CHAPTER I

OLIVER TWIST AND SEVASADAN

Both Dickona and Promchand omorgcd a5 f u l l -

f lodgod n o v o l i o t a d o d i n g w i t h o o c i a l issuoa w i t h

tho p u b l i c a t i o n of O l i v e r Twiot ( 1 0 3 8 ) m d Scvaoadan

( 1 9 1 7 ) roepsc t i vo ly . I n O l i v o t Twiot Dickono

p r i m a r i l y a t t a c k r t h o Now Poor Lau o f 1834 end tho

rbumoo i n t h a workhouoso. Tho h o r r o r o f tho c r i a i n a l

wor ld o f London i s a lso anothor impor tan t t h a w o f

Dickono bogina h i a scath ing a t tack i n t h e o a r l y

chaptoro o f t h o n o v c l i t m o l f . do l e a r n t h a t O l i v e r

i s born i n a workhouso, h i 5 mothor d ioo i a n o d i a t c l y ,

ho i o takon t o a baby farm where ho l i v o o u n t i l t h e

ago o f n i n e undor tho oupcrv is ion o f ono Mre. Nann.

Thon ho i o t r k o n t o tho workhouao by tho boadlo,

M r . Bumblo. Ho i o takon boforo tho Board and

i n t o r r o g a t o d by t h o gontlonan w i t h tho wh i te wais tcoat .

Hc i o t o l d t o p i c k oakum f rom tho n o x t day onwsrdm.

and D l i v o r sobo h imoo l f t o oloop t h a t n igh t . Pickens

o t a r t o h i o d o n c r i p t i o n o f tho Board w i t h an i r o n i c a l

men tonco I

Tho uembors o f t h i s Board woro v a r y

# a g e , d e o p , p h i l o n o p h i c e l men, end when

t h o y c m o t o t u r n t h o i r a t t e n t i o n t o

t h o workhouso , t h c y f o u n d o u t a t onco.

whet o t d i n a r y f o l k s m u l d n o v c r h a v e

d i s c o v o r o d - - t h e p o o r p c o p l c , l i k o d it. 1

Tho ' p h i l o o o p h i c a l ' man o f t h c c o u n t r y t r i o d t o

c h a n g o t h i s a t t i t u d o o f t h c p o o r p c o p l c end t h e y

changod i t w i t h t h o i m p l c m c n t a t i n n o f t h o how P o o r

Law i n 1834. T h c i r i n t e n t i o n s worc gaod. They d i d

n o t r a n t a b l e - b o d i o d p c o p l o t o s i t i d 1 0 a n d g o t

moncy i n t u r n a s r o l i c f . Thc war had i t s i n f l u o n c o

a l a o on V i c t o r i a n E l g l a n d . Sol d u r i n g t h c o a r l y

p a r t o f t h e n i n o t c o n t h c e n t u r y p r i c e 3 h a d gonc h i g h

and wsgoo woro low. But t h c Reform Act o f 1632 had

p u t modorn B r i t i s h democracy on t h c map by i t s

o x t o n s i o n o f t h o f r a n c h i r e t o a l l m o d c r a t c l y w e l l - t o -

do r a t o - p a y o r o . Tho m i d d l e - c l a s o o s wcro a s s o r t i n g

t h o i r i n d i v i d u a l i t y . S l a v o r y was on t h e way o u t

t h r o u g h o u t t h e Empiro and s t r o n g f o o l i n g a worn

r a i n o d a g a i n s t t h e uoc o f c h i l d - l a b o u r i n n i n e s e n d

' thmrlos D i c k ~ n o , U l i v o r T w i s t (London, C o l l i n s C l o s r Typo Prmaa, n. d. ), P.19. A l l f u r t h e r q u o t a t i o n 0 a 0 from t h i o e d i t i o n . C o r r c n p o n d i n g pagoo a r c g i v e n i n t h o k x t .

f a c t o r i o o and a g a i n r t chianoy owoops. But t h e

Now Poor Lnr of 1831 which was r o f o m a t i v a i n thoory

was un inag inab lo i n p r n c t i c o . Dickona understood

tho p repmat ic s p i r i t o f Bontham which i n s p i r e d t h i n

l c g i r l a t i o n , and ho ha tod it. Tho Now Poor Law war

airnod, n o t a t oaoing t h o l o t o f t h o poor b u t a t

making i t moro uncomfortablo. ao as t o d r i v o them

back t o work and thua l i g h t o n t h e burdon on t h o

tax-payor. Dickans w r i t c a r

So, thoy o o t a b l i s h e d t h o r u l e , t h a t all

t h o poor poop10 should havo t h o n l t o r n a t i v o

( f o r thoy would compel nobody, n o t t h y ) ,

o f bo ing s t a r v e d by a g radua l procoes i n

t h o houao. o r by a qu ick on0 o u t o f i t . and i s e w d t h r o c m a l a o f t h i n g r u o l a day.

w i t h an on ion t w i c e a wook, and h a l f a

r o l l on Sundays. Thoy made a g r e a t nany

0th- wise and humene r s g u l a t i o n o . hawing

r o f o m n c o t o tho ladimn, . . . k i n d l y

undortook t o divor?ce poor m a r r i e d pooplo . and inatemd o f t o m p o l l i n g a men t o ouppor t

h i s fami l y , mo thoy had thoratoforc ! , dono,

took h i s f a m i l y away f rom him, and madm

him a b a d o l o r l . . . Tho r o l i o f was

inooparab la f rom t h e woskhouaa and t h o

g r u e l ( and t h a t f r i g h t o n o d pooplo.

IPp.19-20)

Tho o f f o e t of tho a o o l i t i o n o f out-door r o l i o f i s

o a t i r i z o d i n r h a p t o r f i v o , whon M r . Soworborry takeo

O l i v o r w i t h h im t o roasuro ou t t h o corpoa o f e woman,

i n hor wretchod f a m i l y s o t t i n g . who had war tod away

from dopr i va t ion . Ur. Bumble l e t o r r o f o r o t o

' u n g r a t e f u l ' vagranto who i n a i a t on dy ing i n t h e

s t r o o t . Thc a l d c r , more gcncrous syntcm weo known

a3 Spoonhamland from t h o d i s t r i c t whorc i t had boon

d o v i l o d and i t had boon i n operation o incc 1795.

But t h o now law f o r c o d woman and c h i l d r e n t o work

i n f i o l d a and f a e t o r i c a a t omal lor wagaa, i n o r d c r

t o a v o i d tho workhouso, whsro tho c o n d i t i o n o wore

d o l i b o r a t o l y mado o x t r o n o l y unploaeant. So t h o

i n n a t o r had loam than tho pooroat l a b o u r o r r who w r o

f o r c e d t o do l o ~ t h s o m a w r k . 50x08 woro s t r i c t l y

mogregatod--oven huobenda cou ld n o t l i v o w i t h t h o i r

wivoo l

Lvon though t h o f i g u r o r a r c a b i t oxaggoratod,

what Dickons wrote about t h o workhouoo i s t ruc. Tho

now l a w and i t s a p p l i c a t i o n by uncar ing Boards woro

n o t d i a l i k o d by tho poor alono, Dickons i o

c h a r a c t o r i n t i c a l l y v o i c i n g t h c o p i n i o n o f a s t r o n g

s o c t i o n o f tho p u b l i c . Thoro uas p l c n t y o f m i s t r u s t

of t h o c o l d c a l c u l r t i o n o f u t z l i t a r i a n ph i losophoro

a t t h o t i n o o f U l i v o r Twist 'c i appoaranco. U icknnr

has o f t o n boon l a b o l l o d ' r a d i c a l ' bccausc o f h i s

championship o f t h o poor and tho oppraoood, b u t t h o

tcrm ' r a d i c a l 8 was first o p p l i c d t o t h c school o f

though t o f Jorcmy Bontham ( 1 748-1 132), f a l l o w c d by

Hal thus , J.S. M i l l and Adam Smith, t h o o c o n m i s t

o f f r c o t rade. A l l o f them taugh t t h o v i r t u 0 o f

prudcncc and t h o p u r o u i t o f t h o 'happinoor ' o f t h o

g r o a t o a t numbcr o r h i g h o o t goal, w h i l c D ickons8s

i d o a l was t h a t o f warm, i m a g i n e t i v o p o r s o n d

bcnovolcncc.

Though do fondors o f t h o now law c r i t i c i o o d

Dickcns f o r h i s a t t a c k on t h o l a w which had s e t o u t

t o c o r r o c t t h o rbueos o f t h o o l d law, h i s chargoa

wcro c o n f i r r o d w i t h t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f an account

o f t h o cruoltieo p s a c t i s o d i n Andovor ulorkhouno i n

1846. Tho n o t e mado by Dr. Rogor, t h o m o d i c d

o f f i c e r a t t h o S t r a n d Union workhouso was q u o t o d

by L o u i s a T u r n i n g i n Yorkhouson and P a u p o r i s m ( 1 8 4 8 1 ,

t h u o g i v i n g v a l u a b l o o v i d c n c o t o D i c k e n s ' o a c c u r a c y .

5ho q u o t o d l 'Tho m a o t c t o f t h o workhouso was a men

who m i g h t h a v o boon t h o o r i g i n a l o f 'Bumble' i n

O l i v o r T r i o t . *2 -- Chapter 11 o f t h o n o v o l c n d s w i t h t i l i v c r b o i n g

o r d c r o d i n t o i n n t s n t c o n f i n o m c n t f o r t h e unimaginable

o f f o n c o of making f o r more g r u o l and an o f f o r o f

f i v c p o u n d s f o r anybody who w a n t s t o t a k c O l i v e r

os on a p p r o n t i c c . U l i v c r i s c o n f i n e d i n o d a r k

and s o l i t a r y room. Dickcna o x c i t c o t h c r o a d o r ' s

sympathy t o w o r d s O l i v o r and t h o r o v u l s i o n t o w a r d s

t h o s y s t c m whon h o D J Y S I

L o t i t n o t b c s u p p o s o d by t h e o n o a i c s

o f t h o ' s y s t e m ' , t h a t , d u r i n g t h o p c r i o d

o f h i s s o l i t a r y i n s a r t o r a t i o n , O l i v e r was

d o n i o d t h o b o n o f i t of c x c r c i a o . t h o

p l o e e u r o o f s o c i e t y o r t h o a d v s n t a g e a o f

religious m n s o l a t i o n . Ao f o r o x o r c i o o t

it we8 n i e o s o l d w e a t h o r . a n d h o wao

a i l m r a d ta p o r f o r m h i o a b l u t i o n o e v e r y

L o u i o C.rmm;Lmn, Tho S o c i a l Novel i n England 1830-1850, trana. n m r t i n t i d o (Lundon: Rout lodgo L togon raul ~ t d . , 1973)~ ~p .145-46 .

morning undor tho pump, i n a mtonc yard,

i n tho prooonco o f Mr. Bumblo, who

provontod h i s catching co ld . and caused

a t i n g l i n g lanoot ion t o porvado his freme,

by ropoatad zqaplicotions o f tho canc. A s

f o r ooc io ty t ho was c a r r i e d cvory o t h e r

day i n t o t h c h e l l where t h e boys dinod,

end thoro sociably f loggod as 6 warning

and oxamplo. And so f a r from bcing doniod

tho adventagom o f r o l i g i o u e consolat ion.

ho wao k iskod i n t o the same apartment

ovcry ovoning at prayer-time, and thore

p o r r i t t o d t o l i o t c n to , and cons010 h i e

mind wi th , a g c n c r d a p p l ~ c o t i o n o f tho

boyo. c o n t a i n i n g a s p e c i a l clnuma, t h c r o i n

i n s o r t e d by a u t h o r i t y o f t h e Borrd, i n

which thoy nntxce<cd t o bc mado good.

v i r tuouo. contcntod and obcdiont. and t o

bo guardod f r o m tho s i n s and v i c o s o f

4 lAvez T r i o t a whom tho s u p p l i c a t i o n

d i a t a n c t l y o o t - f o r t h t o bo undor the

oxcluoivo patronago end p r o t o e t i o n of tho

paworo o f r ickadnoso, and en a r t i c l o d i r e c t

from t h o manutectory of t h o vory d e v i l

h i r o o l f . (Pp.23-21)

~ l i v o r oncapon t h o c lu tchoa o f a chimney-owooper,

HZ.' Ganf io ld , t o whon i t wan docidod by t h o gcntloman

w i t h t h o w h i t o wa is t -coa t t o hand him ovcr f o r t h r o o

pounds and f i f t o o n o h i l l i n g o . whon t h e magistrate

who hao t o s i g n and approve h i s indon tu roo ro fuocs

t o do so. Ho r o a l i a o s t h e p i t i a b l c c o n d i t i o n o f

Ol iv0X who would o t i o r w i s c bo t t e n s f o r r c d t o Mr.

Gamficld who had "b ru iocd th ree o r f o u r boys t o death

a l roadym (P.26). fhe Board thon dcc idos t o rond

U l i v o r t o uoa. Dickans who o c c a o i o n a l l y onploys

h i t own v o i t o i n i r o n i c c o n t r a s t t o t h o r c a l i t y he

is descr ib ing , bogino Chaptor I V w i t h , " I n g r e a t

f a m i l i a r , uhon an advantagcouo p lace cannot be

obtoinod, o i t h o r i n pooocoaion . . . f o r tho young

man who i o growing up, i t is a very gcnara l cuotbn

t o oond t o ooam (P.32). O l i v o r bo longr t o the

"groat f a m i l y " o f t h c poor. I n t h e same choptor,

sf t o r O l i v o r roachoo Mr. Sowerborry' 3 place, tho

author 'o tono w i t h r o g a r d t o thooo who fashion i e

"hunmno* lawo,unoquivocally savago: "I wieh 50-

w a l l - f o d phi looophor , whoso moat and dx ink t u r n t o

Q d l w i t h i n him; uhoao b lood i o i c o , whooa h a a r t i r

icon; c o u l d h.vo ooen O l i v o r Twist c l u t c h i n g a t

tho d a i n t y v i ~ d ~ t h a t t h o dog had ncg loc tadu ( P . 3 8 ) .

A f o r t u i t o u o r a o t i n g w i t h Mr. S o w c r b o r r y h a s s v o i d o d

t h o s a n d i n g o f Oliver t o mca. I t i o h o r c t h a t ho

m c o t s Nosh C l a y p o l o , t h o c h a r i t y boy. A f t o r a b o u t

a month O l i v o r s t a r t s p l a y i n g a s a a u t o f o r t h o

'children's practice' and c o n t i n u o s i n r e g u l a r

s c r v i c o a s a n a d m i r o d a u t o . Ono day h c g o o s w i t h

t h o u n d o r t a k o r S o w e r b e r r y t o a r r a n g e f o r a f u n o r a l .

Thoy g o t o t h o h o u e c whoro t h o woman l i o s dasd .

l r i c k o m d o o c r i b o e t h o p o v o r t y and d c g r a d a t i a n o f t h o

a r c a t .Tho k a n n o l w a s m t a g n c n t and f i l t h y . f h c v e r y

r a t s , w h i c h h c r o and t h o r c l a y p u t r c f y i n g i n i t s

r o t t c n n o o o , woro h i d c o u s w i t h f a m i n c w ( P . 4 6 ) . O l i v o r

i s a p p a l l o d and frightened by what ho sots. Thc

huoband i s r m v i n g hysterically o v a r t h o body, and

t h e s t a r v i n g c h i l d r o n a r c c r y i n g b i t t e r l y . Thc o l d

women, t h o m o t h c r o f t h c d c a d woman, is a g r o t o s q u c

e h a r o c t o r , a s k i n g f o r a c l o a k and b r c a d and wine

i n a r d o r t o f o l l o w h c r d a u g h t c r t o t h o grnvo .

