Illegitimacy and Orphanhood in Dickens's Oliver Twist : An Islamic Reading

Abstract: Dickens's novels were inspired by his commitment to social reform and justice, as they were driven by his quest to find voices to stand up against injustices and to safeguard the rights of the poor and the orphan in Victorian Britain. Such an altruistic artistic strategy of establishing justice for the downtrodden and the welfare of the orphan resonates with Islamic teachings. Given this affinity, in this paper, I shall examine Dickens's treatment of illegitimacy and orphanhood in Oliver Twist through the lens of Islam, including the point that Prophet Muhammad himself was an orphan. Such an interpretation of the novel will inform readers about Islam's take on these social issues which remain highly relevant to our contemporary complex societies. baac