Before
reading it, I somehow thought it’s a children book. But it is oh so good: amazing,
involving, colourful in tis language. Dickens paints pictures, surprises you,
knocks you out. You name it.
So it is not single ideas, but the sheer power of language, that makes this book such a treat.
„Although
I am not disposed to maintain that the being born in a workhouse, is in itself
the most fortunate and enviable circumstance that can possibly befall a human
being, I do mea nto say that in this particular instance, it was the best thing
for Oliver Twist that could by possibility occurred. The fact is, that there
was considerable difficulty in inducing Oliver to take upon himself the office
of respiration – a troublesom practice, but one which custom has rendered
necessary to our easy existence; and for some time he lay gasping on a little
flock mattress, rather unequally poised between this world and the next: the
balance being decidedly in favour oft he latter. Now, if, during this brief
period, Oliver had been surrounded by careful grandmothers, anxious aunts,
experioences nursesm and doctors of profound wisdom, he would inevitably and
undubitable have been killed in no time. There being nobofy by, however, but a
pauper pöd woman, who was rendered rather musty by an unwonted allowance of
beer; and a parish surgeon who did such matters bny contract; Oliver and Nature
fought out the point between them. The result was, that, after a few struggles,
Oliver breahed, sneezed, and proceeded to advertise tot he inmates oft he
workhouse the fact of a new burden having been imposed upon the parish, by
setting up as loud a cry as could reasonably have been expected from a male
infant who had not been possessed of that very useful appendage, a voice, for a
much longer space of time than three minutes and a quarter.“ (Dickens, 2006).
„But
nature or inheritance had implanted a good sturdy spirit in Oliver’s breast. It
had had plenty of room to expand, thanks to the spare diet of the
establishment.“ (Dickens, 2006, p.14).
„Morning
drew on apace. The air become sharp and piercing, as its first dull hue – the
death of night, rather than the birth of day – glimmered faintyl in the sky.“
(Dickens, 2006, p.146).
„“The
gallows,“ continued Fagin, „the gallows, my dear, is an ugly finger-post, which
points out a very short and sharp turning that has stopped many a bold fellow’s
career on the broad highway. To keep in the easy road, and keep it at a
distance, is object number one with you.“
„Of
course it is,“ replied Mr. Bolter. „What do yer talk such things for?“
„Only to
show you my meaning clearly,“ said the Jew, raising his eyebrows. „To be able
to do that, you depend upon me. To keep my little business all snug, I depend
uponyou. The first is your number one, the second my number one. The more you
value your number one, the more careful you must be of mine; so we come at last
to what I told you at first – that a regard for number one holds us all
together, and must do so, unless we would all go to pieces in company.“
(Dickens, 2006, p.227).
„Of all
bad deeds that, under cover oft he darkness , had been committed within wide
London’s bounds since nighthung over it, that was the worst. Of all the horrors
that rose with an ill scent upon the morning air, that was the foulest and most
cruel.
The sun –
the bright sun, that brings back, not light alone, but new life, and hope, and
freshness to man – burst upon the crowded city in clear and radiant glory.
Through costly-coloured glass and paper-mended window, through cathedral dome
and rotten crevice, it shed ist equal ray. It lighted up the room where the
murdered woamn lay. It did. He tried to shut it out, but it would stream in. If
the sight had been a ghastly one in the dull morning, what was it, now, in all
that brilliant light!“ (Dickens, 2006, p.250).
