THE REPRESENTATION OF THE SOCIAL STATUS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN CHARLES DICKENS'S OLIVER TWIST AND GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Abstract

This article examines the representation of the social status of children and adolescents in Charles Dickens's novels Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. Dickens vividly portrays the hardships, social inequalities, and psychological development of young characters within Victorian society. Through the analysis of Oliver Twist and Pip, the study explores how poverty, class divisions, and social mobility shape children's identities and life opportunities. The findings reveal that Dickens uses child protagonists to criticize social injustice and advocate for social reform. The article contributes to Dickensian studies by highlighting the connection between childhood experiences and social status in nineteenth-century England.