemberofFagin’sgangoverhearstheconversation.WhenwordofNancy’sdisclosurereachesSikes,hebrutallymurdersNancyandfleesLondon.Pursuedbyhisguiltyconscienceandanangrymob,heinadvertentlyhangshimselfwhiletryingtoescape.Mr.Brownlow,withwhomtheMaylieshavereunitedOliver,confrontsMonksandwringsthetruthaboutOliver’sparentagefromhim.ItisrevealedthatMonksisOliver’shalfbrother.Theirfather,Mr.Leeford,wasunhappilymarriedtoawealthywomanandhadanaffairwithOliver’smother,AgnesFleming.MonkshasbeenpursuingOliverallalonginthehopesofensuringthathishalf-brotherisdeprivedofhisshareofthefamilyinheritance.Mr.BrownlowforcesMonkstosignoverOliver’ssharetoOliver.Moreover,itisdiscoveredthatRoseisAgnes’syoungersister,henceOliver’saunt.Faginishangedforhiscrimes.Finally,Mr.BrownlowadoptsOliver,andtheyandtheMayliesretiretoablissfulexistenceinthecountryside.2.2LiteratureReviewSincethenovelOliverTwistpublished,manyscholarscommentontheCriticalRealisminthenovel.LuJianguo(2004)analyzedtheCriticalRealismfromtheDickens’life,thesocialbackground,andthepurposeofwriting.HethoughtOliverTwistwasDickens’firstauthenticnovelandalsowasthefirsttimethatheledreadersintoarealbutterriblelifeofunderworld.ChenQinglan(2006)fromthechildreneducationproblemtoshowthecriticizerealisticinOliverTwist.ShepointedoutDickensraisedmanykindssocialproblems,especiallytheproblemofchildreneducation.Inhisnovelhecriedhardforthemiteringchildrenandappealedurgentlythatsociety,schoolsandfamiliesmustpaymoreattentiontothechildren’seducationandtakecareofthemandhelpthemgrowupinahealthyway.CuiTong(2010)commentedOliverTwistfromthetheoryofknowledgeandnatureofMarxisttoanalyzetheviewsonfamily,marriageandmoralofthethreeclasses,anddiscussesthesocialphenomenaandtheessenceofconflictamongproletariat,bourgeoisieandaristocratic.Itexposesthebourgeoisieofexploitationandslandersontheproletariat.Thesestudiesreflectthedifficultcriticalrealismfromdifferentaspects.However,thecriticalrealistsdidn’trealizethenecessityofchangingthecapitalistsocietythroughconscioushumaneffort.Dickenswasunabletofindawaytosolvethesocialconflicts.OliverTwiststartsfromapowerfulexposureoftheuglinessofthecapitalistsociety,buthaveahappyendingattheend.Hereliestheweaknessofthecriticalrealism.2.3TheCommentsoftheNovelCharlesDickensistherepresentativeofthecriticalrealistliterature.InBritishliteraryhistory,heisthemostimportantclassicwriterexceptWilliamShakespeare,andisalsooneofthemostfamouswritersintheworldwhosepositioncan'tbereplaced.LivingintheBritishcapitalistsociety,fromhisownhardship,togetherwiththedeepobservationoftheBritishsocialsituation,Dickenscreatednumerousworkswithvariousstyles;amongwhichthemostfamousarethenovels.Dickens'scoreideaisthecapitalisthumanitarianism.Hisheartfullofloveandsympathytowardstheoppressed,althoughhecannotthinkoftheeffectivemeasurestosolvethesocialproblemsexceptthathopesthatpeoplecanchangethesituationbyreform.Headvocatesfreedom,equality,andcharity,thinkingthatthehumannaturedecidesthehumanvalue.Inhisworks,Dickensmaintains“anunbrokenfaithinpeoplewithanentirepessimismastocapitalistsociety”(LiuBingshan,1993:362).Heisintentoncriticizingandattackingthesocialevils,thepoverty,injustice,hypocrisy,corruption,moneyworshipandsoon.Inhisenormousbodyofworks,hecombinedmasterlystorytelling,humour,pathosandironywithsharpsocialcriticismandacuteobservationofpeopleandplaces,bothrealandimagined.Intheprefacetothenovel,OliverTwist,writtenin1837-1838,Dickensproclaimshimselfarealist.Hemakeshisreadersawareoftheinhumanityofcitylifeundercapitalism.ThefirstelevenchaptersprovideamostbitterandthoroughgoingexposureoftheterribleconditionintheEnglandworkhouseofthetimeandthecrueltreatmentofapoororphanbyallsortsofphilanthropists.ThefamoussceneinChapterIIselectedhere,inwhichOliverisbeatenupandpunishedmerelybecauseheventurestoaskforanextraportionofgrueltoalleviatehisintolerablehunger,isonlyoneofthemanydetailstoshowtheextremebrutalityandcorruptionoftheoppressorsandtheiragents.Sceneslikethisaboundinthisnovel,fromwhichwecanseethegreatcriticalrealistCharlesDickensvoicingthehelplesssufferingsofthepoorandoppressedofhistime.

Chapter3CriticalRealisminOliverTwistSincetheIndustrialRevolutioninthesecondhalfofthe18thcentury,theclassstructureinEnglishsocietyhadundergoneradicalchanges.Theindustrialcapitalistsbegantoplayamoreimportantroleandviedforpoliticalpowerwiththeoldaristocracy.Inthisperiodoftenseclassstruggleappearedanewliterarytrend—criticalrealism.TheEnglishcriticalrealistsofthe19thcenturynotonlygaveasatiricalportrayalofthebourgeoisieandalltherulingclasses,butalsoshowedprofoundsympathyforthecommonpeople.Therealistnovelsnotonlypicturedtheconflictsbetweenseparateindividualswhostoodfordefinitesocialstrata,butalsoshowedthebroadsocialconflictsoverandabovethefateofmereindividuals.ThegreatestEnglishrealistofthetimewasCharlesDickens.Withstrikingforceandtruthfulness,hecreatespicturesofbourgeoiscivilization,describingthemiseryandsufferingofthecommonpeople.3.1TheDefinitionofCriticalRealismThecriticalrealismofthe19thcenturyflourishedinthefortiesandinthebeginningoffifties.Therealistsfirstandforemostsetthemselvesthetaskofcriticizingcapitalistsocietyfromademocraticviewpointanddelineatedthecryingcontradictionsofbourgeoisreality.KarlMarxgavethefollowingcharacterizationoftheworksofcriticalrealists:“ThepresentbrilliantschoolofnovelistsinEngland,whosegraphicandeloquentdescriptionshaverevealedmorepoliticians,publicists,andmoralistsaddedtogether,haspicturedallsectionsofthemiddleclass,beginningwiththe‘respectable’retireandownerofgovernmentstocks,wholooksdownonallkindsof‘business,asbeingvulgar,andfinishingwiththesmallshopkeeperandlawyer’sclerk”(WuWeiren,1988).AccordingtoHolman,“Realismis,inthebroadestsense,fidelitytoactualityinitsrepresentationinliterature”（ZhangBoxiang,1998）.Realismisbasedontheaccurate,unromanticobservationofhumanexperience.Asforstyleandsubjectmatter,itinsistsonexperiencesdescription,authenticaction,truetolifedialogue,moralhonesty,andademocraticopenness.WeiJian(2008)wasconcludedthemajorfactorsofrealistworks:(1)Realismstressestruthfultreatmentofmaterialinastraightforwardormateroffactmannerratherthanabstractinterestinsuchsubstantialsubjectsaslife,death,andnature.(2)Inrealistfiction.Charactersfromallsociallevelsareexaminedindepth.Realistskeepexamininghowcharactersrelatetoeachother,andstressthefunctionofenvironmentinshapingcharacters.(3)Realismfocusesoncommonlivesoftheaveragepeopleratherthancharactersassymbols.(4)Realismemphasizesobjectivityratherthanidealisticviewsofhumannature.Simple,clear,directproseisthedesirablestyleofwriting.(5)Realismpresentsmoralvisions.Realistsareawareoftheacceptedsocialcriteriaandhaveastrongethicalsenseabouttherightandwrongwaysofdoingthings.Thesedefinitionsof“criticalrealism”coveralltheaspects,andthesedefinitionsputforwardbyscholarsarereasonableinmanywaysandtheyarewisdomofseveralgeneration.3.2CharlesDickenstheGreatestEnglishRealistThegreatestEnglishrealistofthetimewasCharlesDickens.Withastrikingforceandtruthfulness,hecreatedpicturesofbourgeoiscivilization,describingthemiseryandsufferingsofcommonpeople.CharlesDickenswasbornin1812atPortsmouth,whoisthesonofanunpracticalandimprovidentgovernmentnavyclerk.Becausehisfatherwastakentotheprisonfordebt,hishappychildhoodalsoendedin1822.Attheageof12,youngCharleshadtoworkatashoe－blackingfactoryintheEastEnd.Heworked12hoursadaywrappingandpastinglabelsonbottledblacking,for6shillingsaweek.Thoselonely,hungrydays,inflictedsoearlyinlifeuponsuchasensitiveboyhadleftanineradicablebitterremembranceintheremainderofhislife.Tothisexperience,also,manyevidentlybetracednosmallpartofintensesympathywiththeoppressedpoor,especiallywithhelplesschildren,whichissoprominentinhisnovel.Afterfifteenheworkedasalawyer’sofficeboy,areporterintheHouseofCommonsforthedailynewspapers.Fromtheyearof1831whenhebecamealeadingreporterfortheMorningChronicle,Dickensbeganhisliterarycareer.Dickens’literarycareermayberoughlydividedintothreeperiods.Thefirstperiodisfrom1833to1841.Intheworksofthisperiod,theauthorattackedoneormorespecificevilsinVictorianEngland:debtors’prisons,workhouse,Yorkshireschools,legalfraud,andcapitalpunishment.Yetthekeynoteoftheseworksisstilloptimistic,maintainedwithplentyofhumorandrobustlaughter.Inthesecondperiodfrom1841to1847,DickensmadeatriptoAmerica.HewasdisgustedbythecrudenessoflifeandmannersinAmerica,andinparticularbyhisownlackofprivacythere.Thebunchofnovelsrevealsmoreclearlytheauthor’sillusionsaboutthepossibilityofconciliatingsocialcontradictionsandcontainsstreaksofsentimentalityanddisappointment.Thethirdperiodstretchedfrom1848to1861.ItwasafruitfulperiodinwhichDickensattainedtohismaturityasagreatartist.Thewholeperiodwasalsocharacterizedbythechangeanddevelopmentofthegreatnovelist’sartisticstyle.Hishumorandsatiregraduallygavewaytosentimentality,amoodofinhibitionanddramatictension.In1870,CharlesDickensdiedofoverwork,leavinghislastdetectivenovelEdwinDroodunfinished.OliverTwistwasDickens’ssecondandhisfirstrealsocialnovel,inwhichDickensgivesatruthfulpresentationofthesufferanceofthepoorandoppressed,andbitterlyexposestheterribleconditionsintheEnglishworkhouseandthecorruptionoftheoppressionunderthemaskofphilanthropy.Healsomadedeepimpressiononreaderswithitsimagesofpovertyandcrime.3.3TheCriticalRealisminOliverTwistOliverTwistiswithoutadoubtoneofDickens'sfullyrealized1iterarycreations.Facingthecomplicatedlifeexperiences,themaincharactersofthenovelexposethehumannatureindifferentways.Throughthesecharacters,Dickensexploresthebad,vainhumannature,andcarolsthekindnessandmaturehumanity.Thereadercanfeelhishatredtothegreedcapitalistsocietyandthesincerewishforacharitableone.ThisthesiswillanalyzethecriticalrealismfromfouraspectsinOliverTwist.Itdescribesthecondemnationofthedecayinthesocietyfirstly,secondlyitintroducescondemnationoftheNewPoorLaw,thenitanalysiscriticalviewofthecapitalisticsystemandcriticalviewofthemoralityofmoneyworship.3.3.1CondemnationoftheDecayintheSocietyTherealistsofthe19thcenturymadeapanoramicpictureofthebourgeoissociety.Theygaveabitingexposureofthegreed,hypocrisyandsordidnessofthebourgeoisie.A11theevilsoftheexistinginstitutions—thegovernment,thelaw,thechurch,theeducationandpenalsystems．Withtheirinjusticeandcorruptionandthewretchednessinflictedbythem-andthesocietyitselfwithitscorrupted,vainandevilmembersweremercilesslyexposedandcriticizedbythem．Inthisway,thenovelbecamethemostwidelyreadandthemostvitalandchallengingexpressionofprogressivethoughtatthattime．