Social Problems In The Victorian Period: Oliver Twist

The social problems in the Victorian period were reflected in the literature of that time. The Victorian Period started in the 19 century, precisely in 1837 with the ascension of the Queen Victoria to the throne and ended in 1901 with the death of the Queen. This period is known for having big changes in England. Additionally, the Industrial Revolution was developing by the time the Victorian period began. As a result, people started to move from the countryside to the cities looking for a better job. However, not everything was going so good for the people of England, since the big growth in population caused a notable gab between the upper-class and the lower-class. Following that, when the upper-class was living in a luxurious world the

Dickens was marked by that experience, which made him feel the difference between power and social classes at such a young age. This lead to the creation of the villain Fagin in the novel Oliver Twist. In this story, the main character is Oliver Twist. Oliver is a nine years old kid born in 1830 in England. He is an orphan who lives at a workhouse1. He is constantly bullied by the kids of the workhouse for asking for more gruel2. At the end of a meal. As a consequence, the parish beadle, the one in charge of the workplace, gets tired of Oliver and offers an amount of money for someone to take him away of the workhouse. After that, Oliver worked under a few gentleman but ended running away to London. In London he was penniless and homeless. He was starving and having a hard time until he met Jack Dawkins, a boy his own age. Jack helped Oliver by giving him shelter in the house of his benefactor, Fagin. Fagin is a criminal who trains orphan boys to steal for him. He trains Oliver and sends him, along with two others to steal. After a short time, they saw an old man and the other two boys stole a handkerchief from the man. Oliver gets horrified by the act of the two boys and runs away. Consequently, he is captured

This novel was written by Charlotte Brontë. This novel, like Oliver Twist, is a reflection of the author’s life. When Charlotte was five years old her mother died. Hence, Charlotte’s aunt, a devout Methodist, helped her father raise her and her sisters. Simultaneously, Charlotte and her three sisters Maria, Elizabeth, and Emily were sent to Cowan Bridge, a school for clergymen’s daughters. Soon after, Maria and Elizabeth died of tuberculosis. On account of, Charlotte and Emily were brought back home. After a long time, Charlotte decided to go back to school and became a teacher at that school but at the end she decided to become a private governess. She was hired to live with and tutor the children of the wealthy families but the job wasn’t of her satisfaction and she decided to leave it. At the end, Charlotte completed her dream of establishing a school. In the novel Jane’s experience in Lowood School, where her friend dies of Tuberculosis, is a representation of Charlotte’s sister death at Cowan Bridge. In this story, the main character Jane Eyre is a young orphan, who is raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel, wealthy aunt. One day, as punishment for fighting with her bullying cousin John Reed, Jane’s aunt puts Jane in the red-room, the room in which Jane’s Uncle Reed died. In there, Jane, saw the ghost of her uncle. Meanwhile Mr. Lloyd suggests Jane’s