For Further Discussions 1. Research Charles Dickens’ life. How are Oliver and Dickens’ childhood similar? How is Oliver’s childhood typical or atypical of a Victorian child’s upbringing? 2. If Oliver was an orphan today, how would his situation differ from what it was like in England in the 1800s? Are there factors that haven’t changed? What is the plight of an orphan in this country who never gets adopted? 3. In Oliver Twist, Fagin is repeatedly called “The Jew” and referred to in derogatory terms (references that are omitted in the musical Oliver!). Look at other accomplished literary works that contain racism, such as Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice or Samuel Clemens’ (Mark Twain) Huckleberry Finn. Discuss the nature of the racist remarks in these and other texts. Are they representative of the authors’ beliefs? Are they indicative of the times? Put into the context of the story, are the authors’ intentions or remarks something other than what appears on the surface? 4. Dickens was a master of revealing the hypocrisy of people and institutions in Victorian England. Victorian society might have viewed Fagin and Sykes as criminals, but some of the characters in Oliver Twist who held legitimate jobs were just as criminal. Discuss the behavior of Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney. Could an argument be made that their behavior was even more insidious than that of the street scoundrels? 5. How did transforming Oliver Twist into a musical impact the story? Did the tone of the story change? Are all the characters that were in the novel in the musical? Is the plot of the story the same? 6. If you were to update Fagin’s gang of petty thieves, how would they appear? Describe their dress, the way they would speak, the items they would wear, and how they might live. 7. Choose a theme from Oliver Twist that had the most resonance for you. Cite examples of where this theme is prevalent in the novel. Explain why you found the theme to be poignant. 8. Many contemporary American novels address issues of the underprivileged or disenfranchised. Often these novels are written from those who have experienced these conditions firsthand, which often means they are minority authors. Review some of the novels or plays you have read and compare them to Oliver Twist. How are they similar or dissimilar? Are the literary styles different from Dickens’ style? Did the contemporary stories have more of an impact on you? 9. The word “Dickensian” pertains to Charles Dickens’ style: something that is marked by conditions or features resembling those described by him. Consider Oliver! and another Dickens’ story that is often performed during the holidays, A Christmas Carroll. What are some of the Dickensian features in both of these stories?
63