Thursday, May 15, 2014
Feeling sympathy for Oliver
I've just finished reading chapter eight, but I'm still stuck on a quote from chapter four. It is when Oliver is going to Mr. Sowerberry's with Mr. Bumble. Oliver says "Everybody hates me. . . I feel as if I had been cut here, sir, and it was all bleeding away," I can't help but think that no child should feel like this, and it's terrible that so many real children had this experience in the 1800's. Another detail from chapter four that really bothered me is when Oliver is sent to sleep with the coffins, under a counter, after he ate scraps that the dog didn't want. I mean, I thought Harry Potter had it bad, but at least he had a closet under the stairs and some food!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree! So many characters treat Oliver poorly in the novel. Not only are the adults abusive, but the other kids treat him poorly. In chapter 6, Noah Claypole taunts Oliver about his dead mother which causes Oliver to get angry and attack Noah. This results in more abuse towards Oliver. I just felt really bad for him while reading those scenes.
ReplyDeleteI also felt a lot of sympathy towards Oliver as I read; the poor kid has been raised without parents, has trouble making friends, and is starving nearly all the time. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be considered "property of the state," and it's amazing he goes through this all when he's only 8.
ReplyDelete