O l i v o r i s a d a i r o d a s a mutc and Noah grows v o r y

j o a l o u o o t h i o o l o v a t i o n . Ho t c a s o s him and a b u s o s

h i s m o t h a r w i t h t h o r o o u l t t h a t ho i s f o I l o d by

Oliver. Burble d o c m c a t o know o f O l i v o r ' s o f f o n t o

a d v i o a e kooping hir i n a cel lar T o r a d a y o r two

m d a t e r u i n g him o inco ho f o o l s t h a t h i o a a t i n g

noat i o roapana ib lo f n r h i 3 bohaviour. u r i v o r i o

punishod by Saworborry. That n i g h t ho dcc idoo t o

loavo t h c p l a c o and a t dawn hc so ts o f f . A f t o r ho

has gono a l o n g way from London, and rcachco Barnst

on tho sovcnth day, ha moats a strange boy who

bofr iondo him and o f f o r s t o buy him food. Ho i s

Jack Dawkins, known as Tho A r t f u l Dodgcr. He npoaks

of an o l d men i n London, rho. he t e l l s , would g i v c

O l i v o r aho l to r . Thoy s c t o f f and roach London a t

n i g h t , pass ing through tho f i l t h y a t rco to , w i t h

f i l t h y c h i l d r a n r o l l i n g i n tho konncls. Thus thoy

roach t h o p laco o f Fagin whcro " b a t o d round tho

t o b l o worc f o u r o r f i v e boys. nonc o l d o r than tho

Dodgcr, smoking l o n j c l a y pipoo, and d r i n k i n g s p i r i t s

w i t h t h o a i r o f middlo-agod monm ( P . 6 9 ) . O l i v e r

gots aooo food and oomc g i n and wator and then n inka

" i n t o s doop s loepa ( P . 7 0 ) .

From hero bopino Dickono'o d o p i c t i o n o f tho

c r i m i n a l wor ld o f London. Tho workhouao and t h o

inhuman a t t i t u d o o f a o c i o t y towards O l i v o r have l e d

tho c h i l d i n t o t h e try, o f a c r i m i n a l gang. Dickons

wrm vory much t O n ~ @ S n O d w i t h t h o p l i g f i t o f Ww

~ p p r o o s e d c h i l d . I f t h i s i s t r u o of Dickono i t i n

o q u a l l y t r u o of Promchand t h a t ha was i n t o n o o l y

w o r r i o d a b o u t t h o O x p l o i t a t i o n of womon i n I n d i a .

Sovasadan d o d o w i t h t h o m i o o r i c o s u f f e r e d by womcn,

and P r o a c h a n d ' s main thomc i n t h o n o v c l i s p r o n t i t u t i o n ,

t h o c i r c u m o t w c c a which l c o d t o p r o s t i t u t i o n and i t 0

Sunan, t h o h o r o i n c of t h c n o v c l i s born i n a

m i d d l o - c l a s s f a m i l y . Hcr f a t h c r . K r i s h n a Chandra

h a s boon a p o l i c c i n o p o c t o r f o r t w c n t y f i v c y e a r s .

A t t h o p r c s o n t morcnt ho is s e a r c h i n g f o r a o u i t a b l o

groom f o r Sumen. who, a l o n g w i t h h c r youngor sister

Shanta , havo bloomed i n t o t h o i r youth . Promchand

b e g i n s t h o n a v e l p o i n t i n g o u t t h c p r e d i c a m e n t of

Kr iohna Chandra. who i s n o t a b l c t o g c t a s u i t a b l e

boy f o r Sunen w i t h o u t p e y i n g cnaugh dowry. The n o v e l

s t a r t s w i t h t h i s o o n t c n c c r "Everybndy h a s t o t a s t e

t h a b i t t o r f r u i t of r o p c n t a n c c aomotimo o r t h o o t h e r ,

b u t w h i l c o t h o r s t o p e n t f o r t h c i r c v i l o l n n p c c t o r

Kriohna Chandra was r c p o n t i n g f o r h i n v i r t u e s . "' Kriohna Chandra i s a s i n c o r e r a n and d o e s n o t r o c o i v e

Promohand, Sovasadmn (#ow D o l h i t Diaaond P o c k e t Books Pvt. Ltd. n.d P.7. ~11 f u r t h o r s o f r ~ a t h i m eMtkm. ' c o r r o a p D I * m p w c s a r a g i v e n i n t h o t o r t . Tho T r a n o l a t i o n i s dono by me.

briboo. But, whon, a f t e r a h o c t i c noarch ho i o n o t

ablo t o f i n d a match f o r Suman wi thout g i v i n g onough

moncy an dowry, hc Zo trappcd by tho dev i l . Tomptation

ovcrCOmCD him and ho i s ultimately f o r c e d t o roco ivc

throo t h o u ~ s n d rupoco as b r i b o from a h igh p r i o o t

t o a l l o w him t o oacapo i n a c r i m i n a l cam. But t h i n

in fo rmat ion i n d iac loacd by one l c q a l agont, and

Kriohna Chandra i n oont t o pr ison, j u s t uhon cvc ry th inp

1s g o t t i n g roady f o r tho marr iagc o f Suman t o a

handoomo, woll-aducatod boy from a good fami ly .

Everything i s l o a t f o r Gangajs l i and her two daughtcro.

Tho proposal i o cancel lod. A f t c t a long soarch,

Umanath, Suman'o unc lo b r i n g s a proposal f o r Suman.

Thc i r o n y which Promchend uaca a t t h i s junc tu ro

r o c a l l 3 t h o i r o n y uscd by Dickcns i n tho i n i t i d

chopturo t o oxpoac tho hypocr isy o f M r . Bumblc and

h i s col loaguca a t t h o workhouscr Umanath f i x c a tho

marr iagc o f Suaan t o a man i n Bonarar. Promchand

in t roducoa tho d ia loguc botwoon Umariath and t a n g a j a l i

which i s h l g h l y o s t i r i c a l :

tangs . . . 'Tho bny i s studying. I s n ' t hc? '

Uunmth: 'no i a n o t studying, ho i o oaployad.

Ho i s 8 c l o r k i n a f a c t o r y a t 1 5 rupoaa.'

6Wl~a: 'Ha ham a household. Doson't ho?'

Umer 'Who ham a h b u s o i n a c i t y . '

Cvorybody o t a y s i n r o n t c d h o u s e s .

Gangas 'Ho h a s n o a r r o l e t i o n s , p s r c n t n t '

U m a : ' H i m p a r a n t s h a v e d i e d a n d who i n r

c i t y ham n o a r r c l a t i o n o ? '

Ganger 'What i s h i s a g o ? '

Umar ' A r o u n d t h i r t y y e a r s . '

Gangas 'How d o c s h c l o o k ? '

U m e r ' I t i s v c r y d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d s u c h

o p e r s o n l i k e him. hobody w i l l o v e r b e

u g l y i n a c i t y . E v c r y b o d y w i l l h a v e b e a u t i f u l

h e i r , b r i g h t c l o t h c s , a n d h i s q u a l i t i c s .

d i s p o s i t i o n , c o n v c r a a t i o n a r c b e y o n d

q u o a t i o n . f l o w c r o f a l l f r o m h i s mouth

w h i l o t a l k i n g . H i s n a r c i s G a j a d h a r P r a s s d . '

Gangaa 'Thon h e m i g h t bo a w i d o w o r ? '

Umtr 'Yao, h c i s e w i d o w e r , b u t wha t o f

t h a t ? T h a r o w i l l n c v c r b c a n o l d man i n a

c i t y . Tho y o u n g p c o p l c a r c b o y s a n d o l d

p o o p l o y o u n g , t h c i r y o u t h is a v a r - g r a o n . . . Poop10 r e m a i n young a n d d i o young . '

Gangmr 'How in h i s f a m i l y ? '

h a 8 'Vary h i g h . ' G m n g e j d i .poke w i t h a s o r r o w f u l f a c o : ' I f

you aro plcaaed w i t h him, thcn I too

am ploascd w i t h him.' (Pp.lB.19)

Suman go t merr iod t o Gajedhar Praaad and G a n g a j d i

*wept a l o t a f t o r aocing hor son-in-law. She wan

so much f i l l e d w i t h sorrow, aa if sonoono had thrown

hcr daughtcr i n t o a w e l l N i P . 1 9 ) . So Suman goes t a

stay w i t h hor husband. Su f fc r inga s t a r t f o r buman

o f t c r har marriagc. Suman who has l i v c d l i k c a

pr ineesa and wants t o cont inuc l i v i n g l i k e e prrnccsa

i s h a n d ~ d avc r t o an aging widower. L i f 0 a f t e r

marrdsgo i s l i k o t h c l i f e o f tho poor i n a *workhou30~.

Promchand dcsc r ibcs thc charactcr o f juman i n t h e

beginning o f tho n o v c l whcn hc comparoa her w i t h

her s i s t c r , Shants. He commonta: "Tho o l d e r g i r l ,

Suman, was b c o u t i f u l , p l a y f u l and proud. The youngor

g i r l Shanta was simplo, ser ious and well-bchavod.

Suman wmtod t o l i v o b o t t e r than others. I f t h o

namo k i n d o f sarooa woro brought from t h e markot

t o b o t h tho s i s t a r a , thcn Sumsn would p u t on a wry

fac0. S h n t a would bo contont with whatovor sho

O O t * ( P . 8 ) . I t is 9 g r o a t le tback f o r such s g i r l

t o ba m a r r i e d off t o p a r a m l i k o 6ejadhar. t a j d h r r

t r i o # a31 nobhods to p loase k r a n . b u t sho doou n o t

budgo. This i 5 n o t tho l i f o rrho ha5 Longod foz .

Tho c o n t r a s t botwoon tho l i f e of a c h i l d and

tho l i f o o f e woman i s s i g n i f i c a n t . Evcn i f t h o

c h i l d is poor i t Q X ~ O ~ ~ C ~ C Q S st t i m c s a oonno of

b l i s s which i o n i a s i n g i n t h o l i f c of an a d u l t .

Evcnthough O l i v o r i s unhappy r i g h t from t h o beginning

he may havo cnjoyad t h o f l o c t i n g momcnts of happincco.

H i s r c a l p rob loao a r i s o on ly af tor hc i s n i n e y o a r s

o ld and is takon bofo ra t h e Board i n tho workhouro.

In a monso h i o r i g h t towards happ iness i s curtailed

by h i o c r u o l opprosooro. On t h o o t h o r hand, Sumon

h03 crosood h e r happyn days of ch i ldhood and

adolosconce. Rod problorns a r i s e f o r Suman on ly

a f t e r h e r marriago. Promchend a l lows on ly a s h o r t

po r iod of joy i n t h o l i f c o f h i s ho ro ino v h i l o O l i v e r

cxpa r ioncos on ly i n t o r m i t t c n t and f l c o t i n g momonts

Of r o l i o f . Both O l i v o r and Suman soon g o t l i b o r a t o d

of t c r t h e i r ' i n i t i a l f a l l i n t o inisory. O l i v o r fool^

r o l i o v o d onco ho haa cone a c r o s s Jack Dawkinn and

wi th him roachad Faginto don. Sumon oscapos t h o

p h y s i c d and r0nt.l t o r t u r o a t t h c hands of Gajadhar

OnCo 6ho in fseead t o t a k a a h o l t o r w i th Bho l i Bai,

t h o P r o e t i t u t o . t o t , thooo a a n c t u e r i o s aro no t r e a l

o r po rmwont . In a oonoo G a j a d h a r t o houoo i s a

* ~ o r k h o u n o * to Suman. Tho workhounc whora O l i v o r

a t ayod r o p c o s o n t a t h o a t t i t u d e o f a l l w o r k h o u n o ~

towardo t h o i r i nma toa , Ga jadha r ' n r o l a t i o n s h i p w i t h

Suman repcooon to t h o r o l a t i o n s h i p o f a l l a g i n ~

humbando towards young. b o a u t i f u f wivco who mro

fo rcod t o l i v o w i t h thorn duo t o povor ty .

For Suman Ga jadha r ' o houoc is EI p l a c o whcro

hor f a o l i n g s a r o boing mothor r id , and s h c i a g e t t i n g

d i o g u s t c d wi th l i f o , I t i o d u r i n g such momonts o f

pa in t h a t s h o l o o k s towards t h c n a r k c t p l a c o and

wondors a t t h o charming f i g u r o of a h o l i Bai, t h c

p s o o t i t u t c . Shc i o n o t a b l e t o j u o t i f y t h c loooo

l i f e l o d by Bho l i Ba i b u t t h o g l i t t e r ohc s e e s a t

hor p l a c o and t h o a d u l a t i o n eho r o c c i v o o from pooplo

belonging t o t h e h i g h o r rungs o f o o c i o t y conpo l

hor t o r o - t h i n k o v o r t h o ' d y i n g t l i f o nho i o l o a d i n g .

Sho aklowr t h o young boys who paos by h o r house

t o havo a g l i l p s o o f h o r o o l f and nho d c r i v a a e x t r o n o

Joy from i t . Ylo haa no bed i n t e n t i o n s , aho just

wanto to show t h o ap londour of h o r youth . Shc dooa

t h i o juot f o w%n a v o r t h o h o a r t r u? o t h o r o (P.22).

T h o i ndoc io ian i n Suman's mind tosp to hor t o

got acquainted w i t h B h o l i Bei, who otayo i n a

houoo i n f r o n t of Suman's. On the f i r o t ovoning

of t h e i r mooting Suman r a e l i z o s t h a t Uho l i Bei i o

no t a f e l l a n woaan, ah0 i s much h ighor than t h a t

(P.22). Sho at tonds a maw jAd s t her houso. Shc

goco the ro tho noxt ovoning a l so and d h o l i r o a l i s c s

t h ~ t sho haa triumphed ovor hor (P.24). Promchend,

ma always i n h i o novcla, a t tacks tho co r rup t

i n f l uonce o f wootern oducation on Ind ian soc io ty

by ahowing how Gajedhar f i n d s noth ing wrong i n tho

vocat ion o f a p r o o t i t u t o end i n tho r o u t i n o

ettondencc of high-rankod pooplo a t hor houso.

Whon Suman say0 t o Gajsdhar, .I thought t h e t people

viaw p r o ~ t i t u t o o w i t h scorn." he r c p l i c s , Vos,

thoro ero ouch pooplc, e l r c ~ d y countod. But

Engl ish oducation has madc pcoplo broad-minded.

Proot i tu teo . aro n o t soon w i t h so much contampt

now. Moroovor, B h o l i Baa h a s groat roopoct i n tho

c i t y "P.24).

Suran bagin0 t o t h i n k about the p o p u l a r i t y

of 8 h o l i B a i whish i o incroes ing day af t o r day.

Sho haa r#ls friends w i t h on0 Subhadra i n the

n o i g h b o u ~ h ~ ~ d , who00 huobmnd Psdms Singh i o a

barrister. Suman r o v c a b hor thoughts t o hor b u t

Subhadra conooloo h e r by making her r o r l i z c t h o

immoral n a t u r o o f B h o l i Ba i ' s l P f c and conv inc ing

her t h a t nho ( B h o l i ) i s i n f o r i o r t o h o r i n terms o f

beauty.

Moanwhilo, Suman and B h o l i havc bocoac morc

friendly. Ono and a h a l f ycara havc paosod a f t e r

tho mart iago o f Sunan. Suman v i n i t ~ B h o l i ' n house

end B h o l i coaoo t o Suman'o placo. Gejadhar r o a l i z e s

tho consoquoncoa o f t h i s friendship end ha r o p r i r a n d s

Sumen and t o l l n hor t h a t thoac high-rankod pooplo

who v i s i t B h o l i aro n o t v i r t u o u s son. But tho

innocont Sumsn has corm t o b o l i o v o t h a t t h o r c i o no

v i r t u e l o f t i n tho wor ld t o u h i c h Gajadhsr i n n t r u c t r

hor, which i s tho oxprosa ion o f Prcmchand'o own

thoughto. Suman says, "Tho wor ld 300s o n l y t h o

act ions, whb known t h o thoughts o f anybody?. and

Gaj adher cop l ies ;

So jut by r a c i n g t h o hoevy i r p z e e o i a n s

of p a r t a on t h o i r foxohoado, you camo t o

tho e n n u u s i o n t h a t thay aro v i r t u o u s ?

. . . . Thoan 410 t a i n t t h o l u s t r o u s

namo o f religion, t h o s c who o s r n noncy

i n t h o namo of r c l i g i o n , t h o s c who

i n d u l g o i n l u x u r y a r c s i n n o r e . I f Bhol i

dooa n o t r o c e i v o duo-rcopcct a t t h c i r

p l a c o , t h o n r h o r o w i l l aha r o c o i v o ?