CharlesDickenswasalifelongchampionofthepoor.InEnglandinthe1830s,thepoortrulyhandnovoice,politicaloreconomic.OliverTwistexposesitsreaderstoawordofcrimeandmeanness,thedog-eat-dogworld.AccordingtoDorisAlexander,“Dickensknewthatearlycircumstancesshapecharacterandthatcharacter,inturn,shapesreactionstolatercircumstances”（DorisAlexander,1992）.Onemaysaythathischildhoodsufferingdominateshiswholeviewtohissocietylater.DickensalsocreatedthesecharacterstotestifytothemistreatmentofchildreninVictoriansociety.Duetohissuccessasanauthor,Dickensinmanywayssuccessfullytookuptheplightofchildrenbycreatingcharactersthatdrewattentionandsympathyfromhisreaders.Inhisworkshegavechildrenavoicethattheydesperatelyneeded,yetneverhadbefore.Inthe1ittleworldinwhichchildrenhavetheirexistence,whosoeverbringsthemup,thereisnothingsofinelyperceivedandsofinelyfelt,asinjustice.InOliverTwist,thisdarkandsordidworldispresentedbyDickensfromtheperspectiveofanorphan,alostchildwhosesenseofbewildermentandfrightremindsoneofhowthetwelve-year-oldDickenshadhimselfrespondedtothesoul-crushingexperienceoftheblackingworkhouse.3.3.2CondemnationoftheNewPoorLawDickensinthefirstelevenchaptersofOliverTwistprovideamostbitterandthoroughgoingexposureoftheterribleconditionintheEnglandworkhouseofthetimeandthecrueltreatmentofapoororphanbyallsortsofphilanthropists.OliverTwistisborninaworkhouseandbroughtupundercruelconditions.Becauseofhungry,Oliveraskedonedayforasecondservingofporridge.Thescandalizedauthoritiesputhiminsolitaryconfinementandpostedabillofferingfivepoundstoanymasterwhowouldtakehimofftheparish.ThosedetailsareonlytoattackthenineteenthcenturyEnglishPoorLaws.Inordertosolvetheproblemofpauperism,thePoor-LawAmendmentActof1834abolishedout-doorreliefandparochialresponsibilitywhichwereoftencorruptandinsufficientinadministration.TheselawswereadistortedmanifestationoftheVictorianmiddleclass’semphasisonthevirtuesofhardwork.Intheeyesofmiddle-classEnglishsociety,thosewhocouldnotsupportthemselveswereconsideredimmoralandevil.Thus,thelawallowedthepoortoreceivepublicassistanceonlyiftheylivedandworkedinestablishedworkhouses.Beggingcarriedthepunishmentofimprisonment.Workhousesweredeliberatelymadetobeasmiserableaspossibleinordertopreventthepoorfromrelyingonpublicassistance.Ingeneral,charitableinstitutionsonlyreproducedtheawfulconditionsinwhichthepoorwouldliveanyway.AsDickensputsit,thepoorchoosebetween“beingstarvedbyagradualprocessinthehouse,orbyaquickoneoutofit”(CharlesDickens,OliverTwist).ThenovelhasalwaysbeenandwilleverberememberedasamostpowerfulinvectiveagainstthePoorLawandtheworkhousesystem.3.3.3CriticalViewoftheCapitalisticSystemInOliverTwist,Dickenscreatedalivelypictureoflowlifeunderthecapitalisticsystem,settingagainsttheseamyundersideoftheLondoncriminalword.ThepoorandthecrimearemainthemeinOliverTwist.Withthedevelopmentoftheplot,afterservinganunhappyapprenticeshiptoanundertaker,OliverrunsawaytoLondon,wherehefallsintothehandsofagangofthieves.AndthethievesmakeeveryefforttoforceOliverintobeingathief.Thestorydemonstratesthehypocrisyofthepettymiddle-classbureaucrats,whotreatasmallchildcruellyunderthemaskoftheChristianvirtue-givingcharitytothelessfortunate.Thenovelexposesitsreaderstoawordofcrimeandmeanness,adog-eat-dogworld.BypresentingtheeverydayexistenceofthelowestmembersofEnglishsociety,Dickensgivesvoicetothosewhohadnovoice,establishingalinkbetweenpoliticsandliteraturewithhissocialcommentary.Inthenovel,Dickensalsocriticizedthatthejudicialsystemisabsurd.Thejudgewhoisincompetentandcruel,hefollowedhisinclinationforconvictionanddeniedOliver’srighttodefensebecauseofhispoverty.Povertyalsomakesmanypeoplesuffertheinjusticeimpoverished.3.3.4CriticalViewoftheMoralityofMoneyWorshipThepopularVictorianidealholdsthatpaupersandcriminalsarealr