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Character analysis of Nancy in Oliver Twist
班级：Class 1 姓名：项久桐
Introduction.
Charles Dickens, he is the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era. He writes many famous works. Oliver Twist is one of them. In this novel, Dickens presents the everyday existence of the lowest members of England society. During that period, Enclosure Movement and poor laws makes the situation more difficult.
This paper mainly focuses on the analysis of Nancy. She is one of the characters in Oliver Twist. From her, we can find double characters. She is a distinctively contradictory person. It truly shows us the miserable life of the London at that time by Nancy’s fatality. Through analyzing the causes of Nancy’s character, we could perspective the decadence and sunless of the whole British social political system. We could learn that London is filled with unfairness and oppress the poor. It is this kind of society system and her nature that killed Nancy finally. Even if Nancy is not the main character of the novel, but she is the key character. Many readers are influenced by her complex and tragic life. Her existence lets us think about a lot of things. What is good? What is evil? Through her change, we can get the writing aim of the novel. As if everybody gives a little love, this world would become more colorful and sweet.
Ⅰ. Analysis of Nancy’s double character.
A. Nancy’s negative nature
Nancy is a typical character of the novel. Oliver Twist’s fate is closely related with Nancy. Nancy as a thief lives in the bottom of the society. That kind of environment rubs down her self-esteem and the sense of shame. Just because of this, she tries everything to protect her group and has no courage to expose the criminal gang. What she receives forms her negative and screwy world outlook, value, and view of life. As you brew, so must you drunk. Nancy hurts others and herself both. 1. The protection of thieves.
Nancy is a thief. And she thinks she is one part of the group with time passing. When Nancy decides to help Oliver get out of Monk’s trap, she also expresses the protection of the
theft gang by saying she will not betray her companions. We all know she is an adult, and she has ability to report their crime to the police, while she doesn’t. This kind of way of thinking may cause public confusion. The public will think the action is right, which is personal loyalty and responsibility. There is no doubt that will cause negative influence to the social environment. It is the indifferent humanity that leads more and more children like Oliver gets hurt by bad guys.
2. The kidnap of Oliver Twist.
When it comes to Oliver’s miserable life, Nancy is the chief culprit. Oliver ever got out of that group because of some reasons. Fagin and Skies ask Nancy to inquire about information about Oliver. It is Nancy that kidnaps Oliver again and brings Oliver painful experience. Nancy relays on her outstanding acting and tactful communication skills cheat many people. “He is my brother. He runs away from home. I worry about him.” In fact, this kind people are very hateful, because they say in this way and do in that way. 3. The negative attitudes to her own life.
Nancy’s job is a thief. Although she doesn’t want anyone to know her job and does something to cover the truth, she does the job till to her death. It is well-known to everyone, “The poor person must be utterly detestable.” She can change her job even her life if she wants. However, she wouldn’t like to walk forward. In my opinion, she is very negative. Maybe she thinks from her born, she is a foundling. From she became, she began to do bad things. Even so, anybody should have a chance to correct his or her fault. It is she gives herself rather than the society destroyed her indeed. In her life, there is no sparkle to fire her dark heart. Facing Lucy and Mr. Brownlow persuasion, she escapes again and again. Lucy says to her, “It is never too late for penitence and atonement.” But Nancy is too stubborn to understand the meaning. When Mr. Brownlow wants to give her an offer, she answers, “Nothing. You can do nothing to help me. I am past all hope, indeed.” To err is human. If you know you are wrong, you should correct it right now instead of giving up yourself. B. Nancy’s positive nature.
A completely bad person can’t arouse people’s introspection. Charles’ unique writing
gives the role of Nancy more emotions. From her, we could see some shining points. Chinese Confucianism says that all human are born with good nature. Nancy sometimes is good. We could feel her innocence, sympathy, faithfulness, kind, and etc when we are reading the novel. The part that Nancy tries to save Oliver can clearly reflect Nancy’s positive nature. Moreover, Nancy is Skies’ lover. Nancy is always faithful to love like an innocent girl. 1. The action of saving Oliver Twist.
Nancy’s good nature mainly embodies in her protection of the little Oliver. When Oliver first came to the Fagin’s room, Nancy sat besides Oliver like a bag sister, and taught him how to play cards patiently. Among the theft gang, readers an feel Nancy is a good girl. When Oliver is caught back to the dark room again, Skies lets his dog to bite Oliver at once. At the same time, Nancy shuts the door immediately and shouts to Skies, “Keep back the dog, Bill.” “The child shan’t be torn by the dog, unless you kill me first.” These words show Nancy is kind and sympathy from the bottom of her heart. Then Oliver’s kind and clean heart stimulated Nancy’s positive energy. Nancy risks her life to help Oliver. She tries to cheat Fagin and Bill to inform Mr. Brownlow that Oliver is in danger. Her character represents Dickens’ view that man, however tainted by society, could still retain a sense of good. 2. The faithfulness to love.
Nancy is an orphan. When she grows up, she is sold to Skies as his lover. Her whole life is under the charge of Skies. Poor Nancy thinks that is love. Since long time, Nancy is getting used to living with Skies, and she treats that dirty house as her home. Nancy is willing to do anything for Skies. When Skies gets a cold, Nancy takes care of him. I think that is called love. Maybe the love between them even only Nancy values is sick, but love is precious and innocent. When Nancy exposes their crime, she covers Bill’s name. She says that she never betray him. When Mr. Brownlow promises her money and arrival to other place, she refuses because of Skies. Moreover, from the initial “N” and “S”, we could learn that they are not only contradictory but also rely on each other. From this point, Nancy’s fate is doomed to be destroyed by Skies. But Nancy is glad to end her life in Skies’ hands. Nancy’s faithfulness to love is worth learning to most young people. Nowadays young people are not serious to their