When Suman o x p r o s s o s unbo l io f a t G a j e d h a r ' s words,

hc c o n t i n u o s .

l o Suman, t h i s i s tho c a s o i n r o a l i t y .

Thoro a r a vo ry fcw good p c n p l c i n o u r

c o u n t r y , b u t s t i l l t h o c o u n t r y i s n o t

w i t h o u t thcrn. Thcy a r c compass iona te ,

t h e y a r o righteous, thoy a r o a lways

ongagod i n s o r v i c c , i f Bho l i comcs l i k c

a f a i r y , t h e y won't ovon r e i s c t h e i r oyos

t o havo a g l impsc o f hor . (P.20)

Summ f o o l s a s i f nho i s su r rounded on a l l

s idos . Uhon G,,jadhar cornon t o know abou t h n r

f r i o n d a h i p w i t h Subhadra and h e r f r a q u o n t v i s i t s

t o h o r place, h e g e t s moro f u r i o u s . Ho i s t o l d by

Swan b r o o l t .bout Subhadre and h o r husband Padaa

Singh. taj-w starts t o suopoct her. Om evoning

5- -8 kfWImdra4s hauw t o p g c t i e i p a t c i n t h e

c o l r b r a t i o n o f h o r huoband'o o l e c t i o n t a t h o c i t y

counci l . B h o l i B a i p a c t o r r a o x c o l l c n t l y and

o\iorybody i e t h r i l l e d . Suman i n tho ond r o a l i z o r

tho d i f f o r o n c o botwoan hor l i f o and a h o l i ' e l i f e ,

Promchand oayo:

S i t t i n g t h e r o f o r a long t i m c Suman was

f o l l o w i n g tho cauoo from t h c c f f c c t . I n

t h o and, sho cane t o tho conc luo ion t h a t

she ( B h o l i ) i o f r a o b u t ehc 13 i n chains.

Hor shop i s opon, ao thero i s a crowd o f

cuetorore; my ohop i s closod, oo nobody

stands wai t ing. Sho doos n o t co ro f o r t h o

bark ingo o f doga, 1 ma a f r a i d o f p u b l i c

tonsure. Sho i s ou to ide tho v a i l , I am

w i t h i n it. Sho i a c h i r p i n g on t h e branchoo

un fo t to rad , I r o n a i n h o l d i n g thorn. Th is

vory baehfulnooa, t h i s v o r y f o a r o f

r i d i c u l o has mado mo tho e lavo o f mnothor.

(P.36)

Sunon w d k r o l o v l y homo a f t o r tha programme, h e r

mind f i l l a d w i t h doepair. *Jus t 00 p r i d o r u n s f o r

awey from ro.nnoe8, 00 h e r h e a r t wao r u n n i n g f a r

away from t h a f houeoa ( P . 3 6 ) . Only whon sho rc rchea

homo aho know. t h a f i t i s ono o 'c lock i n t h o n i g h t

and t h i n de lay r o o u l t o i n hor l a a t day a t homo. Sho

w m i t o ou ta ido m d whon Gajadhar wakoo up and dooo

n o t bohavo properly, oho too oayn her say. When sho

i s convinced t h a t he w i l l n o t open t h o door f o r her,

3ho tokos h o r 5mal l box and rcachco Subhadralo hounc

i n tho o a r l y morning.

Uhon Gajmdhsr :ornos t o know t h a t Suman has taken

s h o l t o t a t Subhadrolo p lacc , h i 5 doubts bocomc c lear .

He bogins t o dofemo Psdma Singh. Padma Singh has

r o c c n t l y boon o l o c t o d t o thc city counc i l . To

ce lcb ra to i t ho he0 i n v i t e d B h o l i Bai, against h i s

p r i n c i p l o a . From t h e t p e r i o d onwardo, V i tha ldas,

tho s o c i a l ro fo rmor and h i s bast f r i e n d tekon a

d i s l i k c t o him. 4nd whon ha hoars Gsjadhar'o

uordo, ho b o l i o v a a h im and becomcs v e r y happy.

Vory soon t h o f d a o allegations sproad and i n tho

ond P d m m Singh i o f o r c e d t o aok h i s so rvan t Jootan

t o i n f o r m Suman t h a t duo t o her proosnco i n h i o

houna ho i a g o t t i n g dofmnod, and t o l o a v o t h o

house am e a r l y ea p o n a i b ~ e . %man l o o v o ~ t h o pleco,

and a f t o r much h a s f t a t f a n a5 t o whore t o go, sho

roachro B h a l i ' s IJ~CO.

Bhol i Bai r o a l i o e o t h a t Sunan h a s q u a r r e l l e d

wi th ho r husband and l o f t t h e house. Bholi doos

no t a rk h o r t o go back. In f a c t , s h e convincoa h c r

t h a t aho canno t l o a d a happy l i f e wi th GJadhari

Can an Arab maro and a baae t of burdon

bo yoked t o one c a r t ! You wore t o

bocono a queen i n a f ami ly of s t a t u s .

But you wsro givon ove r t o a man i n ~ o n o i t i v s

t o t h o boau t ioa of l i f e , uho was n e t f i t

t o wash your f o c t . I t i s on ly you who

a r c p u l l i n g on l i k o t h i o , any o t h o r pe r son

would havo kickod such a husband and gono

away l o n g back. I f God had givon no your

l o o k s , I would havo o roc tod a golden

w a l l by now . . . (P.46) So, Suman's d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h h e r mar r i ed

l i f a , ho r long ing f o r l u x u r y and p lcaouro , h e r envy

and joa louoy a t t h o l i f e l o d by an i n f o r i o r md

CDntemptiblo h a r l o t , a t l a a t l e a d h e r t o t h o

na rka t -p l ace , whore oh0 t h i n k s oh0 can a t l o a o t l oad

l i f e 9p.l) QI c-a m d a n x i a t i e a . But t h i s i r

nof te ba M cam, uwn though a h d c c i d e a n o t t o

O ~ L I h e r body b u t o n l y t o o n t o r t a i n h o r g u o o t o w i t h

oongs m d dontom. Tiwr and a g a i n oho is t h o u b l e d

by t h o r i s t a k c o e m i t t e d by h e r i n h o r angor and

d iogun t . Yet, if s h o d o c s n o t g o t t h o p l o a s u r c s h o

h a s longod f o r , oh0 l o a d s e l u x u r i o u s l i f e , and oho

boeomon t h a t a l k o f t h o town.

Thora i s e d i t f o r o n c c i n t h o world of O l i v e r

and t h o wor ld o f Suman. For O l i v c r , who i o j u s t

abovo n i n o y o a r o o l d , F a g i n ' o world a p p c a r e t o bo m

droarn-world a f t o r h i o ha r rowing c x p o r i o n c e s a t t h o

workhouoo ond a t H r . Soworborry'o. But Pickono

showo a t a o t h o r o a l i t y o f London's er imc-world

though O l i v o r is o n l y an a c e i d o n t a l p a r t o f it. I n

t h i s r o a p o e t O l i v o r ' o r o l o i n t h o n o v o l a f t e r t h o

workhouao o p i t o d o o mnd h i s s h o r t s t i n t w i t h Mr.

Soworberry i o d imin iohod i n i m p o r t e n c o from t h o

s o c i o l o g i c d p o i n t o f viow. But t h o r o l e o f t h o

now gang and i t m r a m b o r ~ i a i m p o r t a n t t o d o l i n o a t o

tho poycha logy o f t h o c r i m i n a l s and t o e n a l y s o t h o

i n f l u o n c o o f a o c i o t y on them and vico-voroa.

a &a m a t u r e g i r l . She cmnot ba axcuood

for irrnoeanrso. gho pmsos t h r o u g h t h o d i f f o r a n t

p h r o o a o f hur l i f o a f t o r m a r r i a g o , i n f l u o n e a d by

h e r m i d d l o - c l a 5 S background, t h c c a s y g o i n g l i f e

w h i c h oho hao l e d , t h c d i n g u s t s h e h a s c x p o r i e n c o d

w i t h h e r huoband and t h o h u m i l i a t i o n 3 h c h a s

~ u f f c r c d a t t h o houao of Subhadra. Shc i s e b l c t o

p l a c c h c r c x p c r i o n c e s i n t h e b a l a n c e and add o r

ramove oomcth ing whoncvcr 3hc p l c a e o s . O l i v o r i s

i g n o r a n t o f h i s background. And t h o u g h h a c x p e r i c n c o s

s u f f c r i n g , t h o h-py o n d i n g a f t e r t h e o t r u g g l c is

bound t o h o l p him i n f o r g o t t i n g h i s p a s t . But t h o

q u e s t i o n r o n a i n a t Do a 1 1 ouch c h i l d r e n e s c a p e t h c

o p p r o o o i o n t o r c a c h a happy d e s t i n a t i o n ? Dickons

d a o s n ' t g i v o s c l u t i o n o i n h i s n o v o l s . Hc r o v o l o

i n t h o happy outcomo o f t h o o t r u g g l o o f his o t h o r w i s o

p i t i a b l e h o r o c o , who a r c most of t h e t i m c c h i l d r e n .

I n b r i e f , t h e a p p o a r a n c o / r o a l i t y thcme i n O l i v o r

m, m a i n l y t h a t o f O l i v c r , w h o a p p c a r v a s a

c r i m i n a l , b.ut i n r o a l i t y is i n n o c e n t , i s n o t c n t i r d y

a p p l i c a b l e to t h o c h a r e c t c r of Sunan i n Sovaoadan,

oven though Promchand t r i c e h i s b a s t t o p o r t r a y

h e r a n t h o u i c t i a o f c i s c u m r t o n c o s . Ho v o i c o e t h o

i n n o c o n c o o f S w a n a n d t h o g u i l t of G a j a d h a r , when

l 4 t o r i n t h o n o v o l 6 a j a d h a r r o p l i o s t o K r i s h n a

c h a n d r a ' s q u e s t i o n a n t o how Suman bccemo dogradcd.

G a j a d h a r #@Yo*

Tho r c a o o n f o r t h i o was my injustice.

A l l t h i s i o t h o r e s u l t o f my p i t i l c s n n c s e

and inhuman bchoviour . She was endowed

w i t h all merits . . . . I f s h a had

q u a r r c l l o d w i t h mc f o r o m a l l t h i n g o . . . I would h a v c b c l i c v c d h c r . Her h i g h i d c a l s

bccamo t h e c a u s c f o r my d i o b c l i o f . I bcgan

t o o u o p c c t h o r c h a s t i t y . ( P . 1 7 7 )

Yct , h o r c a r o - f r e o p r o - m a r i t a l l i f c , h c r l o n g i n g

f o r p l o o n u r o , a r o a l s o r c s p o n s i b l c f o r h e r

d i a o a t i a f a c t i o n w i t h h o r l i f c wi th G a j a d h a r . And,

morc i m p o r t a n t l y , o h c r c c c i v c o no m o r a l o r r e l i g i o u s

e d u c a t i o n t o i n o t i l i n h e r t h a t d i v i n o tolerance

t o w a r d s h c r husband , whocvcr hc may ba. N e v o r t h c l c s s ,

i f s h e i n b o n t on l e a d i n g a s e t i a f i e d l i f c , s h o

h a s t o bocome a r o v o l u t i o n s r y . But b c i n g p r o v o n t c d

by t h o l i m i t a o f h i a timc Prcmchand c o u l d n o t makc

her a r o v o l u t i w m r y . Tho p r i n c i p l o o f s r e v o l u t i o n a r y

i 5 p r o a c n t i n h o r p o r o o n a l i t y . P r a y e g r a j n o h t a sayo:

Ta J o d l n m t i o f i o d l i f e . Suman had t o

hmve 8 round social knowlodgc. But

Promchmnd d i d n o t g i v o t h i s t n h e r . . . . A f t o r r o s d i n g t h o n o v o l i t boconoo clear

t o u s t h a t h o t r i o s t o o o l v c t h o p r o b l e m

t h r o u g h t r a d i t i o n a l I n d i a n i d o n l i s t

p h i l o s o p h y o f l i f e . To s t r e n g t h e n t h o

oamo ha romovoo Suman f r o m t h o m a r k c t -

p l a c o t h r o u g h a n a r t i f i c i a l mothod and

t u r n s h e r t o w a r d s dharma. 4

O l i v c r T w i s t r o a c h c o t h o u n d e r w o r l d of F a g i n

and h i s g a n g and s l o w l y b o g i n o t o l a a r n t h o t r i c k s

of t h o t r n d a . Dhckons o s t a b l i u h e s a l i n k bo twccn

t h o a a r l i o r w o r l d o f O l i v o r ' s l r f o and h i s l i f e

w i t h F a g i n . So f a r t h o w o r l d h a s t a u g h t him n o t h i n g ,

w h i l o t h o u n d o r w o r l d r o c o i v o o him, g i v e s him f o o d

and b o g i n s t o o d u c m t o him. I t i s D i c k o n s ' o p u n g o n t

a t t a c k o n t h o o x i s t i n g s y o t o m t h a t O l i v o r , who

c o u l d n o t l e a r n m y t h i n g f r o m a c c o p t o d ~ o c i o t y r

b e g i n s t o l e a r n f r o m t h e undorwor ld . S t i l l . i t i o

i m p o r t a n t t o bear in r i n d t h a t t h i o u n d c r w o r l d is

a mirror i m a g e o f t h e w o r l d i t s e l f : c e p i t a l i a t a c ,

Pr , mraJ & h t e , m S m a n " Promchnnd P f r a , od. K m a l t o t b a r & Y I j . y d h n DOC^. ( P o l h i , Akah: P r a k a o h e n P u t . Ltd.; 19/01. Pp.Sa-59.

. c q ~ i o i t o r y , self-aggrandizing. 50 t h o r o i o no th ing

r u r p r i o i n g i f tho l o a d o r o f t h i s gang, Fagin, has

many o f t h o c h a r a c t c r i s t i c o o f a bonovolont omployor.

no t ra in . h i s boyo w i t h g r o a t ca rc i n t h o olomcnto

of t h o i r t r d o . Dickonn dcscr ibcsr

Tho morry o l d gontlcman and tho two

boy0 p leyod e t a vc ry cu r ious and uncommon

gamc, which we3 pcrforrnod i n t h i s ray.

Tho morry o l d gcntlcman, p l a c i n g a

snuff-box i n ono pockct o f h i s trousers,

a notc-caoo i n t h c othcr , and a watch i n

h i s waiotcoat pockct . . . but toncd h i s

coat t i g h t round him, and . . . t r o t t e d

up and down t h c room, i n i m i t a t i o n o f tho

mannor i n which o l d gcntlcmon walk about

t h o o t r c o t o any hour i n t h o day. Somotimoo

chc otoppod a t tho f i r o - p l a c o . and

domotimoo a t thc door, making b o l i o v o

t h a t ho wao s t a r i n g w i t h all h i s might

i n t o ohop-windows. A t such t ines , he would

l o o k c o n o t e n t l y round him f o r f c w of

th iovos, and would kocp s lapp ing dl h i o

paekoto i p turn, t o aoa t h a t he hadn't

l o o t mnything, i n ouch a funny mnd n a t u r a l

mmer. t h a t O l i v o r laughod till t h c t o o r n

r a n down h i o f a c o . A l l t h i s tilo, t h o two

b o y s f d l o w o d him c l o o o l y a b o u t ; g e t t i n g

o u t of him s i g h t , r o nimbly ovory t imo he

t u r n o d round t h a t i t was impoooib lo t o

f o l l o w t h o i r mationo. A t l a s t , t h e Dodger

t r o d upon h i s t o o n , o r ' r a n upon h i s boot

a c c i d o n t a l l y , w h i l o Char ley B a t e s otumblod

up mgains t him bohind; and i n t h a t ono

momant t h o y t o o k from him, w i t h t h o most

e x t r a o r d i n a r y r a p i d i t y , snuf f -box , n o t e -

Cam0 . . . ovcn t h o o p o c t s c l o cage. I f

t h o o l d gontloman f o l t a hand i n any of

h i o p o c k o t o , ha c r i o d o u t whoro i t war! and

t h e n t h o game bogan a l l o v o r a g a i n . (pp.74-75)

Thio "gmaoW i o moro o o r i o u s t h a n any o f t h o o a r l i c r

attempts a t ' a p p r o n t i c o o h i p , and i t i s wor th n o t i c i n g

t h a t Dickono promanto t h o r o l m t i o n o h i p o f O l i v o r

f a g i n r o p o a t o d l y i n o d u c a t f o n r l t o r a s z 5

' P h i l i p Hobobaur, A Roodsr9rr g u i d ~ t o ~ h ; r l o o a~ ( h B N I a Thuea a n d tlw, 19771. 4 . 4 1 .

