Abstract
Oliver Twist is one of British writer Charles Dickens’ representative novels. The book is mainly about the miserable experience and sad life of the orphan Oliver Twist. Nancy, a minor character in Oliver Twist, is a key figure in the novel. Hovering between good and evil, Nancy has a complex character. In this thesis, the author makes an attempt to give a thorough analysis of the complex character of Nancy and digs into the causes of her character. It is concluded that trapped in the den of thieves from childhood, Nancy’s behaviors of theft cannot erase her evilness. In spite of this, She still has a kind heart. It is Nancy’s braveness and resourcefulness that help to save Oliver out of trouble. Meanwhile, Nancy is loyal to her love with a contradictory view of love. Nancy’s complex character is caused by her miserable self-experience and the cruel capitalism. Under the social background at that time, her tragic fate is doomed to be inevitable. Through the detailed character analysis, we are able to have a comprehensive understanding of Nancy. This thesis aims at calling for more attention attached to Nancy.
Key words: Oliver Twist; Charles Dickens; Nancy; character
Contents
Abstract I
Contents II
1. Brief Introduction to Oliver Twist 3
1.1 Brief Introduction to the Author Charles Dickens 3
1.2 Brief Introduction to Oliver Twist 4
2. Character Analysis of Nancy 5
2.1 Evilness 5
2.2 Kindness 5
2.3 Resourcefulness and Braveness 6
2.4 Loyalty to Love 7
3. The Causes of Nancy’s Character 8
3.1 The Influence of Nancy’s Self-experience 8
3.2 The Influence of the Society 9
Conclusion 10
References 11
