1015010305 英语3班 吴冰姿

Book report of Oliver Twist

——analysis of symbolism in Oliver Twist

Type of work

Novel

Point of view

The narrator is third person omniscient, and assumes the points of view of various characters in turn. The narrator’s tone is not objective; it is sympathetic to the protagonists and far less so to the novel’s other characters. When dealing with hypocritical or morally objectionable characters, the narrative voice is often ironic or sarcastic.

Setting

In the 1830s, London and environs; an unnamed smaller English city; the English countryside

Tone

Sentimental, sometimes ironic, hyperbolic, crusading

Foreshadowing

The truth about Oliver’s parentage is foreshadowed by the portrait in Mr. Brownlow’s house, by the locket that Old Sally has stolen, and by Monks’s pursuit of Oliver.

Major conflict

Although Oliver is fundamentally righteous, the social environment in which he is raised encourages thievery and prostitution. Oliver struggles to find his identity and rise above the abject conditions of the lower class. Theme

To criticize the failure of charity and the idealization of countryside, and to remind people of the purity in a corrupt city.

Style

Realistic romanticism

The story is about an orphan, Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to London where he meets the Artful Dodger, leader of a gang of juvenile pickpockets. Oliver is led to the lair of their elderly criminal trainer Fagin, naively unaware of their unlawful activities.

The setting of this novel is fog in London as the background. It uses the complex plots and characters show the British social reality, and uses exaggeration and irony reflects the dark side of society. At the same time, everywhere in the work embodies the romantic, the author uses the kind-hearted of a gentleman to show fantasies and hopes of the society.

The author who himself was born in a poor family wrote this novel in his twenties with a view to reveal the ugly masks of those cruel criminals and to expose the horror and violence hidden underneath the narrow and dirty streets in London.

Oliver Twist was thrown into a world full of poverty and crime. He suffered enormous pain, such as hunger, thirst, beating and abuse. While reading the tragic experiences of the little Oliver, I am really impressed by his kind-hearted and lenient. And it is so adamant of him after being through all the twist. What he has been through is just like his name, and I have to say the author is really adept at using symbols. This novel is full of symbolism. For the characters’ names, they have their own meanings. The names of characters represent personal qualities. Oliver Twist himself is the most obvious example. The name “Twist,” though given by accident, alludes to the outrageous reversals of fortune that he will experience. Rose Maylie’s name echoes her association with flowers and springtime, youth and beauty. Toby Crackit’s name is a lighthearted reference to his chosen profession of breaking into houses. Mr. Bumble’s name connotes his bumbling arrogance; Mrs. Mann’s, her lack of maternal instinct; and Mr. Grimwig’s, his superficial grimness that can be removed as easily as a wig.

London Bridge is another symbol. Nancy’s decision to meet Brownlow and Rose on London Bridge reveals the symbolic aspect of this bridge in Oliver Twist. Bridges exist to link two places that would otherwise be separated by an uncrossable chasm. The meeting on London Bridge represents the collision of two worlds unlikely ever to come into contacts—the idyllic world of Brownlow and Rose, and the atmosphere of degradation in which Nancy lives. On the bridge, Nancy is given the chance to cross over to the better way of life that the others represent, but she rejects that opportunity, and by the time the three have all left the bridge. that possibility has vanished forever. The dog in Oliver Twist is an important symbol too. He seems to mirror the

wicked nature of his owner, Bill Sykes. After Sikes murders Nancy, Bull’s-eye comes to represent Sikes’s guilt. The dog leaves bloody footprints on the floor of the room where the murder is committed. Not long after, Sikes becomes desperate to get rid of the dog, convinced that the dog’s presence will give him away. Yet, just as Sikes cannot shake off his guilt, he cannot shake off Bull’s-eye, who arrives at the house of Sikes’s demise before Sikes himself does. Bull’s-eye’s name also conjures up the image of Nancy’s eyes, which haunts Sikes until the bitter end and eventually causes him to hang himself accidentally.