'You 'n t a c l e v e r boy, my d o a r . ' maid t h o

p l a y f u l o l d gontloman . . . ' I n c v c r saw

a o h a r p o r l a d . . . . I f you go on t h i s

way, y o u ' l l bo t h o g r c a t o s t man o f t h c

t imo. And now coma h c r o , I w i l l show you

how t o t a k o t h o marks o u t of t h o h a n d k o r c h i o f e '

(P.76) and 'You'vc bccn b r o u g h t up bad , '

r a i d t h o Dodgcr . . . ' F a g i n w i l l nako

oarnothing o f you, though, o r y o u ' l l be t h e

f i r s t ho o v c r had t h a t t u r n e d o u t

unprofitable. You'd b o t t o r b c g i n a t onco;

f o r y o u ' l l comc t o t h c t r a d o l o n g b o f o r o

you t h i n k of i t ; and y o u ' r e o n l y l o s i n g

t i a o , O l i v o r ' . ( P . 1 4 9 )

I t o n l y h o i g h t c n o t h o p o i n t of compar i son botweon

t h o two n o v c l o , and p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o two c h a r a c t o r s ,

Fagin and B h o l i Bai who r o p r c s c n t t h o v i c i o u a and

immoral o i d o of o o c i o t y , whon wo f i n d t h a t , noon

a f t e r Suman's t a k i n g s h o l t c r w i t h h e r , B h o l i Bai

a t k o h o r a b o u t h e r education and i n c n t h u o i a s t i c t o

give h o r t h o t r a i n i n g n o c c o s a r y f o r h c r p r o g r o o r i n

t h o t r r d o . Whon B h o l i Bai s a y n , "Perhaps you d i d

n o t r o s o i v o ~ o o d e d u c a t i o n " , Suman r c p l i c s s " I have

o t u d i . d far two y e a r s u n d e r a t h r i s t i o n lady '~P.46) .

n d t h o ~ o n v o r s a t i o n con t i nuos thuar

B h o l i r #Tho ro i s s t i l l a d o f i c i c n c y o f

two- throo years. . . .' Sumant ' V o l l , how i o o n can I l c a r n s i ng ing? '

a h o l i t 'You can l c a r n i t w i t h i n s i x months l '

(Pp.46-7)

Char loo Dickons has pcrhapn t h e b c s t cyc f o r

d c t a i l s , and o o p o c i e l l y f o r t h o d c t a i l o o f t h e

s q u a l i d atmosphcro o f London* Ho beg ins h i s d c a c r i p t i o n

o f t ho f i l t h i n o a s o f London through t h c cxper ienco o f

O l i v c r ao hc welkm a long w i t h Jack Dawkinst

A d i r t i o r o r more wretched p l a c o he had

ncvc r noon. Tho s t r a c t was v e r y narrow

and muddys and the a i r wss impragnatcd

w i t h f i l t h y odour. Thcrc wcrc a good

many s m a l l shops; b u t t he o n l y s t o c k i n

t r o d 0 apposrod t o bc hoaps o f c h i l d r e n

who, oven a t t h a t t ime o f n i g h t , wero

c r a w l i n g i n and o u t a t t h o doors, o r

scremming f rom t h c i nn ido . The s o l o p l a c o s

thmt aoercd t o p roopc r amid t h o g o n o r d

b l i q h t of t h o p laco, ware t h o ~ u b l i c - h o u o o o i

end in t h t h o l ov r ra t oedors o f ' I r i s h

woro wrmngl ing w i t h m i g h t a n d main.

Coverod ways and y a r d s , w h i c h h o r e e n d

t h a r o d i v o r g o d f r o m t h o m a i n - a t r o o t ,

d i s c l o s o d l i t t l o k n o t o o f h o u s c o , whcro

d r u n k e n mon and womon woro p o s i t i v o l y

w a l ~ o w i n g i n f i l t h ; and f r o m o a v o r a l o f

t h o doorways . g r e a t i l l - l o o k i n g f o l l o w s

wero c a u t i o u s l y c m c r g i n g , bound. t o a l l

a p p a a r e n c o , on no v e r y w o l l - d i s p o s o d o r

h a r m l o s o e r r a n d s . (Pp.67-8)

But Promchand a v o i d s , r a t h e r i g n o r e s s u c ~ ~ ~ r a p h i c

d e t a i l s o f t h o I n d i a n s e t t i n g of h i s n o v c l s .

A p a r t from t h o i r o n y and s a t i r e rnontionod

a l o c w h o r o i n t h o c h a p t o r , b o t h D i c k c n s a n d Prcmchand

u s o l c n g u a g o t o p r o p o r c f f c c t . Tho s l a n g o f t h o

t h i o v a o o r t h o c o l l o q u i a l s t y l e o f t h o b o y s i s

c o n t r a o t o d w i t h t h o r o c c i v c d g t a n d a r d o f Rosc Mayl io .

Mr. Brownlow and t h c o s o c n t i a l l y m i d d l o - c l a s s

group . Toby C r a c k i t s a y o o f O l i v e r : " J o t e n

i n w a l g b l o boy t h a t ' l l make, f o r t h o o l d Lmdics'

p o e k o t r i n c h . p o l s l His mug i a a f o r t u n o t o himn

(P .176) a n d b o t o r o n o a r i n g t h o ond S i k c s t a l k s t o

h i n o o f f i n d o o p o r a t i o n r "h good h i d i n g - p l a e o , t o o .

T h o y ' l l n o v o r o x p c c t t o n a b n o t h c r o , after t h i n *

c o u n t r y - o c a n t . Why c a n ' t I l e y by f o r a weak o r s o ,

and f o r c i n g b l u n t f r o m F a g i n , g o t a b r o a d t o F r a n c e ?

Dammo, I ' l l r i n k it" ( P . 3 9 9 ) .

And Rooo c o n o o l o a o l i v o r a t t a r h a r e a c h e s h o t

p l a c o r

We a r o g o i n g i n t o t h o c o u n t r y , and my

a u n t i n t c n d o t h a t y o u o h a s r accompany us .

Tho q u i o t p l a c e , t h o p u r o a i r , and a l l

t h o p l c a o u r o a end b o a u t i o o o f s p r i n g ,

w i l l r o o t o r o y o u i n a tow days . Yo w i l l

omploy you i n a h u n d r o d wayo, whon you c o n

b o a r t h c t z o u b l o . (P.252)

Toby C r a c k i t g o l a n g u e g o h a s t h o r i n g o f t r u t h ,

w h i l o # o n k o l o i o n o l o d r a m a t i c . Rooo's D P O C C ~ is

o o n t i m o n t a l ; Such o o n t i m c n t e l l a n g u a g e i s a e o n

b o t h i n d i m l o g u o a n d d c o c r i p t i o n . I t i o t h i n

u n c r i t i c a l o t r a i n i n Dickono t h a t mekcn f o r the

unovonnooo OC OlAvor Twist, and i n d e o d o f much o f

him wack.

Tho obovo o x . n p l o o nhon comparod w i t h t h o

d o s c r i p t i o n of f a g i n ' s o t h e r don h i g h l i g h t a n o t h o r

i m p o r t e n t a o p o c t of ~ i c k o n s ' a s t y l o . Uickcnri

d o o c r i b o s t h o p l a c o t h u s 8

I n a l l t h o rooms, t h o m o u l d c r i n g o h u t t c r s

wero f a o t c l o s o d ; t h o b a r s which h c l d

thom wore ocrowod t i g h t i n t o t h o wood,

t h o o n l y l i g h t which was a d m i t t o d ,

s t o a l i n g i t s way t h r o u g h r o u n d h o l a s a t

t h o t o p , which mad0 t h o r o o m s more gloomy.

a n d f i l l c d thcm w i t h a t r a n g c shadow3 . . . ( P . 1 4 5 )

Tho don h o r o i s s y m b o l i c o f c r i m i n a l i t y w i t h

i t s l a c k of l i g h t , i t s " m o u l d c r i n g a h u t t c r a "

r c p r c s a n t i n g p h y s i c a l d e c a y e q u i v e l c n t t o m o r a l

c o r r u p t i o n and i ts b a r n r o m i n d i n g one o f s p r i s o n .

f h r o u g h o u t t h o n a v e l t h n r c a r o i m a g o s o f d o a t h

and t h o g r a v o and t h o worm, e l l u n d e r p i n n i n g t h o

main thomo of d o c a y a n d c o r r u p t i o n . I n D l i v c r T w i s t

Dickono o x h i b i t s h i s a b i l i t y t o c r o a t o a t m o a p h o r o

and t o s u s t a i n g s a p h i c n a r r a t i v e w h i c h i s a suprcmo

a c h i o v o m c n t . Tho f l i g h t o f S i k c a a n d P a g i n i n t h e

Condomncd c o l l e r o t w o i n a t a n c c s which p r o v e t h o

p o i n t . Both d o a l w i t h i m p r i e o n m o n t , t h o o n c o f

t h o mind and t h o o t h o r o f t h o p h y s i c a l b a i n g .

Ao mont ionod i n t h c i n t r o d u c t i o n , Promchand d i d

n o t havo t h o a b i l i t y t o d c l i n c a t o a t m o o p h o r c t h r o u g h

symbols. But ho had a s t r o n g g r a s p o f h i s medium

and c o u l d p l y i t a c e o r d i n g t o t h o domands o f t h e

o i t u r t i o n . J u o t a s Dkkn n s m a n i p u l a t e d l a n g u a g c t o

s u i t t h o d i f f o r a n t g r o u p s o f characters ho p o r t r a y e d ,

Prcmchand 0130 v o r y c f f o c t i v o l y uacd l a n g u a g o t o

p o r t r a y t h o d i f f o r o n c c i n l a n g u a g o o f Hindus and

Muolima i n h i s o a r l y n o v a l o . Muslim c h a r a c t o r s l i k c

B h o l i Bei and Abdul L a t o c f hovo t h c i r s p c o c h

i n t o r a p o r n o d w i t h A r a b i c and P o r o i a n wordo. P c o p l c

r o p l y i n g t o ouch c h a r a c t o r a t r y t o i m i t a t o t h e i r

opooch. Among t h o m o a l v o o , t h o apooch o f Hindu

c h a r e c t o r o i o S a n a k r i t i o o d . Tho v o c a b u l a r y o f r u r a l

c h s r a c t o r o a l s o d i f f o r s f rom t h o i r u r b a n b r o t h r o n .

Promcliand d i f f o r s n t i ~ t o o c o l l o q u i e l and c h a a t o

l a n p u a g o doe. B h o l i B d ' o language r o f l o e t o

v i v i d l y t h o dialect o f h a r c l a s o .

Yharoan D i c k a n s ' o l a n g u a g o h a o a o a n t i ~ n t e l

eftmet v h i l s - a t i n g onotion.1 o i t u a t i o n a . P r c n s h a n d

i s capmblo of t r e a t i n g d i f f e r e n t c m o t i o n a w i t h t h o

r a q u i o i t o k i n d of l a n g u a g e . Suman, whan Sodan

p r c s o n t o h a t w i t h a b s n g l c , i n t h e e n d ~ c c c p t a i t

and oayn a f f o c t i o n a t e l y r

F o r y o u r o a k o I kocp t h i s p r e n c n t w i t h

me. But I s h a l l e o n o i d c r t h i s am nomoth ing

k e p t 0 1 ) . . - -~ , -Ycu a r c n o t y c t f r o a . Yhon

y o u bccomc t h e r u l e r ( o w n o r ) of y o u r s t a t 0

( o o t e t c ) t h a n I o h a l l r c a l i s c w h a t e v o r I

want. But n o t y e t . (P.03)

Promchend d o a c t i b o o l a t e r i n t h e n o v o l . "Gunga

o p c n c d h e r orma t o c a t c h him, b u t b o t h h e r h a n d s

romainod opon, j u n t a s t h o w i n g s o f a b i r d romnin

open w h i l o f a l l i n g a f t e r b e i n g s h o t " (P. 1 6 ) .

F a g i n and B h o l i B a i , b o t h , a r c c x p c r i e n c o d i n

t h c i r p r o f o o s i o n . F a g i n i s an o l d man manoouvr ing

omclll b a y s k t much o l d e r t h a n O l i v e r . Ha i s c a l l o d

" t h o o l d g o n t l o m a n * o f t c n i n t h c n o v o l , which i s s

c a n t nama f o r t h o devil. A t t h c t i m o ho wan w r i t i n g

5 ~ 0 s T w i s t Dickona was r e a d i n g Dofoo ' s H i s t o r y of

t h o Uovi l . 50 i t may n o t bo j u s t a c a i n c i d o n c c t h a t

F a g i n ' @ mmsacia too @ddt08S him i n t o r s ) u e u a l l y

r o o o r v o d f o r t h o a r c h - d o c c i v o r . ~ c t r c r on i n

t h o n o v o l , S i k o a h i n t a t h a t F a g i n comas o t r a i g h t

f rom t h o " o l d ' u n * w i t h o u t any f a t h o r who c a n s e r v o

0s an i n t c r m o d i a r y l i n k . 6

F a g i n i s a Jow, among h i s C h r i o t i a n a s o o c i a t o n

and o t h o r C h r i s t i a n c h a r a c t o r o i n t h o n o v o l . Whothor

D i c k o n s ' s d c p i c t i o n o f a Jow i n t h o r o l e o f a b u r g l a r

and r o p r o a o n t a t i v o c r i m i n a l h a 3 oomoth ing t o d o w i t h

t h o t r a d i t i o n a l h a t r o d o f t h o Jaw i s n o t c l o a r . But

ho mado amonds f o r t h i s l a t o r on i n h i s c a r c c r whcn

ho introduced a Jow who had an a d m i r a b l o r o l o t o

p l a y i n Our M u t u a l f r i e n d . And i t i s i n t o r c o t i n g

t o n o t o t h a t i n a w o r l d dorninatod by Hindua i n t h o

n o v o l Sovaoadan , Promehand omployo a Muslim women

t o p l a y t h o c o l o o f a p r o o t i t u t c , I t i s c l e a r f rom

a l l him worka t h a t Promchand was a s t a u n c h o n c o u r a g o r

of Hindu-Mumlim u n i t y , and t h i s was ono o f him

i m p o r t a n t c o n c o r n s which h c n o v o r f o r g o t t o advocate

i n h i s worka. Anothor p r o s t i t u t o i n t h o nova1 i o

nemod Zuhra. But Suman t o o bocomcs a p r o s t i t u t e .

Moroovor, t h o r o a r o meny r o m a r k a b l c v i r t u o u s M u d i m

P h i l i p ~obobbur , A R o a d c r l a Guido t o C h a r l o a P i c k a n a , P.43.

womon c h a r a c t o r e portrayed by Promchand i n h i s

o t h o r n o v o l n end abort n t o r i o o . Karmabhumi'o

Sakaona i a a good oxamplo.

A f t o r oomo t i m a w i t h F a g i n and h i s a s s o c i a t o r ,

O l i v o r managos t o g o t a n h o r t r o p r i o v e whan h e i n

wrongly c a u g h t f o r h a v i n g a t o l e n a handkerchief

b u t i n l a t o r oavod by t h o e p p e a r m c o and i n t o r v o n t i o n

o f t h o ownar o f t h o book s t a l l who oaw t h e wholo

i n c i d o n t o f J a c k Dawkino o t a a l i n g t h o h e n d k o r c h i o f .

