写作背景：
《雾都孤儿》是英国小说家查尔斯·狄更斯在维多利亚时代的作品。资本主义的发展，使英国成为世界超级大国。但繁华之下，是贫穷和不幸。这种繁荣孕育在危险和肮脏的工厂和煤矿里。
阶级冲突越发明显，终于在1836年到1848年中接连爆发。19世纪末期，大英帝国国力逐渐下降。作为一个时代的产物，文学日趋多样化，许多伟大的作家出现在那个时代。
19世纪，《雾都孤儿》写于《济贫法》通过之时。英国正经历一场转变，从一个农业和农村经济向城市和工业国家的转变。中产阶级要求分享政治权力的，由此带来一个重组的投票系统。
议会通过了改革法案同意授予中产阶级市民选举权。《济贫法》允许穷人接受公共援助，却要求他们进行必要的劳动。为了阻止穷人依赖公共援助，逼迫他们忍受难以想象的痛苦。
根据英国中产阶级的观点，人们不支持被自己视为不道德的人，他不应该享受舒适的公共援助。因为贫民院的救援声名狼藉。
许多穷人宁死也不寻求公共援助。《济贫法》没有提高穷人阶级的生活水平，却对最无助和无奈的下层阶级施以惩罚。
扩展资料：
19世纪30年代的英国，在一个寒风料峭的深夜，一个男婴在贫民区里呱呱坠地。在男婴出生后，他的母亲便撒手人寰。谁也不知道产妇的身份，男婴由此成了无名孤儿。
后来他被当地教会收养，抚养他的女管事给男婴起名奥利弗（巴尼·克拉克饰）。奥利弗9岁时，由于没人供养他上学读书，于是他进入了济贫院的童工作坊，开始从事繁重的体力劳动。
因为奥利弗既不会耍滑偷懒，也不会阿谀奉承，所以经常受到管事的打骂。这些处在发育期的孩子们终日衣不遮体、食不果腹。
万般无奈之下，他们决定抽签选定提出加粥的人选，结果被抽中的人正是奥利弗。晚餐时，奥利弗如实提出了要求。大惊失色的管事决定撵走这个造反的隐患。
作者介绍：
查尔斯·狄更斯，全名查尔斯·约翰·赫法姆·狄更斯（英文原名：Charles John Huffam Dickens，1812年2月7日—1870年6月9日），英国作家。
主要作品有《大卫·科波菲尔》、《匹克威克外传》、《雾都孤儿》 、《老古玩店》、《艰难时世》、《我们共同的朋友》、《双城记》等。
狄更斯1812年2月7日生于朴次茅斯市郊，出生于海军小职员家庭，少年时因家庭生活窘迫，只能断断续续入校求学。后被迫到工场做童工。15岁以后，当过律师事务所学徒、录事和法庭记录员。
20岁开始当报馆采访员，报道下议院。1837年他完成了第一部长篇小说《匹克威克外传》，是第一部现实主义小说创作，后来创作才能日渐成熟。
先后出版了《雾都孤儿》（1838）、《老古玩店》（1841）、《董贝父子》（1848）、《大卫·科波菲尔》（1850）、《艰难时世》（1854）、《双城记》（1859）《远大前程》（1861）等。
1870年6月9日卒于罗切斯特附近的盖茨山庄。狄更斯特别注意描写生活在英国社会底层的“小人物”的生活遭遇。
深刻地反映了当时英国复杂的社会现实，为英国批判现实主义文学的开拓和发展做出了卓越的贡献。他的作品对英国文学发展起到了深远的影响。
参考资料来源：百度百科-雾都孤儿
《雾都孤儿》以雾都伦敦为背景，讲述了一个孤儿悲惨的身世及遭遇，主人公奥立弗在孤儿院长大，经历学徒生涯，艰苦逃难，误入贼窝，又被迫与狠毒的凶徒为伍，历尽无数辛酸，最后在善良人的帮助下，查明身世并获得了幸福。 奥列佛.特维斯特一生下来就成了孤儿,他在收容所受尽折磨,后来成了殡仪馆学徒,他因不堪虐待而出逃,落到一伙贼帮手中.后在“执行任务”中被勃朗特和萝斯搭救.一个自称蒙克斯的人出钱要贼帮把奥斯特培养成不可救药的惯盗.同情他的南茜把情况告诉了萝斯。勃朗特找到蒙克斯，原来他是奥列佛的异母哥哥，为独自霸占遗产而陷害奥列佛。最后，奥列佛继承了应得的遗产，勃朗特收他为养子。萝斯也和所爱的人结了婚。
小说描写了善与恶、美与丑、正义与邪恶的斗争，赞扬了人们天性中的正直和善良，也揭露抨击了当时英国慈善机构的虚伪和治安警察的专横。同时，作品又带有浓厚的浪漫主义情调，充满着人道主义情怀。
Charles DIckens's Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist: The Parish Boy抯 Progress
Charles Dickens created an astonishing collection of literary masterpieces each of which tightly grasped the attention of the audience. Dickens was able to maintain a writing schedule that would have exhausted any other author. In slightly more than thirty years, Dickens published more than twenty novels, acted as editor for a variety of literary journals, created his own magazine, worked as a freelance reporter, and executed a series of charismatic public readings. His popularity established Dickens as one of the first 揷elebrities.?SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Crowds brimming with eager fans would accumulate as Dickens bellowed out the charming lines of his tantalizing novels. His significance and notoriety are still easily identified in contemporary literary cannons. Although his books sold and the audience waited on edge for the next installment of his works, Dickens was not given completely favorable reviews to every text.
