The Role and Character of Nancy in Oliver Twist PDF

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The Role and Character of Nancy in Oliver Twist...

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Instituto Superior de Profesorado N° 4 “Ángel Cárcano”

English Literature I 2nd Year

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens “Nancy, an Angel in Chains”

Student: Alejandro Sosa

Outline I. Abstract II. Introduction to Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist III. Dickens’ Life as a Framework for his Literary Work IV. Analysis of Nancy’s character in Oliver Twist V. Conclusion

“Some people are nobody's enemies but their own” (Dickens 507). Abstract As a reader of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, I would like to make in this readerresponse paper, an analysis on one of its female characters, Nancy, to understand the character’s traits and how she develops throughout the novel, exploring her inner struggles and contradictions, and pointing towards the importance of her role in the aforementioned novel. In addition, a brief account of the writer’s life is also provided, to show how his experiences, convictions and perspectives exerted their influence on his works and are clearly reflected in it.

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Introduction to Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist Oliver Twist is a novel written in 1837 by Charles Dickens. The main story narrates the intense physical and mental suffering of Oliver Twist, an orphan, through his early years, living in a workhouse under the care of cruel and corrupted superiors. It then shifts to the almost never-ending nightmare of critical situations Oliver has to face in Victorian England once out of the institution, to finally find the longawaited happiness and comfort. At the same time, the narrative is interrupted by the different others stories and by numerous characters from the vilest and most deprived to the most favoured and “respectable” members of England’s society (SparkNotes 4). Oliver Twist is a not only the portrayal of the darkest, poorest and wretched side of England, with which Dickens was well acquainted, but it is also the instrument with which the author “gives voice to those who had no voice, establishing a link between politics and literature with his social commentary” (SparkNotes 4). Dickens’ Life as a Framework for his Literary Work Dickens experienced in the first person depravity and exploitation. Being only a child of twelve years old, his family underwent financial difficulties and eventually they were imprisoned for debt, all excepting him. Finding himself an orphan and forced to make a living on his own, he worked at a factory for exhausting hours and a paltry salary for almost a year. Such terrible experience marked him for life and in the same manner, affected his literary output (SparkNotes 1).

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Oliver Twist is the perfect example of Dickens' convictions that his writings should surpass the mere objective of entertaining and “be directed toward social reform”, placing his reliance on the intrinsic righteousness of humankind (CliffsNotes 1). As regards his characters, Dickens’ protagonists were usually drawn as the archetype of evil or the paragon of virtue, “predominantly white or black” (CliffsNotes 2). However, “Nancy’s character suggests that the boundary between virtue and vice is not always clearly drawn” (SparkNotes 5). Analysis of Nancy’s character in Oliver Twist Nancy is a member of Fagin’s gang, but the author never dares to make it explicit in the book, how Nancy makes her living. Nonetheless, to my understanding it can be hinted or inferred from her “free and agreeable manners” (Dickens 100) that she is into the profession of prostitution. Which I could confirm when I read this: “The girl’s life had been squandered in the streets, and among the most noisome of the stews and dens of London” (Dickens 468). It made me sad to think of her misfortune, since her misery goes far beyond that. She suffered deprivations of various kinds from her infancy, as a child she was raised “in the midst of cold and hunger, and riot and drunkenness” (Dickens 470). The most noteworthy feature of Nancy is her hysterical laughter, which responds to more than comedy, at the point of appearing to be “mad!” (Dickens 464). I was startled to read the following sentence: “Her eyes were swollen and red; she rocked herself to and fro; tossed her head; and, after a little time, burst out laughing” (Dickens 527). Seemingly, this has an anaesthetic effect on her.

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Personally, I perceive this as an apparent contradiction in the character’s behaviour. Be it as it may, it appears to me that this peculiar and unconscious reaction when Nancy faces those situations of verbal abuse, aggressiveness and violent attacks from Sikes, act as a psychological mechanism of defence for the character and as a technique, for the writer, to break the tension of such scenes. To my judgement, other similar contradictions between Nancy's attitudes and the way that she behaves can be found and discerned in the novel. When Nancy is asked to help in the recapturing of Oliver, she categorically refuses to participate in the scheme. However, later in the story she is seen seizing Oliver by the arm and claiming with tears in her eyes to be his worried and distressed sister in the presence of witnesses, purely to bring him back to the thieves’ den. However, it sheds some light into the matter Sykes’ intervention, who at the words of, “Yes, she will, Fagin” (Dickens 143), contradicts every previous denials or refusals from Nancy. In other words, Sykes confidently asserts his authority on her. Eventually, Sykes breaks Nancy’s will. For me, this suggests indisputably that Nancy has no power over her body or her soul. Once the orphan is returned into the hands of Fagin, the Jew’s wrath unleashes upon Oliver physically, with great fierceness and determination and Nancy interposes between the martyr and his aggressor. This quote perfectly describes it: “I won’t stand by and see it done, Fagin,’ […] let him be—or I shall put that mark on some of you, that will bring me to the gallows before my time.” (Dickens 183). I was extremely impressed, if not to say astonished when at the danger of Sikes releasing the voracious dog he has as a pet, Nancy neither hesitates nor delays to 4