O l i v a r r a a c h o a t h o houao o f t h o o l d g o n t l e a a n ,

Mr. Brownlow, whono h a n d k o r t h i o f h a o bocn n t o l o n .

O l i v e r . fa110 ill t h o r o and r o c o v o r n e f t o r a l o n g

p o r i o d o f r e s t , a f t o r which ho i s o n c e a g a i n t r a p p o d

by F c g i n ' a men and t a k e n back t o him.

Moanwhilo, t h r o u g h t h o ncono a t t h e p o l i c o

o f f i c e i n . C h a p t o r 11, Dickcnn a t t a c k s v i r u l o n t l y t h o

incompotonco , b r u t a l i t y and ignorance of t h e

m a g i n t r a t o c l a a n o f h i o t im. Mr. Fang i r t h o

m s g i o t r h t o . D i c k o n s ' n s a t i r e oxcoode t h o u r u d

pungonty whon he d o s o r i b a s t h o a p p o a r a n c o of Mr. f a n g 8

Mr. Fang wao a l o a n , long-backod, s t i f f -

nockad , m i d d l e - r i r o d men, w i t h no g r o a t

q u a n t i t y of h a i r , w d what ho had,

growing on tho bask and oidoo o f h i e

hood. H i s foco was storn, and much.

fluohod. I f ho wcro r o a l l y n o t i n tho

h a b i t o f d r i n k i n g r a t h o r morn than was

oxoe t l y good f o r him, ho might havo brought

an a c t i o n againot him countenance f o r l i b e l ,

ond havo rncovorod heavy damagoo. (P.03)

And whonthc b o o k s t a l l owncr rushes i n t o tho o f f i c o

a f t o r O l i v o r ha0 boon .crcilos81y ocntoncod f o r

th roe months' hard labour , M r . fang i s inconsod, the

roason f o r which Dickons s ta tos immcdiato ly a f t e r

tho cnt rancc o f tho book-oc l lor :

Although t h o p roo id ing g o n i i i n ouch an

o f f i c e os t h i s , exorc isc a summary and

a r b i t r a r y powor aver tho liberties, tho

good naac, t h o character, almoot tho l i v o s ,

o f ha r M a j o s t y t a subjocto, o s p n c i e l l y o f

t h o poorer claoag and although, w i t h i n

such wal lo, enough f a n t a s t i c t r i c k s are

d o i l y plmyod t o make the engola b l i n d w i t h

uooping; thoy arn c loood t o t h c pub l i c ,

somo through tho modium o f t h e d a i l y pross.

(P*97)

Ono o f D i c k s n o ' o c h a r a c t o r i o t i c d o v i c a o i n t h o

d o v o l o p ~ o n t o f h i s p l o t is t h o uoo o f ouoponso and

mystery. Ho wm vary f o n d o f a u s p e n o o a n d myotory

t h a t ho omployad thorn i n moot o f h i a n o v e l s , and

h i s l a s t i n c o m p l o t o n o v o l was t i t l o d , Tho Mystery o f

Edwin Drood, which i f complo tod would p o o s i b l y havo

boon o msstor myotory n o v e l . Morcovor, t h c o e r i a l i z o d

p u b l i c a t i o n o f him n o v o l s domandod t h o j u d i c i a l uuc

of auupcnsc t o koop h i o r e a d e r s w a i t i n g f o r t h o

f o r t h c o m i n g s e r i a l . Promchand d i d n o t comc a c r o s s

any ouch r o q u i r o m o n t o f r o m h i s r c a d a r s and ho d i d

n o t c n c o u r a g o t h e s p y t h r i l l o r 3 which wcrc i n voguo

t i l l t h o b o g i n n i n g o f h i s w r i t i n g c e r c o r . I n f a c t ,

hc wantod t h o I n d i a n r a a d i n g p u b l i c t o d i savow

t h c i r f a s c i n a t i o n f o r auch worko whzch d i d n o t

r o f l c c t l i f o . But Oickonn ugcd myatcry and suaponoe

o n l y a s p a r t of h a s t c c h n i q u c . Wc a r c l e f t wondoring

a5 t o what .tho relationship botwocn O l i v ~ r and Mr.

Brownlow w i l l bo, why O l i v c r i s fascinated by t h o

p h o t o g r a p h of t h o woman a t Mr. Brownlow'a h o u s a ,

why t h e i r f a c o o a c o s i m i l a r . F o r t h e a n s w e r wo

hove t o wait till t h o ond o f tho, book.

F y l i n who h a s boon d o a p o r a t c l y a o e r c h i n g f o r

Oliver, i s a b l e mt l a o t t o r o c o v o r O l i v e r w i t h t h o

h o l p o f Nancy a n d S i k o o . Thaoo two c h a r a c t o r o add

0 f u r t h o r d i m o n o i o n t o t h o w o r l d o f F a g i n . I t is

t h i n t r t o which l a n d s t h o n o v o l t h o i n t e n s i t y i t

r o q u i r o s w i t h t h o i t p o r a o n a l r c l c t i o n o h i p o , t h o i r

g r o t c s q u o b o h a v i o u r , and t h e i r differing a t t i t u d e

t o w a r d o O l i v o r ' o f a t o .

F a g i n p l a y o t h o u o u a l r o l o o f a g a n g - l o a d c r i n

h i o r o l a t i o n o h i p w i t h O l i v e r , w h i l o S i k o o a l a o doom

n o t ohow any s y m p a t h e t i c a t t i t u d c t o w a r d s him. I t

i o t h o b e h a v i o u r o f Nancy which b r i n g s h c r i n t o

f o c u o a n d makoo h o r a n i m p o r t a n t c h a r a c t o r i n t h o

n o v o l n o r t h p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t u d y . Sho i s a x t r e m o l y

i n l o v e w i t h S i k o o , b u t r c e l i s c c t h a t any k n o u l o d g a

o f h c r c o n c e r n f o r O l i v o r w i l l b c d i o a s t r o u o . But

a h a i o f o r c o d t o come t o O l i v e r ' o h o l p i m m o d i a t c l y

a f t o r h i s r e c a p t u r e i t a o l f whon ho t r i o a t o escape

and S i k o o d o c i d 0 8 t o l o t h i o dog h p u r s u i t . Thon,

a l i t t l o l a t o r uhon F a g i n h i t t O l i v o r f o r t h o samo

r e a s o n . a n d i a r e a d y t o g i v o him a a o c a n d blow.

Nancy e o r o a t o h i s a i d :

' 1 uon't s t a n d by e n d a c o i t dono, F a g i n ' ,

t h o g i r l . ' Y O U ~ V C g o t t h e boy.

h a t mom would you h a v o t l - - l o t

bo - - lo t h i m be--or I s h a l l p u t t h a t

on nono of you, t h a t w i l l b r i n g mc

t o t h o gallows bo fo ro any t i m o ' . (P.130)

Hor o x c o s a i v r concern f o r Oliver i o r o v o a l o d

whon she l a t o r on d i v u l g o a t h o s c c r o t oh0 hea hoard

t o Hoso M a y l i c , w i t h whom ha s t a y s a f t c r t h o

b u r g l a r y opiaodo whon ho i s l o f t a l o n c by Sikca and

h i r conpeniono. Nancy comco t o know t h o o v i l

i n t e n t i o n s of onc Monks, O l i v o r ' o h a l f - b r o t h c r who

wanto F a g i n t o t r a i n O l i v o r as a c r i m i n a l as

c f f i c i c n t l y ao p o o c i b l a and t h u s demego h i o

p c r o o n a l i t y . Monko want8 t o i n h e r i t t h e f o r t u n e

which , h i s f a t h o r had t r a n a f o r r o d i n O l i v o r ' o

mothor 's name a t t h o t i m o o f h i s death. Roao f i n d a

a F a i t h f u l woman i n t h o c h a r a c t o r of Nancy b u t oho

wOnd018 why eho doos n o t abandon h o r c a l l i n g , and

l o a d e v i r t u o u s l i f o . Nancy cannot l o a v a Sikoa,

howovot b r u t a l ha i s . Nancy i a ono o f Dickona'a

c h a r a c t r r a , who l i k o ~ b o l Magwitch i n

Expoctat ionn, i a n o t a b l o t o ombraco a l i f o a?.

t o t e l o v i l or accept a v i r t u o u u l i f o t h c o u ~ h c o m p l o t ~

ropontanco. Pickono, who maw l i f a ao c o n o i o t i n g

o f two c l s e r d i v i o i o n o o f pcople, t h e good and t h o

o v i l , c o u l d n o t avo id t h o tcndcncy t o draw a

conplox, f l o x i b l o c h a r a c t o r which l o n d s v a r i e t y t o

h i o otoxao-typcd gamut o f charactcss. Ha nocda a

l i n k w i t h t h e "good poop lcn o f t h o novel , t o f u r t h o t

h i s p l o t and t o p r o v i d o a happy onding t o t h c l i f o

o f U l i v o r .

I n Scvaoadan, wo coma acrooa t h o complcx

r o l a t i o n o h i p botwoon Suman, hor s i s t o r fhan ta and

5nd.n Singh, tho ncphow o f Pedmn Singh, though i t

ha3 v o r y l i t t l c rosamblanrc t o t h c r e l a t i o n s h i p

botwoon O l i v e r , Nancy and Sikoo. Sadan i s a

f r a q u o n t v i a i t o r o f Sunan a t t h o morkot-p lecc so

much oo t h a t he go to i n f a t u a t e d w i t h hor . Sadan,

a boy .much youngor t h a n Sumon, i s ready t o l a y

o v c r y t h i n g a t Sunan'z f c c t . Suman r c c i p r o c a t c s

h i 3 f o o l i n g o , b u t docs n o t a l l o w h c r pass ions t o

domineto h e r rcaron. Yct, t h o nwoot wordo of Suman

o n l y i n c r o a o a t h o f o r v o u r o f sodan.. Ho ovcn

a t o s l t h i l y t a k a s goldon bangla f r o m Padma Singh'ca

houso mnd g i v o o i t ao m p r c o o n t t o Surnan. And i t

i a one o f t h o atsarigo co inc idoncoa o f t h o n o v o l

t h a t krdan'o marr iage i s f i x o d w i t h Suman'o o i o t o r ,

5hanta.

Sadan's f athor Madan Singh wants tho pcrformanco

o f tho nau tch-g i r lo a t t h c marriage-ccromony o f h i o

eon, much againot t h o o to rn oppos i t i on o f h i s

b ro thor , Padam Singh. But whon Madan Singh l c a r n a

t h a t tho s ic i tor o f tho to-be b r i d e o f h i s son i s

h o r o o l f a nautch-g i r l , ho r o forced by h i s f a l s e

p r o o t i g o n o t t o proceod w i t h tho wodding. So tho

br idogroom'o p a r t y r o t u r n s wi thout t h c b r i d c j u s t

whon tho wodding i s t o take place. Prcmchand b r ing8

i n Suarn'o fa ther , Krinhna Chandte, who hao beon

ro legood from pr i son , a t t h i s juncturo. who, watching

the oxtromely un fo r tuna te o te to o f h i s daughtor,

and unablo t o boar i t . docidcs t o commit ouicido.

Through Madan Singh and h i s a t t i t u d e Proachand

prooonta on0 o f h i a moot ocathing a t t a c k s on middlc-

c laoo hypocrioy. Pooplo i n n i a t upon t h o o n t o r t a i n r o n t

p rov ided by p r o a t i t u t o a and n a u t c h - g i r l o b u t are

u n w i l l i n g t o forqo a r o l a t i o n a h i p w i t h t h e i r

untainted k i t h and k in . Thoy w i l l n o t t r y t o b l o t

o u t t h i s curoo on wornanhood.

But b h a t a l i v o a Like r mar r ied woman t o n a i d a r i n g

Sadan h i m s e l f t o be h a r husband till h e r r o u n i o n

i e t o r duo t o t h o i n f l u c n c a of Surnan. Hore wa g o t

a s t r i k i n g c o n t r a s t i n t h o a p p r o a c h 0 3 o f t h o two

s i a t o r o t o w a r d s t h a i r huobonds. Though i t c a n bo

a r g u e d f a x Sumen t h a t s h c i s f o r c e d t o l i v o w i t h an

a g i n g widowor, i n e c n s i t i v o t o t h o y a a r n i n g o f a

young g i r l , S h a n t a ' s a t t i t u d e cvcn a f t c r Sadan i s

f o r c o d t o go away w i t h o u t n c c o p t i n g h c r a s his b r i d e

shows t h o d i f f o r o n c c i n t h o n a t u r e and a p p r o a c h t o

l i f e o f t h o two s i s t a r o . p o i n t c d o u t c a r l y i n t h o

n o v e l . "Shanta was o i rnp lc , s c r i o u s and u o l l - b o h a v c d n

(P.8) and s h e r o m a i m p l c a o c d w i t h w h a t a v c r s h o

g o t o i n c o n t r o o t t o t h o p r o u d Suman who w a n t s t o

l o a d a a u p o r i o r l i f c . Thc c h a r a c t c r o f Sadan ~ h o w s

t h e i n d o c i m i o n o f t h o m i d d l a - c l a s s y o u t h who a r c

bound by t r a d i t i o n and a r c n o t a b l o t o v o i c o t h a i r

o p i n i o n s a g a i n s t t h o injustices of n o c i c t y . Sadan

5 i n g h is, $9 f a c t , s c a r a d o f him f a t h e r and l i v e 5

moat o f t h o time w i t h h i s u n c l c , Padma Singh. Only

a f t o t much i n t m s p o c t i o n d c o s ha d c e i d c to b r c a k

t h o bond o f t r a d i t i o n a l injustice which dominates

r o a a o n and j u n t i c e .

An Arnold K n t t l o a s s o r t s , t h o c a n t r o o f i n t o r o s t

of t h o n o v e l O l i v e r T w i s t i a i t s c e s a n t i a l p a t t o r n

and n o t its p l o t . Tho p lo tomorcovor , d o c s n o t

c o r r o s p o n d w i t h t h i s o o o a n t i a l p e t t c r n which i s t h o

major f a u l t of t h o p l o t . Tho p a t t o r n i o t h o c o n t r a r t o d

r o l a t i o n botwoon t h o two worlds-- tho undcrwor ld o f

t h o workhouao, t h o f u n o r a l , F o g i n ' s don. and t h o

c o m f o ~ t e b l o world of t h o Brownlows and H a y l i o o , I t

i n a c o n t r a s t bctwoon t h o r i c h and t h c p o o r o r , i n

o t h c r words, t h o o p p r o o s o r and t h c opprossod . But

Oickcno makos a mockory o f t h o i n i t i a l c h a p t c r a of

t h o book, whoro p o v o r t y h a s bocn r c v c e l c d i n a l i g h t

which makco t h o f a c i l o t o r m s of good and bad

i r r c l o v a n t . Tho p l o t p u t s t h o Brownlows, k a y l i o o

and O l i v o r on on0 s i d o and Bumblo, Soworborry, Monks

end F a y i n ' s gang on t h o o t h c r s i d o . So, Dickons

is u n a b l o t o r c a l i a o t h o l i v i n g p a t t o r n a n d c o n f l i c t

of t h o book, t h o c o n f l i c t bo ing t h o s t r u g g l e o f t h e

p o o r a g e i n o t t h o b o u r g o o i o s t a t o . oymbol i scd i n

t h o g r u o l ocono a t t h o workhouoo. And * ie

c o n s i d o r a t i o n of t h o p l i g h t of t h e p o o r end

o p p r e s o o d i o what g i v o o t h o novol i t s va lue .

K o t t l o con aid or^ O l i v o r a * t h i n h o r o n . Both

O l i v o r and h i s r i v d Honks a r o n o t f u l l y absorbod

i n e i t h e r w o r l d p r o o c n t o d i n t h e novol . O l i v o r i s

n o v o r & d m t r i f i o d w i t h t h o h o r d e f o r t ~ % o o f t h o bo&

and Monko'o p a r s n t ~ g o dooa n o t a l l o w h im t o got

l s b o l l o d an tho ooursc o f a11 e v i l .