Oliver Twist was begun in February 1837 and continued as monthly installments in Bentley抯 Miscellany until April of 1839. Dickens originally titled the novel Oliver Twist: The Parish Boy抯 Progress but it has since been shorten to simply Oliver Twist. Dickens finished writing the novel in the London of 1838 and the first edition of the novel was found on shelves in November of 1838. The novel falls into the genre of a children抯 detective story but the novel also contains an aspect of social protest as Dickens details the Poor Laws and workhouses. Dickens uses his hyperbolic irony and sentimentalism to create characters currently residing in the underworld of industrial London. The themes that appear within the text are the delineation between good and evil, the hypocritical attitudes and behaviors of public institutions, and the ultimately flawed theory of individualism. Dickens uses mistaken identities and familial ties to create a story, which closely details the journey of a virtuous orphan through the mean streets of poverty (Spark Notes: Oliver Twist).
While Dickens was composing Oliver Twist, he was also working as editor of Bentleys Miscellany. As an author, Dickens rarely completely finished one work before beginning an entirely new project. For example, Pickwick Papers was not completed prior to his beginning of Oliver Twist. Nor was Oliver Twist completed before Dickens had moved on to Nicholas Nickleby. Master Humphrey抯 Clock and The Old Curiosity Shop were soon to follow. Dickens wrote at a fevered pace which would have been daunting to other authors. In addition to his rapid publication of novels, Dickens was also able to create strikingly differing works. His first serially published novel, Pickwick Papers, was fully of comic charisma; however, Gilbert Keith Chesterton states that Oliver Twist 搃s by far the most depressing of all his books?(Chesterton).
Oliver Twist is the story of an orphan who unwittingly stumbles upon his hidden fortune. The tale is one that vividly depicts the dismal prospects of one born into a workhouse without parents and is forced to survive on little or no compassion. Oliver is unloved and unwanted from the open of the novel. However, as the novel progresses, Oliver finds that his honest and kind disposition win him a variety of friends in high places. Although Fagin and the other street urchins continually seek to ruin Oliver抯 connections, Oliver抯 faithful heart find a home in the end. The novel demonstrates the benefits of a good will that may be found in the most unlikely of people. Oliver抯 merits carry him through life and away from the poverty that capture those with weaker morals. In the conclusion of the tale, Oliver finds himself among those with equally good manners and morals. His situation is only improved through the inevitable triumph of good over evil.