interfere between Oliver and his certain death, preventing a bloody massacre and risking her own life. No long after, this course of events helps to develop Nancy’s moral consciousness and she realises the implication of her own actions: ‘I wish I had been struck dead in the street, or had changed places with them we passed so near to-night, before I had lent a hand in bringing him here. He’s a thief, a liar, a devil, all that’s bad, from this night forth. Isn’t that enough for the old wretch, without blows?’ (Dickens 185). Taking this into account, I perceive Nancy as the possessor of a noble heart. The same heart which is madly in love with Sikes. However, this devotion to him is another contradiction in Nancy’s character, to my way of thinking, considering Sikes’s violent temper, cruel behaviour and harmful affection. Nevertheless, the ardour of Nancy’s feelings never dies, despite being a battered and an abused woman, she is vulnerable to his affection and weak to his strength. ‘As weak as water,’ replied Mr. Sikes, with an imprecation on his eyes and limbs. ‘Here; lend us a hand, and let me get off this thundering bed anyhow.’ Illness had not improved Mr. Sikes’s temper; for, as the girl raised him up and led him to a chair, he muttered various curses on her awkwardness, and struck her (Dickens 449) As the narrative progresses, the role of Nancy becomes crucial to solve the mystery behind Oliver’s heritage, as vital information of the orphan’s origins and identity reaches her ears. After the revelation, Nancy becomes deeply pensive and I certainly believe that she is struggling with an internal debate, whether to forget

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such discovery or make it known, in a hurricane of thoughts. When she resolves to take the “bold and hazardous step” (Dickens 461), completely aware of the risks involved, heads towards Rose’s house and the mystery starts to solve. Since this first encounter between the ladies, Rose repeatedly offers Nancy help and protection, but Nancy rejects every offer firmly. “‘Not a penny,’ replied the girl, waving her hand.” (Dickens 476). I was extremely impressed by Nancy’s attitude, she remains utterly resolute in her position. However, I understand why she is so reluctant to receive any kind of aid. Money would not be more than a temporary solution and shelter will only separate her from Sikes, the wretch with whom she is in love. ‘I wish to go back,’ said the girl. ‘I must go back, because—how can I tell such things to an innocent lady like you?—because among the men I have told you of, there is one: the most desperate among them all; that I can’t leave: no, not even to be saved from the life I am leading now.’ […] ‘Is it possible,’ cried Rose, ‘that for such a man as this, you can resign every future hope, and the certainty of immediate rescue? It is madness.’ (Dickens 474) As Nancy confesses, “I am chained to my old life. I loathe and hate it now, but I cannot leave it. I must have gone too far to turn back, -- and yet I don’t know.” (Dickens 549), the impression I have is that she is brutally honest, she renounces her own freedom, which she is probably eager to taste. In a major analysis of this passage, it appears to me that Nancy, aware that her misdeeds will haunt her all her life, cannot afford to indulge herself and live as a hypocrite. 6

At the end of Nancy’s life, premonitory “thoughts of death” (Dickens 542) follow and torment her. From my point of view, it may seem as if the writer intended to prepare the reader for the atrocity that was bound to happen, so as to make less traumatic the dreadful event of Nancy’s murder at the hands of Sikes. It is paradoxical to me that her life is taken by the same man she had chosen to live for. For me this quote suggests that Nancy needs to redeem her sins, throwing herself into the clutches of her oppressor, foreseeing her future: “Whether it is God’s wrath for the wrong I have done, I do not know; but I am drawn back to him through every suffering and ill-usage; and I should be, I believe, if I knew that I was to die by his hand at last.” (Dickens 474) Conclusion So as to conclude, I must say that I very much enjoyed reading Oliver Twist. However, it was wordy, quite dense and too many characters are introduced. It helped me to broaden my knowledge of the 19th century Victorian England’s society. All in all, this story made me more aware of the disparity between Dickens’ society and ours. I deem Charles Dickens as a moralist and brave writer of his time, who, through his novels, aimed to raise awareness of the corruption of the institutions and stimulate a political change despite the controversy. Word Count: 1.799

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References CliffsNotes Ed.. “CliffsNotes on Oliver Twist”. CliffsNotes. 02 October 2016. 28 September 2016.

Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. United States: Createspace, 2014. Print. SparkNotes Ed.. “SparkNote on Oliver Twist.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2003. Web. 13 September 2016.

Bibliography CliffsNotes Ed.. “CliffsNotes on Oliver Twist”. CliffsNotes. 02 October 2016. 28 September 2016.

Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. United States: Createspace, 2014. Print. Jane Rogers. “Nancy and Bet in Oliver Twist”. The Victorian Web. 27 May 2003. 28 September 2016.

SparkNotes Ed.. “SparkNote on Oliver Twist.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2003. Web. 13 September 2016.

“The Significance of Compassion in Oliver Twist”. Classics Network. Web. n.d.. 28 September 2016....