Tho p a t t o r n M p o w o r f u l l y proaontod i n tho f i r o t

q u a r t o r o f tho book i a n o t dovolopcd and c a r r i o d

through. Horo in l i o o t h o woaknors o f t h o book. But

K o t t l o docs n o t eonoidor i t a complotc f a i l u r o b u t

a f a i l u r o wor th conoiderat ion. D ick rns succoode

i n tho wondor fu l c v o c a t i a n o f thc underworld and i 3

ab le t o ongayo our nynpathy on b o h a l f o f f t a

i n h a b i t a n t s . And t h i e r o 3 u l t s i n tho powor o f the

book.

K o t t l o c o n o i d o r ~ t h o nove l i n torma o f tho

c.pitalist--proletariat o t ruyg lo , and i t i o n o t

o u r p r i o i n g when ho oayo t h a t O l i v o r a l t c r n a t o o

botwoon tho two, and a f t o r ho rcachoo t h o Brownlow

world, t h i o tate, which i s t h o organ o f q p r o s o i o n

o f t h c poor and t h o r o f o r o o f O l i v e r now bocomca

t h o servant o f O l i v e r . 7

I t bocomoo c l o a r t o us t h a t ovon though tho

w o r l d o f Dickono i o an ucban one end l a r g o l y tho

Arnold ~ c t t l o , "Dickonoi O l i v o r Twimtm, An I n t + o d u c t l o n t o t h o En l i o h N vo l , Vo1.I. ( ~ o n d G : K t c h i n o o n IL to. ~ub l ieohoro . Ztd., 19721, Pp.115-129.

on0 o f g o n t a o l p o v o r t y , and ovon t h o u ~ h ho blamod

t h o a r i s t o c r a c y f o r t h o o t a t o of a o c i c t y , t h o r o

worn pooplo l i k o br . Brownlow and Rosc H a y l i c who

r o p r c o c n t o d t h o good a i d c o f a r i s t o c r a c y , t h o s i m p l o

good a r i s t o c r a t s .

Tho ammo o o o s n t i a l p a t t o r n can bc soon i n a l l

boako d o l l i n g w i t h t h o opproooion o f t h o poor , and

n a c c o s o r i l y a 0 i n Promchand'a works. Evon though

what Promchand o v o r t l y d c a l a w i t h i n t h o nove l is t h o

ban0 o f p r o s t i t u t i o n , he u n d o r l i n o a t h o main rcaaon

f o r prostitution which is povor ty . Thc i n a b i l i t y o f

S u s a n ' s f c t h o r t o g i v c h o r a dowry S c a d s t o h o r

bo ing m a r r i e d o f f t o an a g i n g widowcr. Tho conocquoncoo

d r a g h a r t o t h o markot-placc. T h i s i s d c o p i t o t h e

f a c t t h a t Prcachand i a morn concerned w i t h t h c dowry

syotcm t h a n Kr iahna Chendra 'a want o f monoy.

P r c o t i t u t c o a r o ~ c n o r a l l y c o n t i d o r c d t o bc an

o v i l c rooo-ooc t ion o f o o c i o t y . But Prcmchsnd

p o r t r a y s t h o good a100 among thorn. Tho opprcaoor

c l a o s , which c o n a i o t a o f t h o l a n d l o r d s and t h o

a r i o t o c r m t o , i o Joo d i v i d o d i n t o good and bad.

Pmdna S ingh , who i o i n i t i d l y r o a p o n o i b l o f o r t h o

d o g r a d a t i o n o f Suman, l a t o r r o p n n t a and b u i l d o an

ashram f o r widows and o t h o r d o o t i t u t o woman, and

c a l l o it S o v a a a d m . But h i s b r n t h c r , Madan S i n g h ,

who o r d o r o t h o r e t u r n of t h o m a r r i a g e p a r t y o f h i a

eon Sadan w i t h o u t t h o b r i d o , S h a n t a , whon hc comco

t o know o f t h o n e u t c h - g i r l ' s l i f c l c d by h e r s i s t c r ,

Suman, r o p r c o o n t a t h o a c l f i s h , unconcornod , a r i s t o c r a t

c l n s s . Thc h i g h - p z i c s t Ramdas o x p o s c s t h o h y p o c x i s y

o f t h o p r i c o t - c l a s s . Tho c h a r a c t e r of b h o l i Bai i s

o f t o n r o f c r r o d t o i n an u n h e a l t h y l i g h t w i t h Suman

nlwaya making i t c l o a r t h a t s h o ham h a t o d t h c l o o 3 c

l i f c l e d by Bhol i . Though d h n l i ' s c l a s s i s n o r m a l l y

n o t w o l l - o f f , b h o l i aocms t o bc q u i t e a f f l u c n r ,

w i t h a houso o f h o r own and t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c and

h i g h - r a n k o d p c o p l o a l w a y s v i s i t i n g h c s .

And, s i n c e P r c m c h a n d ' s p l o t i s n o t 30 complex

an u i c k c n r ' o , minco i t c o r r c s p o n d s w i t h t h o c o n t r o l

i n t o r o o t o i t h a n o v e l , and s i n c e Promehand i s s b l o

t o d o v o l o p and c a r r y t h r o u g h t h o p o t t c r n t i l l t h e

and o f t h o book, Sovosadan s u c c o c d s whoro O l i v o r

T w i s t p a r t i d l y f a i l l . - Duo t o t h o o x c o o d i n g i n t o r c o t g c n c r a t o d by

t h o underworld and i t s i n h a b i t a n t o r a t h o r t h a n t h o

r o l c p l a y e d by O l i v c r i n h i s d i f f c r c n t c n v i r o n r n c n t s .

i t i s a p c n c r n l e o o u m p t i o n t h a t F a g i n a n d B i l l S i k c s

( m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y S i k o o ) c a n bc c n n s i d c r c d a s t h o

h c r o c o o f t h o n o v c l i n p r c f a r o n c c t o t h c s c d a t c ,

p a s o i v c O l i v c r . O l i v e r , who i s t h c h c r c o f t h e p l o t

i s t o o p a s o i v c t o w i n o u r s y m p a t h y , a n d Monks t h o

a r c h - p l o t t e r i s n o t c o n v i n c i n g a s a v i l l a i n a n d i s

o u t s m o r t c d by h i s a g e n t s . ' F a g i n a n d S i k o o , i n

t h o i r m o s t o x t r c m c c x a g g c r o t i c n s . move u s more t h a n

t h c b c n c v c l c n c o o f Mr. Brownlow o r t h o s w c o t n c s s o f

Nro. M a y l i c - - t h u y t o u c h w i t h f c a r a s t h e o t h o r o

n o v o r r o a l l y t o u c h w i t h Grahom G r o c n o r i g h t l y

p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h o g o o d c h s r a c t c r s i n Mr. Brownlow

a n d Rooc k a y l i c c o u l d n o t h e v c t r i u m p h e d c v o r t h o

t r i o o f F a g i n , Monks a n d S i k c s w i t h o u t t h o o l a b c r a t c

m a c h i n c r y o f t h o p l o t disclosed i n t h o l a a t p a g c o . 10

H o r c o v o r , t h o r o i s t h o s t r o n g c r c l o t i o n s h i p

b o t w o o n ~ s n c ~ a n d S i k o o w h i c h p u s h c s t h c i m p o r t a n c e

A r n o l d K o t t l c . ' D i c k e n o ~ O l i v o r T w i s t n , An L n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h o C n n l i o h N o v c l , Vo l .1 , P . 1 2 1 7

Graham G r c o n o , "Tho Young Dickcno. : ' od. A . E . Ilyoon ( L o n d o n * M e c r n i l l a n , h Go.

Graham G r o o n c , "The Young D i c k c n s " , uic.kens. od. A.E. nyoon (London : H a c m i l l a n b t o .

t f d . c b ~ ) , P.57.

o f t h o prodieamont o f tho l i f e o f O l i v o r t o t h o

background i n tho b o t t o r p a r t o f t h o novol. As

e t a t o d c a r l i c r , Nancy has t h e gonoros i t y t o condomn

h o t way o f l i f o , b u t ah0 cannot r c j a c t Sikos, who

on t h o o t h o r hand, i s t h o opitoma o f w ickcdnoo~.

But ho f s s c i n a t c s her. I t i s t o o l a t c f o r h o r t o

change h o r s o l f , aha says t o Rooc, and, ehc cannot

l o a v c h im a t p r c r o n t and bo h i s death. Shc i s

ndrawn bock t o him th rough c v c r y s u f f e r i n g and

i l l u n a g c ; and I should bo, 1 b o l i c v o , I f I know

t h a t 1 woo t o d i o by h i s hand o t l a s t n ( P . 3 3 1 ) .

And ahc n u f f o r o doa th a t h i s hand, as she f c l t sho

would. S i k o r known t h a t ohc has d i v u l g o d eocro ts

t o Rosc May l i c , and h o r o x c o s s i v ~ concorn f o r O l i v e r

moddona him. I t i n t h o outcomo o f an i n s t a n t ' n

rago, which i s so n a t u r a l t o thc hard-hoar tod

Sikac. Thio murder t rano fo rms tho c o o c n t i a l l y

o n i m a l i e t i o , pu rpoao fu l , amoral, and s o l i t a r y

n a t u r e o f Dickonslo c h a r a c t o r s i n t h c i r scparotc

t o l o n i o o . Tho animals era tu rnod beck i n t o aan

again. I t cxpmaoe t h o s i n i a t o r i r o n y which makos

i t t h o o n l y imaginative v i n d i c e t i o n i n t h o book

o f hums @ t a t u r n and aoaningfulnooa, and i t s c f f c t t

p r o v i d o o t h o moat o x c o l l o n t o t r o k o i n t h c a a t i r i c a l

v i o l c n c a o f t h o n o v o l . l l John Beylcy makos a v a l i d

d i g t i n c t i o n botwcon murdor end c r i m c , which a c c o r d i n g

t o him is t h o i m p r o s s i v o powct of t h c n o v e l . a s

t h o r c i s no t r u o d i n t i n c t i o n bctwccn t h c world o f

d a r k n e s s which U l i v c r i s i n , and t h o wor ld o f l i g h t

which ho l o n g s f o r . Nancy's murder t r a n s f o r m s t h c

o t h o r w i o o b o a o t l y S i k o s , who i s c a l l e d " t h o rnorc

hound o f a d a y " by F a g i n i n t o a k i n d of a man. Crime

i o r o l a t o d t o t h o i n h u m a n i t y o f o o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n n

and i s t h o moot c h a r a c t o r i s t i c a o p o c t o f t h o a o c i a l

o r d e r . And f o r Dickono murder i s moro human t h a n

c r imo. Murdcr b r i n g o i n t o f o c u s t h e o t h o r w i a o

i g n o r o d c h a r a c t o r o f F a g i n , end s o c i o t y a c h i o v e o

soma warmth end e o h o o i o n which i t l e c k o d boforo. I n

s h o r t , f o r Bayloy, murdor i s a k i n d of s o c i a l

r a v o l a t i o n .

Just do Sikoo t u r n s i n t o e man w i t h t h o murder,

Nancy t u r n s i n t o a woman duo t o h e r l o v c f o r him.

Dnly F o g i n romaino a r o p t i l o . O l i v o r i o o o ~ o t i m o s

a d u l t , aomctimoe l i k o on a n i m a l h i m s c l f . 1 2

Tho murdor a c o n o f a o c i n a t c d Dickons most and

ho a c t a d i t o u t many a tima b c f o r o a u d i c n c c o . The

r o l o o f Nancy m i g h t havo p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t ~ r C 3 t c d

him. Sho r o p r c o o n t s t h o E n g l i s h g i r l , ovcrburdonod

w i t h d r u d g o r y m d whoac f o c l i n g a a r c s t i f l e d .

A n o t h c r i m p o r t a n t c h a r e c t c r of t h o undcrwor ld

i s nono o t h o r t h a n Jack Dowkins, t h e boy who l o s d s

U l i v o r t o F s g i n ' a p l a c o . He p r o v i d e s a o t r i k i n g

c o n t r a s t t o U l i v c r i n h i s a p p r o a c h t o t h c o o s o n t i a l

r e a l i t y o f l i f c . Hc c o n f r o n t s t h e wor ld on i t s own

torrn3 w h i l c U l i v o r i s a f r a i d of i t . Thc t r i a l s c c n c

o f t h c b r t f u l Dodgcr r e m i n d s u s o i t h c g r u o l s c c n c

w h m O l i v c r o o k d f o r marc and was 3 c r i o u a l y admonished,

and t h c o c c n c a t t h o p o l i c c o f f i c e whcrc Mr. Fang

had n o c o n c o r n f o r j u s t i c e . D i c k c n ~ d c s c r i b c s

t h e acono o o c h e r a e t c r i o t i c a l l y t h a t wc s r e o p c l l -

bound by t h o c c c o n t r i c i t y o f t h e c h o r e c t c r and

o i t u n t i o n s1.d romdy t o miss t h o o u b l t ~ n i ~ l i io

d o f i a n c o r

'* J o h n '!ayLoy, *Things as t h e y R o a l l y Arb", D l c k o n o ~ A Collection of C r i t i c a l Epsayo, od. M a r t i n Prito, P.91-95.

I t was i n d o o d M r . Dowkinn, who. s h u f f l i n g

i n t o t h e o f f i c o w i t h t h o b i g c o a t s l o o v e r

t u c k o d up as u o u o l , h i s l o f t hand i n h im

p o c k o t . a n d h i s h a t i n h i s r i g h t h a n d ,

p r o c c d o d t h o js i lar . w i t h a r o l l i n g g a i t

altogether i n d o a c r i b a b l e , e n d , t a k i n g h i s

p l a c e i n t h o d o c k , r o q u c 3 t e d i n a u d i b l e

v o i c e t o know wha t ht? was p l a c c d i n t h a t

' e r a d i s g r a c o f u l s i t i v a t i o n f o r .

' H o l d y o u r t o n g u e , w i l l y o u ? ' s a i d t h o j a i l o r .

' I am a n E n g l i s h m a n , a i n ' t 1 7 '

r o j o i n a d t h o Oodgor. ' Whore ere my p r i w i l a g a n ? ' ' Y o u ' l l g o t y o u r p r i v i l c g a s s o o n c n o u g h , '

r o t o r t e d t h o j a i l o r , ' a n d p o p p a r w i t h ' am* .

' W a ' l l moo wot t h e S o c r c t a r y o f S t a t o f o r

t h c Hoac A f f a i r s h a s g o t t o s a y t o t h o

b o n k s , i f I d o n ' t ' , r o p l i o d M r . Dmwkins.

'Now th0n . i Wot i s t h i s h c r o b u s i n o e e ? I

o h d l t h a n k t h o m a d g ' o t r a t o s t o d i s p o r t ?

o f t h i o h o r o l i t t l a a f f a i r . and n o t t o koop

mo w h i l e t h c y r o a d t h o p a p e r , f o r I ' v e

g o t an a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h a g o n c l m a n i n t h e

c i t y , mnd as I'm a men o f my word and w c r y

p u n c t u a l i n b u a i n o a a n a t t c r s , h o ' l l go away

i f I a i n ' t t h c r o t o my t i m c , and t h o n

p ' r v o t h o r o won ' t bc on a c t i o n ? o r dsrnngc

a g a i n a t t h a n a o k o p t no away. Oh, no,

c e r t a i n l y n o t l ' (Pp.361-2).

