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A review by dyno8426
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
5.0
"With its terrifying evocation of the hypocrisy of the wealthy and the depths to which poverty pushes the human spirit, Oliver Twist is both a fascinating examination of evil and a poignant moving novel for all times."
This indeed has that evergreen texture in its content and style which classics like this are known for. It has that good humoured and witty satire that Charles Dickens is known for in critiquing the social situation that England was harbouring in its closed alleys and open fields - of human deprivation, exploitation, cruelty and treachery that affected the poverty ridden population. It also has that masterly crafted plot consisting of an assortment of human samples, the storylines of which connect in ways unimaginable and lend that mysterious/thrilling aspect to his stories. I find Charles Dickens extremely accomplished in all-round dimensions - whether it be using witty sarcasms to bring the truth to light, or be it creating the grim and darkness filled state of affairs (almost Gothic-like in evocation sometimes) which is necessary to deal with thoughts of fear and crime, or be it poetic expressions of beauty and goodness that humble lives of characters might possess. To add to it, it has that characteristic narrative style in English of authors from that era, reading which I personally find really pleasant. This book was one such satisfying and feel-good reads.
At the core of the story lie the themes of preservation of goodness in human conscience through recognition and optimism. While one's conscience is an individual attribute, how its recognition in our fellow humans reinforces the good side of it. The different forms of crime and corruption that are existent in the societies of both the poor and the rich, and the failures of not only the social judgement system, but our personal judgment system (like prejudices and hostility), are the unacknowledged causes for the misfortune of many. The world in Charles Dickens is neither black, nor white - it is grey and at times, very bleak at its horizon with hopelessness. And we, as the relatively fortunate companions among human species, are probably the lighthouses to those who are succumbing to the moral conflict in the desperate times for survival and loneliness. All we need to do is shine a light and not deprive it to those for whom there is still hope. Oliver Twist becomes a symbol of the preservation of such goodness through benevolence and compassion. The image of Oliver will always stay with me as it does with those who read this classic - the boy who asked for more than the little he was given.
This indeed has that evergreen texture in its content and style which classics like this are known for. It has that good humoured and witty satire that Charles Dickens is known for in critiquing the social situation that England was harbouring in its closed alleys and open fields - of human deprivation, exploitation, cruelty and treachery that affected the poverty ridden population. It also has that masterly crafted plot consisting of an assortment of human samples, the storylines of which connect in ways unimaginable and lend that mysterious/thrilling aspect to his stories. I find Charles Dickens extremely accomplished in all-round dimensions - whether it be using witty sarcasms to bring the truth to light, or be it creating the grim and darkness filled state of affairs (almost Gothic-like in evocation sometimes) which is necessary to deal with thoughts of fear and crime, or be it poetic expressions of beauty and goodness that humble lives of characters might possess. To add to it, it has that characteristic narrative style in English of authors from that era, reading which I personally find really pleasant. This book was one such satisfying and feel-good reads.
At the core of the story lie the themes of preservation of goodness in human conscience through recognition and optimism. While one's conscience is an individual attribute, how its recognition in our fellow humans reinforces the good side of it. The different forms of crime and corruption that are existent in the societies of both the poor and the rich, and the failures of not only the social judgement system, but our personal judgment system (like prejudices and hostility), are the unacknowledged causes for the misfortune of many. The world in Charles Dickens is neither black, nor white - it is grey and at times, very bleak at its horizon with hopelessness. And we, as the relatively fortunate companions among human species, are probably the lighthouses to those who are succumbing to the moral conflict in the desperate times for survival and loneliness. All we need to do is shine a light and not deprive it to those for whom there is still hope. Oliver Twist becomes a symbol of the preservation of such goodness through benevolence and compassion. The image of Oliver will always stay with me as it does with those who read this classic - the boy who asked for more than the little he was given.