Dickens initially published Oliver Twist in the format of serial publication. Dickens used the process of creating monthly installments to create a high level of suspense, leaving the audience eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series. Oliver Twist was reportedly 揳 part of everyday conversations, just as top rated television shows are for us today.?SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Dickens effectively used the publishing techniques to his benefit; he was able to work the system (Oliver Twist桾he Author and His Times).
Interestingly, Dickens抯 personal environment was greatly shaken in both a happy manner and a sad one during the publishing of Oliver Twist. In May of 1837 Mary Hogarth died, devastating Dickens. Hogarth, his sister-in-law, was a dear friend and supporter of Dickens. Many critics speculate that the characters of Rose and Nancy were modeled after Dickens?companion Mary Hogarth. After Hogarth抯 death, Dickens feelings of abandonment seep into the world of Oliver. Oliver fears the loss of Rose as Dickens mourns the loss of Mary (Oliver Twist桾he Author and His Times). Catherine Dickens was also reported to have given birth to Charles, the first of ten children during this time (Victorian Web). The splendor of a new baby was contrasted with the great loss of a close friend. Dickens, in fact, was forced to take a break from his busy writing schedule to cope with the drastic changes that took place in his personal life at this time.
The Poor Laws were established prior to the publication of the novel. The Poor Laws, according to The Victorian Web, were created to destroy the relief programs that were in play since 1601. The Poor Laws generated a system of workhouses. The workhouses allowed for a program of assistance that did not merely dole out money but rather doled out food, shelter, and clothing. The Poor Laws provided an answer to the declining laws that were supporting the impoverished. The problems were obvious: the current system left the aged uncared for, the children ignorant and uneducated, and the lower class population starving. King George III proposed a plan to:
Stop the allowance system梩o deprive the magistracy of the power of ordering out-door relief梩o alter in certain case the constitution of parochial vestries梩o give large discretionary powers to the central commissioners梩o simplify the law of settlement and removal梩o render the mother of an illegitimate child liable to support it. Dickens[1] 366
However, the workhouses proved to be yet another place to shove the poor. The theory may have been formed from noble ideals but the foundations were flawed.
The boundaries and faults of the Poor Laws are blatantly exemplified in Oliver Twist. Oliver is forced to suffer the indignities of starvation, brutal treatment, and is damned to life in a workhouse. Dickens used his artistic talents to speak for the silent, to fight for the oppressed, and to champion those defeated. Dickens himself states: 揑t was my attempt, in my humble and far distant sphere, to dim the false glitter surrounding something which really did exist, by showing it in its unattractive and repulsive truth?(Dickens 6). Dickens used his literary engine to fuel the debate over the Poor Laws and to reveal the reality that so many unfortunate souls were forced to inhabit.
The novel was received in a variety of ways. Many hailed the novel as a 搑unaway bestseller?and an encore to the highly prized Pickwick Papers. On the other hand, the Jewish population as well as other critics found the novel to be far too sentimental and lacking. One of the major issues raised by an entire community against the novels was the portrayal Fagin, the evil Jew. Milton Kerker in his article 揅harles Dickens, Fagin and Riah?states that Fagin may be the 搈ost grotesgue and villainous Jew in all of English literature.?SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Fagin was found by the Jewish community to be a ruffian with the devil dwelling within his cold heart. In 1854 the Jewish Chronicle was outraged and presented the public with this criticism of Dickens. Later in 1863, Eliza Davis writes Dickens to question his portrayal of Fagin. Dickens responds to Davis by stating:
I must take leave to say, that if there be any general feeling on the part of the intelligent Jewish people, that I have done them what you describe as 揳 great wrong,?they are a far less sensible, a far less just, and a far less good-tempered people than I have always supposed them to be. Fagin, in Oliver Twist, is a Jew, because it unfortunately was true of the time to which that story refers, that that class of criminal almost invariably was a Jew. Dickens 378
The public did not openly object to the portrayal of Fagin until several years after the novel was originally published. However, despite the fact that Dickens maintained his innocence, Dickens did attempt to make alterations in the next edition of the novel to correct this offensive implication. In the 1867 edition of chapter 38, Fagin is referred to as 搕he Jew?more than 250 times. However, in later chapters he is referred to as 搕he Jew?only 32 times. This is thought to have been Dickens抯 attempt to reconcile Fagin抯 character with the Jewish community. Despite this characterization of Fagin and Dickens抯 wording changes, Dickens never openly abused a Jewish person nor did he openly practice anti-Semitic opinions (Kerker).