The author makes considerable use of symbolism. The many symbols Oliver faces are primarily good versus evil, with evil continually trying to corrupt and exploit good, but good winning out in the end. Briefly, the author manages to skilfully paint a picture of the dark, dirty and dangerous alley-ways of Victorian London by symbolism.

With these symbols, I find the novel deeper, richer, more meaningful and colorful. The author uses symbolism to allude to a mood or feeling without coming out and stating that particular emotion. As the result, this novel become very well known and it has a huge effect in English literature. It successfully presents the underworld and problems of poverty through the typical figure Oliver. The works deeply reveals the ugly masks of those cruel criminals and the tragic life of downer class citizen in 18th century in Britain.

第二篇：雾都孤儿

《雾都孤儿》之简略见解

中文摘要：《雾都孤儿》是本世家名著，作者是查尔斯·狄更新，它讲述的是发生在19世纪的一个动人的故事。 书中的主人翁奥利弗·特威斯特是一个孤儿，他出生在济贫院，出生不久他的妈妈就死了。后来，他被当作一件物品被送来送去，受尽折磨，直到最后遇到一位善良的布朗洛老先生，这位先生收留了他，从此过上了好的生活。读完这本书，我的心情久久不能平静。可怜的奥利弗在已经失去亲人的痛苦下，受了这么多折磨。真不知道在他瘦弱的身体下，有着怎样的意志，能使他坚持不懈，使他在饥饿、寒冷、孤独下顽强斗争，向美好的生活前进。最令我感动的是奥利弗遇到强盗集团的那段经历。奥利费在路上走上了七天七夜，饥饿难忍，疲倦不堪。他遇到杰克一个小偷。杰克把奥利弗带到了贼窝，小偷们想把奥利弗

训练成一个小偷。但奥利弗受尽折磨也不愿意，逃了出来。读到这，我心中油然而生敬佩之情。 关键词：奥利弗 人性 真善美

一，《雾都孤儿》之简介

（一）《雾都孤儿》之背景简介

狄更斯在文学创作中所表现出的仁爱思想有其深刻的生活、社会和宗教根源。

首先,狄更斯艰难的现实生活经历奠定了他仁爱思想的生活基础。1812年,狄更斯出生在英国朴兹茅斯的一个小职员家里,12岁时父亲因债务入狱,家庭陷入困境。生活所迫的他开始在鞋油作坊当学徒,曾经坐在橱窗里包装鞋油罐,为老板当活动广告。后来,狄更斯又先后做过律师事务所的实习生、民事法庭的访员、报馆的新闻记者,为谋生历尽艰辛和磨难。青年时的苦难经历使他有机会广泛接触英国社会生活,了解下层人民的疾苦,年轻的作家心中初步萌发仁爱思想。艰辛的现实生活赋予了狄更斯仁爱的思想,为其日后文学创作奠定了爱的基调。

（二）《雾都孤儿》之人物简介

小说的主人公奥利弗·退斯特，是一名生在济贫院的孤儿，忍饥挨饿，备受欺凌，但他始终保持着一颗善良的心。

奥利弗、南希、罗斯小姐都是善良的代表，他们都出生于苦难之中，在黑暗和充满罪恶的世界中成长，但在他们的心中始终保持着一偏纯洁的天地，一颗善良的心，种种磨难并不能使他们堕落或彻底堕落，发而更显示出他们出污泥而不染的光彩夺目的晶莹品质。最后，邪不胜正，正义的力量战胜了邪恶，虽然南希最后遇难，但正是她的死所召唤出来的惊天动地的社会正义力量，正是她在冥冥中的在天之灵，注定了邪恶势力的代表——费金团伙的灭顶之灾。因此在小说中，南希的精神得到了升华，奥利弗则得到了典型意义上的善报。而恶人的代表——费金、蒙克斯、邦布尔、塞克斯无不一一落得个悲惨的下场。 狄更斯在小说中描写了资本主义社会穷苦儿童的悲惨生活，揭露了贫民救济所和学校教育的黑暗，无情地揭露和鞭挞了资本主义社会的黑暗和虚伪。

