Dickens’ use of Modish Fiction and Fictional Modes in Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist is a classic, a unique Novel in many ways especially in Dickens’ circumvention of and disregard for all the commonly held rules that segregate Novels into genres.

Dickens’ novel is a Satire, Newgate, and Gothic novel all in one.

As a result of this Oliver Twist has become a work in its own genre, an immortal testament perhaps to its writer.

Satire and Dickens’ Criticism of the Poor Laws

Oliver Twist is a satire in that it ridicules government and its institutions that claimed to help the poor

Workhouses in London

Workhouse abuses of children; the deaths of some work house children in London - point out workhouse conditions and the state of the poor

Oliver Twist begins as a sardonic account of a child’s life as a ward of the Parish.

Satire

Dickens having exhausted the workhouse theme, shifted the story to London in order to go on. The departure to London to seek one’s fortune was an obvious move.

It stopped being a satire when Oliver ends up in London where it ceases to focus on social institutions i.e. workhouses.

Dickens’ effort to imitate, parody, and transcend modes of fiction begins as a grim tale of workhouse life, which transforms into an account of petty criminals and their doings.

This part of the novel is where Oliver Twist turns into a Newgate novel

Drama and the Newgate Novel

In the slums of London

The Influence of The Influence of CruikshankCruikshank

Renown illustrator that Dickens worked with on Sketches by Boz and Oliver Twist

Claims to be originator of several characters including Fagin, Bumble, Artful Dodger

Did in fact have layout for “The life of a London Thief” not sure if Dickens even knew about it.

The Newgate DramaThe Newgate Drama

The story line shifts when Oliver is introduced to Fagin

Fagin is the dominating character in the Newgate portion of Oliver

Dickens returns to the Newgate portion when he revisits Fagin’s gang.

The Newgate Drama contd.The Newgate Drama contd.

As the novel progresses, it loses the Newgate Novel feel

Turns into a crime thriller

Oliver does not become a thief or die which is an essential part of Newgate novels which tended to glorify thieves and criminals.

He ends up with the Maylies.

Gothic Novel

Type of novel that emphasizes distorted, mystical, and eerie aspects

Similarities

Dark, confusing streets

Has a feel of supernatural evil

Monks tries to get Oliver to “sin” so that he will be able to inherit his father’s possessions

Dispossessed heir

Differences

Oliver is illegitimate

Fleming is punished,

but not condemned

Conclusion

Dickens went through three novel types when writing Oliver Twist, he used: The Satire novel, the Newgate novel, and the Gothic novel.

Dickens uses satire to point out the conditions of workhouses and the state of the poor.

Cruikshank claims to be the creator of the ideas that the Newgate section of Oliver Twist covers

There are many similarities to a Gothic novel.

Through the merging of the three different types of novels he effectively creates a new genre.

Citations:

“The Old Story” and Inside Stories: Modish Fiction and Fictional Modes in Oliver Twist. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Ed. Fred Kaplan. New York: Norton, 1993. 557-574