Oliver Twist

I have read a myriad of great novels without bothering to write down anything. I feel it is a great loss to me as the kind of feeling or thought these writings evoked when I was reading are not easily replicated in any other situation. Now that I have completed Dickens's Oliver Twist, it may be the time that I start writing something, and hopefully it will be the the beginning.

His vocabulary just cannot be matched. He can use very formal words to describe the lives people in higher class, and use street and gang slang for the criminal and lower society. Such descriptions blend so well that this work can be called nothing but a masterpiece. He is also very good at describing the inner feeling of the characters, and I can relate to such feelings when I was in a similar situation. One of the examples is his descriptions of young Oliver's thoughts before he slept, and his journey to London. Another example was his narration of Fagin's despondent last day in the cell and his thoughts. In addition, he is very good at painting a grim and filthy picture of neighbourhood and workhouse. London in the 19th century has come alive with the elegance of his language. It is not as hard to understand as those written in the 18th century such as Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travel, though.

Nevertheless, it is easy to point out the faults in the story. Firstly, Oliver is way too lucky. When he first went to the street to pickpocket (he was unaware), he ran into his father's old friend, Mr Brownlow. And in his next adventure to rob a house (against his will), he ran into his kind aunt, Rose Maylie, although in both instance he did not know his relationship with them yet. Secondly, the treatment of Fagin and his gang were too harsh at the end. The whole city seemed to boil with anger at the murder of Nancy for no other apparent reason, and Fagin was sentenced to death for his mostly petty crimes. Thirdly, in Book the Third, Oliver is hardly featured at all. All the happenings were for him instead of by him.

All these things are nothing as I'm absorbed into the world of Oliver Twist. Just love it.