Likewise, the Monthly Review of January 1839 demanded that Dickens used characters that are so low that sympathy cannot be created. The reviewer feels that although there were comic pieces worth noting, the ending does not comply with the standard notion that the evil ones must face strict consequences while the just are rewarded. The reviewer does not go so far as to claim Dickens to be an immoral writer but he does not treat the characters with the morals that would classify Dickens with the 揾ighest rank of our moral fictionists.?Dickens is yet again commended for openly stating the plea of the downtrodden but in this reviewer抯 opinion, the downtrodden are not moral enough to place Dickens in a higher class of fiction novelists (Dickens 403-405).
Just as the Monthly Review questions the worth of such characters as Nancy, William Makepeace Thackeray also claims that such characters are not worth the sympathy or the attention of the audience. Thackeray does allow for Dickens抯 popularity but questions his use of setting and characters. True, Dickens can charm an audience like none other. True, one must continually read Dickens to satisfy some strange need. Unfortunately, the fact remains that Thackeray does not believe there is much to be gained by closely examining the life of the poor and forgotten (Dickens 408-410). In the opinion of Thackeray, would it not be much more prudent to bestow such kind sympathies upon a worthier class of characters? Character such as Amelia Osborne and Becky Sharp are worthy of moral scrutiny but Oliver Twist and the like shall remain in the gutter, below the view of the mainstream population.
Early reviews from The Examiner, September 10,1837, claim that this novel is an 揺xact painting?of the reality Dickens wished to present to the public. Dickens was praised for his capture of the emotions surrounding death of Nancy and the detailing of Oliver抯 life as an orphan. Although the reviewer is surprised to see Dickens making use of the Poor Law Debates in the first chapters of the novel, the reviewer understands the philanthropy that Dickens is attempting to inspire (Dickens 399-401). In conclusion of this review, the author states: 揥e leave him most reluctantly, and so will every read who has any capacity to see and feel whatsoever is most loveable, hateful, or laughable, in the character of the everyday life about him?(401).
The Spectator states on November 24, 1838, that Dickens 揾as genius to vivify his observation.?SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Dickens is complimented for his powerful use of pathos and his description of truth. The reviewer admires Dickens抯 ability to find good in all humanity despite the dirty surroundings of unfortunates such as Oliver. Dickens抯 style is commended to be capable of an effective use of language while never sounding forced (Dickens 401-402).
The Literary Gazette, and Journal of the Belles Lettres declares on November 24, 1838, that Dickens has 背ug deep into the human mind; and he has nobly directed his energies to the exposure of evils梩he workhouse, the starving school, the factory system, and many other things, at which blessed nature shudder and recoiled.?SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Dickens抯 ability to capture the suffering of Oliver intrigues the reading audience. Those who are far removed from the factories and the workhouses are suddenly acutely aware of the plea of the poor and the corruption of the Poor Laws. Dickens抯 has made a successful journey into social activism with the guidance of Oliver and his band of companions (Dickens 402-403).
The Quarterly Review of 1839 published a glowing review of the novel. The reviewer believed Dickens to be 揳 sign of the times?and as such, he provoked 搈ore interest than that of Halley抯 comet.?SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> The reviewer felt that not only did he write just enough and not too much, but also he wrote with enough vigor to demand that the public read the next installment. His popularity was unparalleled and his installments were always immediately read. Dickens manages to tell of 搑eal pain?while the novel lacks in false sentimentalism (Dickens 405-408). The reviewer states: 揌e deals truly with human nature, which never can degrade; he takes up everything, good, bad, or indifferent, which he works up into a rich alluvial deposit. He is natural, and that never can be ridiculous?(Dickens 406).
