Thenovelfollowsthejourneyofthetitularcharacter(主人公),OliverTwist.Oliver,anorphansincebirth,spendsmuchofhischildhoodata“childfarm”(orphanage孤儿院)withtoomanychildrenandtoolittlefood.Thefarmislocatedroughly70milesoutsideLondon.Onenight,afterbeingservedhisportionofgruel(稀粥),Oliverasksforasecondhelping.Thisisunacceptable,andOliverissenttoworkasanapprentice(学徒)toanundertaker.Eventually,aftersufferingrepeatedmistreatment,OliverrunsawayandheadsforLondon.HesoonfindshimselfinthepresenceoftheArtfulDodger,whotellshimtostayatthehouseofan“oldgentleman”(namedFagin)withanumberofotherboys.Oliverlearnsthattheseboysaretrainedpickpockets(扒手).Onanouting,OliverwitnessestheboystakeahandkerchieffromMr.Brownlow,anelderlyman,whichprompts(促使)Olivertorunawayinfearandconfusion.TheelderlymanmistakesOliver’sbehaviourforguiltandhashimarrested.However,afterlearningmoreaboutOliver,Mr.Brownlowrealizeshismistakeandofferstotakecareofhimathishome.
OliverassumesthatheisnowridofFaginandthepickpockets,buthisknowledgeoftheircrimescausesthemtoseekOliverout.Nancy,aprostituteandmistress(情妇)ofoneofFagin’smen,BillSikes,issenttotakeOliverfromMr.BrownlowbacktoFagin.Shedoessosuccessfully,andOliverissentonaburglary(入室盗窃)missionwithanothermemberofthegrouptothecountrysidearoundLondon.Onthiserrand(差事),Oliverisshotinthearmandthenistakeninbythefamily(theMaylies)thatheattemptedtorob.Whileheisthere,FaginandamannamedMonksplot(密谋)togethimback.RoseMaylie,whileonatriptoLondonwithherfamily,meetswithMr.BrownlowtotalkwithNancy,whohasslippedaway(逃走;悄悄溜走)fromSikestoexplaintheplansmadebyMonksandFagintogetOliverback.ShedescribesMonksandtellsthemwhenhemightmosteasilybeapprehended(逮捕).UnfortunatelyforNancy,newsofherbetrayalreachesSikes,andhebeatshertodeath.Sikesaccidentallyhangshimselfsoonafter.TheMayliesreuniteOliverwithMr.Brownlow,whoforcesMonkstoexplainhimself.ThereaderandOliveraretheninformedthatMonksisOliver’shalf-brotherandthatOliverisentitledto(有…资格)alargefortune.Hereceiveshisshareofthemoney,Faginishung,andtheMaylies,Oliver,andMr.Brownlowmovetothecountrysidewheretheyspendtherestoftheirdaystogether.
写作背景:
CharlesDickenswaswellversedinthepovertyofLondon,ashehimselfwasachildworkerafterhisfatherwassenttodebtors’prison.Hisappreciationofthehardshipsenduredbyimpoverishedcitizensstayedwithhimfortherestofhislifeandwasevidentinhisjournalisticwritingsandnovels.DickensbeganwritingOliverTwistaftertheadoptionofthePoorLawof1834,whichhaltedgovernmentpaymentstotheable-bodiedpoorunlesstheyenteredworkhouses.Thus,OliverTwistbecameavehicleforsocialcriticismaimeddirectlyattheproblemofpovertyin19th-centuryLondon.
查尔斯·狄更斯非常了解伦敦的贫穷,因为他的父亲被送进债务人监狱后,他自己就是一名童工。他对贫困公民所遭受苦难的欣赏陪伴了他的余生,并在他的新闻作品和小说中表现得很明显。狄更斯是在1834年《济贫法》通过后开始创作《雾都孤儿》的。《济贫法》禁止政府向身体健全的穷人提供补助,除非他们进入济贫院。因此,《雾都孤儿》成为了直指19世纪伦敦贫困问题的社会批判工具。
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