Oliver Twist' was written by Charles Dickens. “Charles Dickens was a figure that everyone had something to say about, he was a public man and a famous man, and he took on these two slightly different roles in his early twenties.” Oliver Twist was originally published in the 1830s. Throughout this novel, Dickens uses irony, satire, and humor, resulting in Oliver Twist, a classic of 19th-century fiction. Hypocrisy is a major element of the novel, highlighting aspects such as the workhouse, designed to help the poor and prevent them from living in the filth of the streets. However, the workshop is a place shrouded in dirt and rubbish. This is a constant feature throughout the novel and not only mocks characters such as Mr. Bumble, but reveals the inhumane treatment of orphans and anti-Semitism, which culminates in the Jew-Fagin stereotype, by the time this book was written. This book is a true classic of 19th century fiction. Irony is present throughout Oliver Twist and is one of the main literary devices used by Dickens. Just as hypocrisy is a major feature of the novel, so too is satire, as characters such as Mr. Bumble and Fagan are satirized by Dickens; as well as various institutions present in the book. Dickens uses irony to express the dire circumstances in which Oliver and the other orphans find themselves. Dickens reports on the living conditions of the lower classes and ironically refers to Oliver and his fellow orphans as being "without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing," when in fact young children die of hungry and wearing rags. This is what leads to Oliver being forced to ask for more gruel and ultimately being removed from the workshop. Chapter five was a ...... middle of paper ...... the experience of the lower classes. Dickens's satire and use of irony and humor throughout the novel portrays charitable institutions as places that breed corruption, inhumanity, and alienation. The treatment Oliver received is a prime example of this. In Dickens's time, society's failure to recognize these problems destroyed the lives of many innocent children. Dickens highlights these issues extremely effectively throughout his novel using various literary techniques such as irony, satire, and humor and also uses his characters to represent these corrupt institutions. By exploring the problems of the past, we may be better able to identify the downfalls that may be occurring in the institutions of our time.BibliographyDickens, Charles, Oliver Twist, (Wordsworth edition limited to 2000)Smiley, Jane, Charles Dickens: A Life, (Penguin Group USA 2002)