Ho c o n t i n u o a i n t h i a v c i n and when, i n t h o cnd

ho is found g u i l t y and a s k e d whcthor h c h a s a n y t h i n g

t o s a y , h c r c p l i c s i n t h o n c g a t i v o and s a y s $ "not

h c r c , f o r t h i a a i n ' t t h o ohop f o r j u s t i c e . . . but

I s h a l l havo o o n o t h i n g t o nay e l s c v h e r c . . ." (P.363). Thin t r i a l of t h o A r t f u l Dodgcr i s a n o t h c r

o x p r o a o i o n o f t h o c e n t r a l thomc o f t h e n o v o l , which

i s t h o h o l p l o a ~ n o s o o f t h o p o o r a t t h o h a n d s o f t h o

o p p r o s u i v o o t a t o . H i s b o a r i n g i n t h i s s c o n e though

rornarkablc i s a l s o p a t h o t i c . Hc w i l l bo t r a n s p o r t e d .

n o t f o r any o f h i s g r o a t c r imco, a s h i s accomplice

Char loy Batco b o w a i l o r b u t f o r a "snoczcboxa. HE

o x c m p l i f i c u Dickonn'o c h a r a c t o r i z e t i o n a t i t s b o o t ,

and h i o i m p o r t a n c e ' in t h o p e t t o r n o f t h o n o v o l i o

t h a t h a , a l n o o t a l o n o o f t h o c h a r a c t o r a o f t h o

undorwor ld , doon s t i c k up f o r h i m a o l f , dooa c o n t i n u o

and d o v o l o p t h o c o n f l i c t t h a t D l i v o r had bogun when

ho a s k a d f o r a o r o . n t 3

l3 M o l d b t t l o , m M e k o n a t O l i v o c Twist" . An Intao&vction t o fha E n p l i s h Navol, Vol. I. Pp.125z7.

Tho m c g n i f i c o n t p o r t r a y a l o f t h o A r t f u l Dodgcr

doon n o t achiovc i t 6 reward bocauno ho i n n o t

r o q u i r o d by t h o p l o t , o t i l l f rom t h o purpoao o f t h o

book ho i s v o r y o s s o n t i a l and i t would bo a g r e a t

l o a n i f roadors c o n f i n o thomaclvos t o O l i v a r , Sikos.

Nancy and Fagin, i n t h o i r p u r s u i t of t h e moaning

o f t h c book.

Tho charac to rs i n Sevaoadan i n c l u d e , a p a r t from

Padma Singh, h i s f r i o n d V i t h a l d a s (who i o t h e s o c i a l

r e f o r m e r ) and h i s b r o t h o r fladan Singh. a c o t e r i e o f

h i o o t h o r f r i e n d s a l o o who h e l p Premchand i n

dovc lop ing h i s i d e a s on o t h e r s o c i a l issuoa, l i k e

communaliom, end tho nood f o r a common languago.

Tho d o l i n o a t i o n o f t h e r e l e t i o n o h l p bctwcon Suman

and Sedan i o a romarkablo achiovemont o f Premchand.

Though i t i s Sadan's i n f a t u a t i o n f o r the moot p o r t .

Suman n a i n t a i n a a C r i o n d l y r e l a t i n n b h i p w i t h him.

Th is man-woman r e l a t i o n o f f r i e n d s h i p i s a now va luo

i n t r o d u c o d by Promchand, and Suman rnekoa h e r l o v e

f o r Sedan nubl imo th rough such an attachmont. 16

Evon a f t o r ovoreoning h i n o v i l paaoion mnd

dovo lop ing a fond a t tachnon t towardo h e r he mLstakoo

l 4 Dr. Mohanrmd Ayub Khmn. 'Promi' nPremchand ko Uponyaoa Adhunik Sandharb Moinn, Vatayen. Oct. 'BO-Jan. ' 8 1 , Pp.92-93.

h o r o t t i t u d o ao a o i g n o f h o r d isp loaouro. Ho

carnor, t o t h o f d s o eonc lua ion t h a t Suman's abode

i s n o t a p l o c o f o r p u r o lovo. Tho godo t h o r o a r c

p loaaod n o t through worahip b u t th rough g i f t a . But

whoro can ho go t monoy f a r tho g i f t s ? From whom

can ho aok f o r ? I n t h o end, ho w r i t c o a l e t t a r t o

h i s f a t h o r t h a t ho 13 n o t o a t i a f i c d w i t h t h o food,

t h a t modooty pcovonto h im f r o m compla in ing t o h i s

unc lc . so ho wanta soma moncy (P.BO).And, oven a f t o r

p r o s c n t i n g a oaroo bought from t h c monoy he r o c c i v o o

f rom homo, whon ho scoo no change i n tho a t t i t u d o

o f Suman, ha f c c l a t h a t 3hc i s n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h

t h o p r o s o n t hc gevo hor. So, a t l e s t , he a t o a l s

a bangle and p r o s c n t a i t t o Suman. But she i o

f o r c o d t o g i v o i t beck t o P a h a Singh w i t h o u t

g i v i n g any h i n t t h s t oh0 ha3 r c c c i v o d i t f rom Sadan.

V i t h d d a o , through h i s porsovorancc, a t l a s t ,

managon t o 'romovo Suman f rnm tho market-placo, and

p u t h o r up a t t h o widows' houao ' Sovaoadan' , which

i s ootabllSohod by P a b e Singh sa atoncmant f o r h i s

harohnooo toward8 Suman. But Suman i s n o t t o f i n d

poaco o f mind ovon thoro. Shanta, too, a f t e r Hadan

Singh'a a t o m r e f u o a l n o t t o g i v o h i o son i n

m a r r i a g o t o a nautch-g i r l ' s a i a t o r , j o i n o h o r n i s t o r

a t Sovs8sd.n. F o r a w h i l o t h o y l i v e t o g o t h o r . But

whon Suman's p a s t h i o t o r y c o a e o t o l i g h t , r h o g o t r

i n t o t r o u b l o . Shc h a s t o l c a v c t h c p l a c e a f t c r 3omc

o f t h o wonon r o f u r o t o l i v o t h c r c . d o t h t h o a i s t o r a

l c a v c t h o p l a c c and, a t t h e i n v i t a t i o n o f Sadan,

o t s y w i t h him i n h i s c o t t a g c n e a r t h o r i v e r - b a n k .

Sadon h a s r o o l i s c d h i s f a u l t , l o f t h i s f a t h c r ' s

houac and s d o p t o d t h o l i f a of a s i m p l o boatman by

t h a n .

Tho c h a r a c t e r o f V i t h a l d a s , d o c s n o t como a l i v o

i n t h o n o v e l a a h c h a s bccn i n t r o d u c c d f o r a d o f i n i t o

p u r p o o c , t o ohow t h o difficulties and o p p o s i t i o n

f s e d by a s i n c o r e s o c i a l r o f o r m o r i n t h o o x i c t i n g

yot to la. I n t h o p r o c o s a o f c o m p o o i t i a n of Sovasadan

Promehand might havo imaginod V i t h a l d a a s a a g r e a t

i d o a l , b u t by t h o a n d , i t i o c l c s r t h a t h i s i a p o r t a n c a

hao boon d i m i n i n h o d t o t h o o t a t u o o f a d u t i f u l

i n d i v i d u a l . V i t h a l d a r h a s a11 t h o good q u a l i t i o ~

o f a good human b o i n g b u t t h i s v i r t u 0 which i n

bound by t h o l i n i t r o f t h o i n d i v i d u a l dooa n o t

havo t h o powor t o c a r r y t h o buzdcn o f s o c i a l i d o a l o .

V i t h a l d a o , i n t h o p r o c o o s o f r o o c u i n g Suman, i n n o t

ablo t o r o o t ou t tho undor ly ing .~roblom. As Preachand

daacribos, Vithaldaa i s indood rn opi tono o f v i r t u o

and aocvico, though ho ha*io own wosknoooos.(P.70).

But t h o p o i n t t o bo nado hero i s t h a t tho

i n f l u o n c o o f h i o r o f o r r n cannot roach tho bas ic

problom and i t cannot l a n d m y gain t o maao tovo lu t ion .

But t h o v i s i o n of V i tha ldao and t h a t o f h i s creator ,

Preachand, aro l i m i t o d , and Pronchand cannot go

boyond t h i s a t t h i s t imo of h i o coroor. V i tha ldas

oavos Sunan, bu t tho nox t day another g i r l w i l l

l a n d thsro. V i tha ldas savoo Suman, bu t cannot oraso

tho st igma on hor. V i tha ldao i o ab lc t o f i n d a

romody f o r Sunan, b u t no t f o r tho problom. As tho

f a u l t l i o s n o i t h o r w i t h Suman, nor w i t h tho markot-

placo, b u t w i t h t h o syotom, i t i s no t poss ib le f o r

V i tha ldas t o rovamp tho s o c i c t y which has oncouraged

it.

On him par t , V i tha ldas cannot bo blamod, Ho i s

porhaps tho moat v i r t u o u s man por t rayod i n tho novel,

mo much ao t h a t oven a f t e r oo meny mrrotinga w i t h

Suman a t tho market-placo, no e v i l thought a r i r o s

i n him mind. Him dotorminat ion i s n o t shakon by

Symanlm beauty. But i t i 5 n o t propor t o lob01 h i a

tomporamont w i t h ' p a t r i a t i o m ' and ' o o r v i c o t o tho

cornn~unity'. I t i s an oxcooo and cxaggcrat ion. 1 5

Juot so Jack Dawkina i s n o t r o q u i r o d by the p l o t

o f O l i v o r Twist b u t o n l y t o l o a d O l i v o r t o Fag ingo

don, oo V i t h d d a s i o nocoossry j u s t f o r t h o u p l i f t r c n t

o f Sunan. A f t o r t h a t he fader i n t o thc background.

Soueoaden i n i m p o r t a n t l y a novo l about the

urban middlc-class, though Promchand was t o bc known

l a t o r a3 the n o v o l i o t o f t h c pcaaont. Howevor, ho

docs show glimpooo o f h i s f a v c u r i t c c lans by

d c p i c t i n g tho s u f f e r i n g s cndurcd by t h c lower claseos

i n t h e v i l l o g c o . Thcrc i s , f o r instance, tho opisodo

i n which Chaitu, a poor farmor i s punishcd t o dcath.

Hc is n o t ab lc t o pay tho l c v y iInp03Cd upon him.

Thc land lo rd , tho aahant o f a tomplo, has j u s t

r o t u r n o d f rom a p i lg r imago and t o makc up f o r h i s

oxponsco ho ha3 inc roasod thc l a n d tax. Chai tu i s

unablo t o pay it, oo ha i a d r a ~ g o d t o t h e tompl0

and boaton morc i loas ly and tho man euecurba t o h i o

i n j u r i o o . Thora a rc o t h o r o p i ~ o d o a doe showing

l 5 V i j a y d m Dotha, *Vitha1daow, Prorachand ko Patra, ad. KonJ K o t h u i , Vi jeydhan Dctha (Dolh i : iSl;aX;;r Prakaahm Pvt. Ltd. 1970), Pp.61-64.

t h o u n b o e r e b l o l o t o f p o a o a n t n , which h o wao t o

d o v o l o p i n him l a t o r n o v e l s f u l l y .

Lack of u n i t y botwcon Hindua and Murlims and

t h o ncod f o r a common l o n g u a g a which c o u l d r o a c h

t h o length ond b r o e d t h c f I n d i a wcrc o t h e r c o n c c r n a

o f t h c d a y w i t h w h i c h Promchand was v a r y much

i n v o l v e d . A 3 o t a t o d i n t h o i n t r o d u c t i o n Prcmchand

was r e a d y t o d o a l l i n h i s m i g h t t o b r i n g t h o two

communi t ioo t o g o t h o r . And t h c o x i s t i n g a n t a ~ o n i s m

botwcon t h o u s o r a o f Urdu and H i n d i i r r i t a t o d him.

Ho d o a l o w i t h t h o a o i o o u o o i n e l m o a t a l l o f h i s

n o v c l s . Tho i n f l u o n c o o f w s t c r n e d u c a t i o n , i t s

unhealthy c o n a o q u o n c c s weo a n o t h o r s u b s i d i a r y thcmo

f o r Promchand. Ho r c m n r k s t h r o u g h V i t h ' a l d a o , who

s a y s :

. T h i l i s c a l l c d s l a v e r y , b u t a ~ l a v c is

f r o o i n o n e s c n s c , h i s a u t h o r i t y i s o v n r

h i s body, n o t o v e r n i s s o u l . Your p o o p l c

h r v o o o l d y o u r s o u l i t s c l f . Your E n g l i s h

education h r r madc you s o o p p r c o a o d t h a t

u n t i l any Eurapoan s c h o l a r dooa n o t n x p r o o o

t h o m o r i t o and d o m o r i t o on any o u b j c c t ,

you w i l l ,tomain i n d i f f o r o n t towards t h a t

oubjoct. You do n o t rospoc t tho Upaniohada

bocsuso thoy arc roopoctcd i n thomsclvoo,

b u t bocauoo Blavctoky and Max Wul lar havo

roopcctod thorn . . . . Th is mcnta l o lavory

i a marc harmfu l than t h a t w o r l d l y s lavory

. . . . Duo t o t h i s vory mcnta l o lavory

you accoptod da fca t i n t h a t f i c l d whoro

through t h o gcnius and f i c rccncoo o f ou r

ancestors we woro abla t o h o i s t our v i c t o r y

f l a y f o r soma time. (P.189)

Prcmchand p ra iooo h i s f a v o u r i t o poasant c l a s s

through Kunwar Aniruddh Sinh who i s tho hos t a t tho

p roscn t ga ther ing o f f r i ondo . Hc o b j e c t s t o tho

uso o f tho word w ~ l a v o " by V i t h d d o o and oxp ls ina

t h a t ovorybody i o a o lavo i n ono sonao o r t h a cthor.

no cont inuos. "Motes. Bungalows, Polo and Piano aro

oqu iva lon t t o ohacklos. Ono who has n o t worn thooo

ohackloo, o n l y ho can onjoy r e d froodom,irnd do you

know, who aro thooo pooplo? Thoy aro our poor

fa raora , who c a t the o a m i n g e o f t h u i r swoat, who

roopoc t t h o i r s o c i a l dross, lmguaga and cmotiona,

a d who do n o t bow ,down boforo .nybody" (Pp.189-190).

Jhon Doctor Shyam Charan s t a t o s t h a t E n g l i s h

i s o u r Lingua France . Kunwar r c p l i c s :

You a r o t h o p o o p l c who bcotowod t h i s

g l o r y on i t . Thc c o n t a c t of t h o f o o l i a h

o o l d i c r n of P o r s i a and Kabul and Hindu

buoinsssmcn gavc b i r t h t o a l s n g u a g c l i k o

Urdu. I f t h o i n t c l l i g o n t of t h c d i f f c r o n t

p r o v i n c c a of o u r n a t i o n had uaod t h a i r own

l a n g u a g o i n d i a l o g u e wi th oech o t h o r , t h o n

a n a t i o n a l l a n g u s g c would have boon formed

l o n g back i t s e l f . U n t i l s c h o l a r s l i k o

you romaln d o v o t c c o of f n g l i a h , a n o t i o n a l

l a n g u a g e w i l l n e v o r bc b o r n . . . . I d o n t

know why poop10 c o n o i d o r i t a s t h e i r

p r o s t i g o t o opcak and w r i t o E n g l i s h . . . . 1 can spook and w r i t o b c t t c r r n g l i n h t h a n

any of y o u r o u t s t a n d i n g o c h o l a r o o f E n g l i s h ,

b u t I 7001 s u c h h a t r c d f o r i t , a s I would

f o c l i f I wcar t h o rcmovod s h i r t of an

Englishman. (Pp.191-92).

Togh A l i p o i n t s o u t t h o p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h o Hus l ims

n o t s u p p o r t i n g Padm S i n h t a p r o p o s a l f o r t h o romoval

of p r o s t i t u t e s from t h o i a p o r t m n t p l a c e o i n t h o c i t y

and t o dioeourmgo t h e i r prononco and dancoa. Ho

oays, * A t prooont t h n r a i n tho Urdu-Hindi quar ro l ,

t h o problcm o f cow-sloughtor . . . tho law i s t r y i n g

t o i n f l a m e r o l i g i o u o f a n a t i c i s m through a l l thosou

( P . 1 9 0 ) .

