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| Sunday, 3 April 2005 |
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English Literature made easy : Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Kindness lost Chapter 5 In Pentoville, Oliver receives the best of care and attention from his new found friends, Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin, his housekeeper. He is cared for tenderly. Suddenly, Mr. Brownlow is amazed when he notices the similarity between Oliver's features and that of the portrait hanging on their wall.
He convinces him that Oliver, was playing the part of an innocent child and having argued about Olivers Character, Mr. Brownlow sends Oliver with the parcel of books to be returned and five pounds with which to pay for them. Oliver anxiously sets on the errand, with the sincere intention of coming back. But he faces an unfortunate situation, he never ever dreams of. Nancy and Bill Sykes stop Oliver and drag him by force. They walked for a long time and go down a dirty street, push Oliver into a room in a small backyard of a shop in the dirty street. A job for Oliver Chapter 6 Oliver is welcomed with a shout of laughter from Charley Bates. Faginteases him and Dodger holds up Mr. Brownlow's five pound note which Oliver has in his pocket. Sykes snatches the note from Fagin. Oliver begs Fagin to send the books to Mr. Brownlow. Oliver knows from Fagin's behaviour that he will never send the books to Mr. Brownlow. So he tries to run away from Fagin's place. Nancy sympathises with Oliver and stops Fagin from harassing him. Cursing Fagin, Nancy throws the stick, 'Flung it in the fire. "I won't stand by and see it done. You've got the boy and he is a thief and a liar from now on. What more do you want. I wish I never brought him here. You made me what I am and the streets will be my home until I die." Oliver is made to wear his old suit. Charley, Bates and Dodger try their best to persuade Oliver to join them in their chosen profession. One dark night, Fagin meets Sykes and reminds him about the job at Chertsey, where there's a lot of silver. But Sykes assures him, that it is not an easy job as the servants in that house are extremely faithful to the Lady of the house. They cannot be won over, even by flash. Hence, it is going to be an arduous task, and requires a lot of planning. Ultimately Fagin and Sykes decide to employ Oliver to steal into the house through a place from which a small-made boy like Oliver is able to creep in. With his extremely innocent looks, Oliver is the right person for the job they think. Their only intention being, to keep Oliver in the same boat as Sykes and made responsible for the robbery. To be punished or used for the robbery Oliver is handed over to Sykes. A robbery, that failed Chapter 7 Oliver is threatened by Bill Sykes not to speak a word but act according to Syke's wishes. Oliver is led into a dilapidated house, where they meet Toby Crickit who is impressed with Oliver's innocent appearance. In the dark, amidst, freeezing fog they reach Chertsey and stop outside a detached house. They creep over the wall and Oliver knows that it is going to be a robbery and he trembles in fear. Sykes puts Oliver through a small window ordering him to unfasten the door. Suddenly he is frightened by two men in the house who fire, hitting Oliver. Sykes drag Oliver up. He hears the loud ringing of a bell, a noise of firearms and shouts. Later, Oliver only experiences being carried out. Shadows on the wall Chapter 8 Toby informs Fagin about the unsuccessful robbery. Oliver is dumped in a ditch and Sykes informs Fagin that he knows next to nothing about the incident. Suddenly Marks appears at Fagin's. Having heard that Nancy is feeling sorry for Oliver. Marks suggests that Nancy should be strangled. Marks having seen a shadow of a woman darting away, is mortally afrid and quickly leaves Fagin's house. Friends at Last Chpater 9 Oliver lies down as if he is dead. In desperation he gets up and keeps moving desperately and sits on the steps of a house which to his surprise is the house that they attempt to rob. A man servant sees Oliver and drags him into the hall. But to his surprise a lady in the house orders the man servant to fetch a doctor. Mrs. Maylie, the owner of the house and her adopted neice Rosesit are talking, when Dr. Losberne arrives. Having attended on the patient, he requests Mrs. Maylie and Miss Rose to come and see the boy. Though they expect to see a black faced ruffian, they see a child, worn out with pain and exhaustion and Rose thinks that Oliver is a child who has never known a mother's love and affection or the comfort of a home. The two women and the doctor listen to Oliver's sad story and watch over him with love and care. After recovering from his illness, Oliver is taken to see Mr. Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin. But there is only a little ugly hump-backed man and the doctor can't get any information. The house of Mr. Brownlow is labelled 'To let' as Mr. Brownlow, Mrs. Bedwin and Mr. Grimwing had gone to the West Indies, six weeks before, they turn back disappointed. Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Teacher English, St. Anne's College, Kurunegala
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To Oliver, everybody is so kind and gentle and everything is quite and
neat. It is heaven to him, after the miserable life he had, had before.
One day Mr. Brownlow questions and discusses Olivers story. When Mr.
Grimwig, a friend of his comes to tea wit him. Mr. Brownlow is taken up
with Oliver and praises his innocence, but, Mr. Grimwig is suspicious. 