Ironically, Oliver Twist, one of Dickens抯 earliest published works, returned to Dickens upon his death. During his career, Dickens performed public readings of his novels to large crowds of people. It was reported that such readings drew people from great distances to watch as Dickens reenacted his colorfully written scenes. During one of these readings, his last dramatic performance, Dickens suffered a collapse in April of 1869. Dickens was reading the portion of Oliver Twist where Sikes violently murders Nancy. The scene was 损hysically and emotionally exhausting?for the over-worked author. After this collapse, Dickens ceased to perform public readings of his novels. The stress on his body led to his death on June 8th of 1870. Dickens was working on The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the time of his death (Oliver Twist桾he Author and His Times).
Dickens has been criticized for his choice of characters and setting. At times the novel tends to shift to a sentimentality that leaves a sour taste in the mouth of the reading audience. The novel condemns the world of the Poor Laws by describing in great detail the life of a prostitute, orphan, gang of thieves, and other miscreants that grope their way along the underbelly of civilization. However, many of the reviewers felt that Dickens抯 ability to color realism with his pen was worth reading. Although Fagin may have been referred to as 搕he Jew?numerous times, Dickens was able to effectively shed light upon the suffering of the impoverished. After all, Dickens抯 goal was to pointedly describe the reality of where and how Oliver lived and survived the streets of a city that did not want him. The novel depicts the best of human nature in contrast with the worst of human nature. Couple the dynamic duo of good verse evil with the name of Charles Dickens and a best seller is a sure thing.
雾都孤儿
关于狄更斯和他的小说艺术，心里早有一些想法，趁写这篇前言之便，说出来，就正于广大狄更斯爱好者。
《雾都孤儿》是狄更斯第二部长篇小说。这位年仅二十五岁的小说家决心学习英国现实主义画家威廉·荷加斯（William Hogarth,1697一1764）的榜样，勇敢地直面人生，真实地表现当时伦敦贫民窟的悲惨生活。他抱着一个崇高的道德意图：抗议社会的不公，并唤起社会舆论，推行改革，使处于水深火热中的贫民得到救助。正因为如此，狄更斯历来被我国及前苏联学者界定为“英国文学上批判现实主义的创始人和最伟大的代表”。对此，我有一些不同的见解：文学艺术是一种特殊的社会意识形态，它必然是社会存在的反映。但是，我们决不能把反映现实的文学都说成是现实主义文学，把“现实主义”的外延无限扩展。事实上，作家运用的创作方法多种多样，因人而异，这和作家的特殊气质和性格特点密切相关。狄更斯的创作，想像力极为丰富，充满诗的激情，他着意渲染自己的道德理想，处处突破自然的忠实临摹，借用一句歌德的话：它比自然高了一层。这和萨克雷、特洛罗普等坚持的客观。冷静、严格写实的方法有显著的区别。