（三）《雾都孤儿》之内容简介

故事发生在十九世纪的英国。一名失去了母亲的初生婴儿被当地教会收留，取名奥利弗。九岁时，奥利弗被先后送去工厂及棺材店做学徒，最终不堪忍受折磨，星夜出走，来到伦敦。

在饥寒交迫之时，奥利弗遇到了以偷盗为生的费金一伙，费金见其聪明伶俐，便想训练奥利弗成为一名扒手。一次奥利弗与其他孩子一起上街，孩子亚狄偷窃失手，奥利弗被误抓入警局。

伦敦富翁罗勃特因冤枉了奥利弗偷窃感到很内疚，见他又可爱又可怜，便将其领回家。在那里，小奥利弗既不愁吃穿，还能上学读书。有人竟还暗中发现小奥利弗竟是富翁罗勃特的亲生外孙。可是一次奥利弗在街上被费金一伙撞见，又被其抓了回去。他被绑回贼窝后遭到毒打，费金的同伙南茜得知小奥利弗的身世后十分同情他，决定救他出险。

南茜暗暗将消息告诉了罗勃特，答应下次带奥利弗回来。不料南茜的计划被费金一伙发现，她被活活打死。后来，罗勃特带领警察直到贼窝，救出了奥利弗，费金一伙也最终被吊死。

二，《雾都孤儿》之主题思想

从《雾都孤儿》看狄更新的仁爱思想

（一） 仁爱思想鲜明体现在对现实生活的深刻揭露和对社会罪恶的无情鞭挞

上

《雾都孤儿》对“新济贫法”下育婴房和贫民习艺所里孩子们的悲惨生活有详尽的描写,小说中的孩子们食物匮乏的生活状况、稚嫩可怜的幼小心灵、悲惨低贱的身世以及所受的种种非人虐待,无不让读者揪心。相比之下,济贫院干事班布尔先生作威作福、贪婪无厌的行径以及他对孩子们凶狠的嘴脸则让人痛恨。狄更斯用幽默讽刺的笔调把“新济贫法”下贫苦孤儿的悲惨生活描写得深刻感人,揭开了济贫院伪善的面纱,将其种种恶行公之于众。狄更斯惟妙惟肖地塑造了一个个恶人形象,并对他们的罪恶行径进行了无情的鞭挞。正是有了对恶的揭露与痛恨,才凸显了狄更斯对善的推崇与厚爱,其仁爱思想在对现实生活的深刻揭露和对社会罪恶的无情鞭挞上得到了鲜明的体现。

（二）2 仁爱思想具体展现在对弱小人物的同情怜悯上

《雾都孤儿》中对小奥立弗的描写是在作者充满怜悯的笔触中展开的,狄更斯对于受难中的小主人公充满同情,他用生动的语言把奥立弗无助悲惨的处境描写得感人泪下,让读者时时为他的命运担忧揪心。不仅如此,狄更斯在情节安排上更是十分厚爱奥立弗,每当他陷入绝境时总会有人出来帮助,让他渡过难关。是狄更斯对弱小人物的同情与善待,更是其仁爱思想的具体体现。

（二） 仁爱思想突出表现在善恶有报的结局安排上

《雾都孤儿》的结局可谓是善有善报、恶有恶报,狄更斯怀着“欺诈永远不会兴旺”、“德行终于要胜利”的信念,让读者看到了一个圆满美好的结局。在狄更斯看来无论出身如何,身处何处,只要善良宽容、忠诚仁爱,保持纯良的天性和向善的灵魂,就能最终得到幸福。小奥立弗虽饱受磨难和屈辱,但他始终洁身自好、忠诚仁爱,最终苦尽甘来,得到布朗娄先生与露丝小姐的帮助,继承了财产过上了幸福的生活。对于小说中的恶人们,作者则给他们安排了

