The Use of Language in Chapter 47 of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist

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How does the writer’s use of language manipulate the reader’s sympathies in Chapter 47 of ‘Oliver Twist’?

The novel ‘Oliver Twist’, written by Charles Dickens explores eighteenth century Britain and how the divide between classes affected society.

Published in 1838, this fictional tale highlights the abuse and violence in 1800 Britain, venturing into the social and economical divide and focussing on the underclass, which at this time lived in harsh, squalor and awful conditions. Chapter 47 reveals the themes of criminality and scheming behaviour which runs throughout the novel. Brutality erupts when Bill is manipulated by Fagin. At this time in the story Nancy has risked her life to inform Mr Brownlow of Oliver’s whereabouts. Charles Dickens creates a dark, mysterious setting when he describes the scene of Fagin’s lair ‘the dead of night’ – already ‘death’ is in the reader’s thoughts and minds. Animal imagery is applied to depict Fagin, and is used numerous times within the first two paragraphs of chapter 47 ‘less like a man’, ‘old lair’. The reader can immediately image this monster- like man with a ‘distorted face’ who is up two hours before day-break feeling troubled and thinking up schemes to save himself.

In this scene it becomes very apparent the polar opposites between all of the main characters.

As Fagin goads Noah to tell Sikes about Nancy’s wrong doings and betrayal, the reader would feel sorry for the character Noah, who is being manipulated. As Noah unknowingly retells the previous tragic events in front of Bill ‘the first time she went to see the lady, she ha! ha! ha! it made me laugh when she said it, that it did – she gave him a drink of laudanum’. The simplistic and childlike language Noah uses here shows ...

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...em on my knees, to show the same mercy and goodness’ the reader is made to feel hatred towards the ‘villain’ Bill Sikes.

As the author describes Nancy’s brutal murder the reader is drawn to feel empathy and pity towards her. At the end of chapter 47 Bill comes to terms will what he is about to do as he shields his eyes from himself ‘ shutting out the sight with his hand’ Nancy begs him using her white handkerchief which could also link to symbolic imagery to Jesus and religion.

In conclusion the use of language is used cleverly to establish the dark miserable setting and explores each character’s features amazingly well ‘with face so distorted and pale’. The writer’s use of language manipulates the reader’s sympathies; personally in my view Nancy’s horrific murder provokes the most empathy and pity because she is the one staring into the face of her murderer.

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