试以《雾都孤儿》为例，（一）个性化的语言是狄更斯在人物塑造上运用得十分出色的一种手段。书中的流氓、盗贼、妓女的语言都切合其身份，甚至还用了行业的黑话。然而，狄更斯决不作自然主义的再现，而是进行加工、提炼和选择，避免使用污秽、下流的话语。主人公奥立弗语言规范、谈吐文雅，他甚至不知偷窃为何物。他是在济贫院长大的孤儿，从未受到良好的教育，所接触的都是罪恶累累、堕落不堪之辈，他怎么会讲这么好的英文呢？这用“人是一切社会关系总和”的历史唯物主义观点是无法解释的。可见，狄更斯着力表现的是自己的道德理想，而不是追求完全的逼真。（二）在优秀的现实主义小说中，故事情节往往是在环境作用下的人物性格发展史，即高尔基所说的“某种性格、典型的成长和构成的历史”。然而，狄更斯不拘任何格套，想要多少巧合就安排多少巧合。奥立弗第一次跟小偷上街，被掏兜的第一人恰巧就是他亡父的好友布朗罗。第二次，他在匪徒赛克斯的劫持下入室行窃，被偷的恰好是他亲姨妈露丝·梅莱家。这在情理上无论如何是说不过去的。但狄更斯自有天大的本领，在具体的细节描写中充满生活气息和激情，使你读时紧张得喘不过气来，对这种本来是牵强的、不自然的情节也不得不信以为真。这就是狄更斯的艺术世界的魅力。（三）狄更斯写作时，始终有一种“感同身受的想象力”（Sympathetic imagination），即使对十恶不赦的人物也一样。书中贼首、老犹太费金受审的一场始终从费金的心理视角出发。他从天花板看到地板，只见重重叠叠的眼睛都在注视着自己。他听到对他罪行的陈述报告，他把恳求的目光转向律师，希望能为他辩护几句。人群中有人在吃东西，有人用手绢扇风，还有一名青年画家在画他的素描，他心想：不知道像不像，真想伸过脖子去看一看……一位绅士出去又进来，他想：准是吃饭去了，不知吃的什么饭？看到铁栏杆上有尖刺，他琢磨着：这很容易折断。从此又想到绞刑架，这时，他听到自己被处绞刑。他只是喃喃地说，自己岁数大了，大了，接着就什么声音也发不出来了。在这里，狄更斯精心选择了一系列细节，不但描绘了客观事物，而且切入了人物的内心世界，表现了他极其丰富的想像力。他运用的艺术方法，不是“批判现实主义”所能概括
的。我倒是赞赏英国作家、狄更斯专家乔治·吉辛（George Giss－ing，1857—1903）的表述，他把狄更斯的创作方法称为“浪漫的现实主义”（romantic realism）。我认为这一表述才够准确，才符合狄更斯小说艺术的实际。
小说在线阅读：
小说以雾都伦敦为背景，讲述了一个孤儿悲惨的身世及遭遇，主人公奥立弗在孤儿院长大，经历学徒生涯，艰苦逃难，误入贼窝，又被迫与狠毒的凶徒为伍，历尽无数辛酸，最后在善良人的帮助下，查明身世并获得了幸福。如同狄更斯的其他小说，本书揭露许多当时的社会问题，如救济院、童工、以及帮派吸收青少年参与犯罪等。分开可以展开很多方面，但写实小说几乎全是揭露社会的负面问题，在资本社会的统治，各阶层人民的区别待遇最值得反思。
如：狄更斯在小说中无情地揭露和鞭挞了当时资本主义社会的黑暗和虚伪。1838年和1839年，他发表了《雾都孤儿》和《尼古拉斯·尼可贝》，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。狄更斯是英国最伟大的小说家之一，英国现实主义文学的杰出代表，对世界文学有巨大的影响。
《雾都孤儿》原名《奥利弗游记》，是狄更斯第二部长篇小说。这位年仅二十五岁的小说家决心学习英国现实主义画家威廉·荷加斯（William Hogarth，1697一1764），以其为榜样，勇敢地直面人生，真实地表现当时伦敦贫民窟的悲惨生活。他抱着一个崇高的道德意图：抗议社会的不公，并唤起社会舆论，推行改革，使处于水深火热中的贫民得到救助。正因为如此，狄更斯历来被中国及前苏联学者界定为“英国文学上批判现实主义的创始人和最伟大的代表”。对此，我有一些不同的见解：文学艺术是一种特殊的社会意识形态，它必然是社会存在的反映。但是，我们决不能把反映现实的文学都说成是现实主义文学，把“现实主义”的外延无限扩展。事实上，作家运用的创作方法多种多样，因人而异，这和作家的特殊气质和性格特点密切相关。狄更斯的创作，想象力极为丰富，充满诗的激情，他着意渲染自己的道德理想，处处突破自然的忠实临摹，借用一句歌德的话：它比自然高了一层。这和萨克雷、特洛罗普等坚持的客观。冷静、严格写实的方法有显著的区别。
在这本书中，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片纯洁的天地，一颗善良的心，种种磨难并不能使他们堕落或彻底堕落，反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