悲惨的下场:贼首费金最后上了绞刑架;塞克斯在逃窜中失足被自己的绳子勒死;“逮不着”为了偷窃一个鼻烟壶而被法院判刑终身流放;蒙克斯将家产挥霍殆尽,最终锒铛入狱死在狱中;教区干事班布尔则被革去职务,一贫如洗;即使是良心未泯的女贼南茜也没能有个好点的结局,被自己的情人赛克斯活活打死。作者对善者爱,对恶者憎的做法以及善恶有报的结局安排,恰恰是在宣扬仁爱鞭挞残暴,是其仁爱思想的突出表现。

（三） 仁爱思想诠释在小主人翁的宽容上

狄更斯的仁爱思想不仅表现在对弱小者的同情、对受难人的帮助、对善良的支援上,同时也表现在对恶人的宽容上。狄更斯对那些凶狠残暴的恶人充满了痛恨,他无情地揭露他们冷酷的本性,撕下他们伪善的面罩展露其丑恶灵魂,但他又试图以仁爱、宽恕的善心感化他们,使其人性复苏。这种宽容与博爱在小奥立弗身上体现得一览无余。在小说的最后,奥立弗去监狱探视即将被执行绞刑的费金,面对这个企图教唆自己犯罪并多次设计陷害自己的恶人,奥立弗不是充满仇恨,心里也没有丝毫报复的快感。恰恰相反,他心里只有对费金曾经照顾自己的感恩以及为他的祈祷。小奥立弗泪流满面跪倒在地,祷告说:“上帝啊,饶恕这个不幸的人吧!”这一情景把奥立弗宽容仁爱的美好心灵再次呈现给读者,同时作者的仁爱思想也得到了最完整的诠释。

三，《雾都孤儿》之感想

奥利弗——一个孤儿，他被投入了一个充满贫困与犯罪的世界，忍饥挨饿，挨打挨骂，从来没有人关心他。邪恶的费金，残暴的比尔?赛克斯，以及一大群窃贼强盗。他们把奥利弗训练成一个神偷手，然后利用他去骗取钱财。可是奥利弗不愿去干这些事情,费金就对他拳打脚踢，迫使奥利弗到处流浪。幸运的是，他遇到了一群善良的人，对他无微不至的关怀，让奥利弗感到非常温暖。

当我想到一个九岁的孩子，在伦敦被迫加入罪恶累累、堕落不堪的小偷、强盗、亡命之徒的行列之中。但他并未放弃，在他的心中仍向往着一个美好的生活，多次在好心人的帮助下，终于过上了自己所想往的生活。我真觉得奥利弗真勇敢、真坚强。而我们生活在蜜罐里，福窝里，却总是抱怨，总是不满足。但我们可曾想过，在世界上，还有许多孩子，正承受着巨大的痛苦；正和饥饿、寒冷、疾病作战；正面对着失去亲人，飘泊流浪的生活。他们需要别人的帮助，但更需要不屈的精神、勇敢的精神。 我要学习奥利弗的坚强不屈的精神、勇敢的精神。 我们也要学习善良的布朗洛，是他伸出了援助之手帮助奥利弗的。 看了《雾都孤儿》，让我受益非浅，让我懂得了社会的冷酷与人的性格的残暴。我们 要行动，帮助他们，挽救他们。 我们生活在密罐里，福窝里，却总是抱怨，总是不满足。但我们可曾经想过，在世界上，还有多少孩子，正承受着巨大的痛苦；正在和饥饿、疾病作战；正面对着失去亲人，漂泊流浪的生活。他们充满着对生命的渴望，对生命的热爱，可是苦难和他们作对。所以，我们现在要珍惜自己的幸福，用我们的双手和大脑，做一个对祖国有用的人，来回报社会。

历史文化学院

陈晓宇