With tho doath o f Nancy i n O l i v o r T w i s t , t h c

v i o l c n c c t h a t has r u n r i g h t through thc n o v c l raachoo

i t s cl imax. And. i n h i s r c v c l a t i o n o f S ikoo 's

conscicnco a f t c r : t h r - . -n t , vo a rc mora p u l l e d

towards t h o aymbo~ac background p r c s c n t c d by Dickons

r a t h o r than tho prodicamcnt o f Sikcs. I t i s tho

b l a c k p i c t u r e o f human squalor and dcoo lc t inn . Tho

atmoophorc o f s q u a l i d London i s p rcscn tcd i n tho

o a r l i o r chaptors a l30, b u t hc rc i t i s v c r y much

c f f o c t i v o :

Noar t o t h a t p a r t o f t h o Thamco . . . t h a r o o x i n t a t h o f i l t h i o s t .

t h o s t rengost , t h o most o x t r a o r d i n e r y of

t h o many l o c a l i t i n s t h a t ern hidden i n

London, w h o l l y unknown, oven by namo. t o

t h o g r o a t maos o f i t s i n h a b i t a n t s -

To roach t h i s p lscc , t h o v i s i t o r hao

t o ponotrmta through a maze o f d o s o ,

narrow mnd muddy atroots, thronged by

tho roughom t and poorost o f watorsido

pooplo . . . Tho choapost and l o a n t

do l ica to prov is ions mro heaped i n tho shops

. . . J o s t l i n g wi th unomployod labourers

of tho lowast c lans . . . and the r a f f and

rofuso of tho r i v o r , ho aekos h i s way w i t h

d i f f i c u l t y along, assai lod by offensive

s ights and smolls from tho narrow a l l o y s

which branch o f f on tho r i g h t and l o f t . . . Arr iv ing , s t longth, i n strcotm romotor

and l o s s froquontod than through which ho

has paoaod, ho walks bencath t o t t o r i n g

houmo-f r o n t e pro joc t ing over the pavomont,

d i s a e n t l r d w d l o tha t lioam t o t o t t e r an

ho peamoo, chimnnoye h a l f cruohod, h a l f

" h o s i t a t f n g t o f a l l , windowa guardod by

r u s t y i r o n bars t h a t t i n o end d i r t have

rLmoot oaton away, and ovcry immginablo

oign oC deso la t ion and noglost.

I n ouch e noaghbourhood . . . atmnds

Jacob'o I s l a n d . . . but known i n the days

of t h i s s t o r y as F o l l y Oitch. . , . A t such

timoo, a strengor. look ing from one of tho

b r i d g o o . . . w i l l ooo t h o i n h a b i t e n t s

of t h o housoo on o i t h o r s i d o . . . end

when h i s oyo i a t u r n o d f rom t h e s e o p o r a t i o n o

t o t h o houooo thomsolvoa , h i s u t n o a t

a o t o n i s h h o n t w i l l bc c x c i t o d by t h c oconc

b o f o r c him. Crazy woodcn g a l l c r i o a colnmon

t o t h o b e c k s o f h a l f e dozcn housca , w i t h

h o l o o f r o m which t o l o o k upon t h o r l i a o

bonoath : windows, broken and p a t c h o d , w i t h

p o l o s t h r u s t o u t , on which t o d r y t h c l i n e n

t h a t i o n o v c r t h o r o ; rooms s o omal1,oo

f i l t h y , GO c o n f i n o d , t h a t t h o a i r uould

s o o n t o o f a i n t e d cvon f o r t h o d i r t and

o q u a l o r which t h o y o h e l t o r ; woodcn chambors

t h r u o t i n g thomaolvco o u t ebovo t h o mud and

t h r c a t c n i n g t o f a l l i n t o i t - - a s oonc havo

dono! d i r t - b o a m o a r o d w a l l s ond doeaying

f p u n d a t i o n s ; c v o r y r o p u l p i v o l i n c a m o n t

o f p o v o r t y , o v c r y loa thoomc i n d i c a t i o n of

f i l t h , r o t , and g a r b a g c ; a l l t h c s c ornamm t

t h o banks o f F o l l y D i t c h . (Pp.411-12)

Such i o t h o p i t o o u s a t a t o of s q u a l i d Londpn t h a t

* t h o oceno i t a o l f e n a s o r t o bo s mcro back c l o t h and

b o s o ~ o a a a c u l t p t u r o d mars a a k t n g an i n t w r o l pert

o f t h c n o v e l ' a p a t t o r n , * T h i o wor ld hao g i v o n

b i r t h t o S i k o s and t h o imago of t h i s wor ld makes

uo u n d c r o t a n d h i 8 p r o d i c a m o n t and t h m u g h a oonso

of o i l t h o h i d o o u e f o r c e s which a r c r c o p o n o i b l c f o r

him f o t o , ho oven d o o c r v o s o u r p i t y . 1 6 tio i s n o t

a b l o t o cocapo f rom t h i s wor ld , and , i n t h o ond, i n

h i s a t t c m p t t o f l o o f r o m t h o s o o e u l t i n g mob, ho

a c c i d o n t s l l y h a n g s h i n o o l f .

F a g i n a l s o mooto h i s ond a f t c r h c i s found

g u i l t y and s o n t c n c o d t o d c a t h by t h e c o u r t . F a g i n

r o t a i n o t h o q u a l i t y o f d a r k n e s s end nightmare till

t h o and . Ho, who n c v c r a p p o a r s 'on t h o o t r o o t s d u r i n g

t h o dayt imo, i s onon l a a t i n t h o condomnod c o l l 0150

i n d a r k n e s s , i n t h o h o u r s b o f o r c t h o dawn. I n

c o n t r a s t to S i k c o , he r e m a i n s an a n i m a l t h r o u g h o u t

and i n t h o cnd l o o o o oven h i s human powers o f apoech

and i n t o l l o c t . Thc c h a p t e r which d o a l n w i t h t h i s

o p i o o d o i a conoidosod by many a s t h e f i n o s t c h a p t c r

i n t h o n o v c l . I t g i v a o a s u p e r b a n a l y e i s o f i s o l a t i o n ,

f o a r , d o g r a d a t i o n - - t h o who10 conscquonco o f a l i f e

l 6 Arnold K a t t l o , "Char loo Dickons* , An i n t r o d u c t i o n t o t h e . E n a l i e h Novol, Val. I , F.127-21.

l i v e d i n c o r r u p t i o n a n d self-seeking. h o b c h n v c s

l i k c a s n n r c d a n i m n l i n t h o d o c k , find t h c b u t c h e r y

of Dnc k i n d o f b e a s t by a n c t h c r i s t h o f i n a l h o r r o r

o f h i s c x c e u t i o o . 1 7

' F a g i n ' . s a i d t h c j a i l e r .

' T h a t ' s rnc!' c r i c d F a p i n . . . 'An o l d

r,mn, my l o r d ; a v e r y o l d . o l d man! '

' ~ i c r c , a n i d t t i c t u r n k e y , l a y i n : h i s h a n d

u p o n h i s b r e a s t t o k c e p h ; ~ d o w n ' . . . . ' F o b i n , F a g i n ! A r c y o u a man? '

' I s n a n ' t b c o n c l o n g ' , h c r c p l i o s .

l l i 8 ; k i n i j up w i t h n f a c c r c t a l n i n s n o humon

o x p r c s . ; x o n b u t race a n d t e r r o r . ' S t r a k c

i t > - , a l l o c , . d I . , h o t r i r ; h t I ; a v c t h c y t o

b u t c t i c r mc?' (P.442)

A n d , . a s J o h n i l a y l c y s t a t c o , "Fn14in w i l l 10512

c v c n h i s a n i m a l i c i c n t i t y r c v c r t i n ~ t o a d r c a d f u l

humon s i r n u l o c r u m . ' a d a n g l i n g h c a p of c l o t h ~ s . ' " ~ ~

P r i o r t o t h o a r r c s t of' S i k c s a n d t h c c a p t u r e o f

f o g i n l . ,onks i3 f o r c c d i n t o a f u l l c o n f c s s i c n by

l 7 J o h n f l e ~ ~ l c ~ , n u l i v e r T u i s t i . T h i n g s a s ' t h o y H e a l l y A r o H , i ~ i c k c n s l A C o l l c c t i o n o f C r i t i c a l E s o a y s . c d . M a r t i n Y r i c c . P.95.

l e J o h n U a y l o y . " U l i v o r T w i o t r T h i n y o cs t h c y n o a l l y Are*, p i c k o n a t H C o l l c c t i o n o f C r i t i c a l E s s a y s , od. h a s t i n ~ r m x ;

f i x . brownlow. And, when O l i v o r and Hz. Brownlow

v i o i t F a p i n , h c t o l l s O l i v o r u h c r o t h o p a p o r e

concerning him a r e h iddon . 50. o v o r y t h i n g comcs

t o a happy end. Uo i o a r n t h a t Rooc N a y l i o i s O l i v o r ' s

a u n t . O l i v o r m o c t s Monks a t a h o t c l , end s h o r t l y

a f t e r wo l o q r n o f t h o b u r i c d w i l l which h a s bocn l o s t .

I f i t had s u r v i v o d , h i s f o t h e r ' s p r o p e r t y would

have bocn l o f t h a l f t o O l i v c r ond h a l f t o h i s mother .

Roar g o t 3 m a r r i c d t o h e r f i o n c o ' c H a r r y . Mr. Brownlor

who wsa a g r e e t f r i o n d o f u l i v c r ' s f o t h c r a d o p t s

D l i v o r . Monks i a a b l e t o s h o r c a s m a l l f o r t u n c

w i t h O i i v c r . Ho l a t e r d i o o i n a p r i g o n abroad . On

t h o o t h e r a i d a , Noah C l a y p o l c bccomcs an i n f o r m o r ,

H r . and Nrs. Bumblo c n t c r t h o workhouse a s i n m a t o s ,

end C h c r l o y Batoo r o f o r m s h i m s e l f . mcmor ie l

t a b l e t i s o r c c t a d t o Agnos, U l i v c r ' s mothor i n t h o

l o c n l c h u r c h . Tho s t o r y cndo-- thus t h o good c o n t i n u o

t o l i v o h a p p i l y .

I n t h o b o g i n n i n g , a f t c r s h c s e t t l c s w i t h

S h o n t a e n d Sadan i n t h a t c o t t e g c n o a r t h o r i v c r

bank Suman'o l i f e p r o c c c d s c h c c r f u l l y . But soon t h c

s m o o l d s t o r y g o t o r o p c a t e d . rlhon Sodan ' s f r i o n d s

eomo t o know t h a t Suaan had baon a p r o a t i t u t o onco,

they rc fueo t o o n t e r h i s house and s t a r t t o doaor t

him. Tho a t t i t u d c o f Sadan and ,Shnnta change ao

much so t h a t thoy t r o a t h o r w i t h contcmpt. Sho i o

no moro than a oorvan t g i r l , who does a l l tho

hounohold choroa, and r o c o i v a s n o t cvon a word o f

oympothy o r kindncea, l e t slono any approc ia t ion .

Unable t o t o l e r a t e t h i s shc l c a v c s h c r o i s t o r ' o

co t tage . She wandora on nnd on, a im lcas ly , u n t i l

t h e city i s l o f t behind and aho e n t o r s o f o r c a t and

s tops thc rc . She i s t i r o d and confusod. Herc

Prcmchand f i n d s no o t h e r way bu t t o employ h i s

penchant f o r concid incoa. Sumon hcars t h o v o i c e

o f Swami Gajsnand. Thoy s e c t i n tho fo rao t , admit

t h o i r n i o t a k o o and t h o i r h e a r t s aro clcanocd. The

s t o r y onds w i t h Suman agroc ing t o t a k e charge o f

Sovaoadan a t her huoband'o parauaaian. She aeas

a now l i f o o f o o l f l o s a o o r v i c c i n f r o n t o f her.

Tho two n o v e l i s t s , i n t h e i r r o s p o c t i v c novols,

a t tackod t h o i n J u n t i c e s and exploitation p r c v a l c n t

i n t h o i r t imoo and woro succoaefu l i n rous ing . the

conseionco o f t h o i r contomporsrios. I n f a c t , i n

England, Dickone' o woo t h o molo domineering voaco

s g e i n s t exploitation, c h i l d e x p l o i t a t i o n i n p s r t i c u l a r ,

But , i n I n d i a , S a r a t Chondra C h a t t c r j i had w r i t t e n

n o v a l o i n B o n g a l i d a a l i n g w i t h t h e 3amc a u b j o c t o f

t h o p r o d i c s m c n t o f t h o * f e l l o n womenn morc d c f t l y

and w i t h d c o p c r p a y c h ~ l o g i c a l i n s i g h t . Y c t , i n

H i n d i , Promchand rcmainod t h c l o n c c r u s a d c r and i n

h i 3 l a t o r n o v o l s h c g a i n c d i n m n t u r i t y and o t r c n g t h ,

and d e a l t w i t h d i f f e r c n t ~ ~ G U C S .

A 3 John Bayloy o o o c r t s , L i c k c n s ha3 bccn a b l c

t o d o l i n o a t c ou tward and inward 3 c l v e s t h a t makc up

a wholc p c r o a n and t o s t r i k c a b a l a n c e bctwccn t h o

two--which i s vory r a r e i n h a s c h a r a c t c r i z a t a o n .

That a s , Bumble f o r cxsmplc , is vchcment ly shown

o s a p e r s o n w i t h o u t an i n n c r s e l f whcrcas S i k c s and

Nnncy havc a v i t a l i t y about thorn which shows D i c k o n s ' s

~ c r i o u ? c o n c e r n f a r t h o s c characters and t h o

s c r i o u s n c s o w i t h which t h c y c o n t i d o r thcmsolvco .

Thc d i m e n s i o n o f t h o s o two i s t h e t r i u m p h of t h c

novol . F u r t h c r , t h i s c l o t c l y c o r r c s p o n d s t o t h e

main f o a t , which is e l s o u n i q u c i n t h c h i s t o r y of

t h o n o v o l , which Dickcno hen a c h i c v c d i n combining

t h o g c n r o o f G o t h i c n i g h t m a r c w i t h t h a t o f s o c i a l

d o n u n c i a t i o n , t h o ono a d d i n g t o t h o a t h c r . 19

Oickcno h n s dono J u a C i c o by showing Hr. n u n b l c

back i n t o t h o uorkhouoo, a s en i n m a t e . bu t t h o

r o a d o r i s j u o t r f i o d i n w o r r y i n g a 5 t c what happcnod

t o t h o o t h o r companions o f O l i v o r who u o r o p r o a o n t

i n t h o uorkhouso . And, whon t h o wor ld o f O l i v o r

T w i s t c a n bo d i v i d e d i n t o good and b a d , Nancy can - bo soon a s good and S i k o s a s bad , wo d o n o t know

w h o t h c r t h o s t a r v i n g c r o a t u r o s arc good o r bad.

D i c k c n s o n t h u o o s i n t h o happy outcomc t o t h o g r i m

and macsbro o x p o r i o n c o s o f h i s d e e r h o r o , and

u n d o r o t e n d a b l y t h o f o c u s i s on him a t tho cnd o f

t h o n o v c l . Promchand, on t h e o t h o r hand , c x p c c t c d

s u c h c o n c c r n o on t h o p e r t of h i s r e a d o r . I t h a s

boon c i t o d t h a t t h o c f f o r t o of a r o f o r m c r l i k o

V i t h a l a a o would n o t r o o t o u t t h o r c a a o n f o r t h o

d o g r a d a t r o n o f woman. But Promchand h a s , i n t h i s

n o v o l , g r a d u a l l y , by t h o e n d , t r i o d t o c o n v i n c e u s

o f t h o r o f a r a o f dl t h o p r o s t i t u t o o a t t h o markot-

p l a c e and t h o i r w i l l i n g n o s o t o l o a d a p u r o l i f o i n

J M n 8 a y l e y , v T w i s t . "Thin s a s t h o y R a a l l y Asa , Dicoknos A Collection o f C r i t l c a l lo8arm. 04. M a r t i n P r i c e , P.96.

f u t u r o . O l i v c r ' s l i f o a t t h o workhou3c 13

r o p r n o c n t a t i v o , b u t g r a d u a l l y D i c k o n ~ l o s c a c o n t r o l

o f h i 3 thomo which i a oupcroedod by t h c p l o t . Suman's

l i f o t h r o u g h o u t i o r o p r o o c n t a t i v o and t h o p l o t

c o r r c o p o n d a t o t h o t h o n o a n d i n t h o cnd p e v c a way

f o r t h o u p l i f t m c n t o f a l l t h o " f a l l o n women" a t t h e

m a r k c t - p l a c e . n o t j u o t Suman.