Student Question

Describe the circumstances in which Oliver Twist first experiences love and affection.

Quick answer:

Oliver first experiences genuine love and affection at Mr. Brownlow's house, where he is cared for after falling ill. Despite their initial meeting under negative circumstances, as Oliver is wrongly accused of theft, Mr. Brownlow provides him with a nurturing environment. While Fagin, the Artful Dodger, Nancy, and Betsy show Oliver varying degrees of kindness, their actions are often driven by ulterior motives or pity, unlike the unselfish care he receives from Mr. Brownlow.

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Oliver first finds love and affection at Mr. Brownlow's house where they help him recuperate from his illness. Although, Oliver meets Mr. Brownlow under rather negative circumstances (he has been accused of trying to steal his wallet), Mr Brownlow takes the boy in.

Fagin and the Artful Dodger show Oliver kindness but it is under the guise of trying to recruit him to pickpocket for Fagin.

Nancy and Betsy also show Oliver kindness, however, it is more in the form of pity as Nancy especially knows how dangerous Bill is and knows that the boy's working for Bill is not likely to come out well.

However, it is really at Mr. Brownlow's house that Oliver experiences affection and love from people who seemingly have no other motive.

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