Chapters 19-27

These chapters are horrifying; however, I enjoyed the way they developed the plot a little, giving Oliver Twist some action scenes.
First and foremost, how can anyone ignore Dickens' vocabulary!!!
1. quail (and not the bird): show fear or apprehension: to tremble or shrink with fear or apprehension
2. interrogatory: asking a question: asking a question, used to ask a question, or in the form of a question
3. twinkling: moment: an instant of time
4. genteel: well-mannered: having or displaying refinement and good manners, especially manners that suggest, or are thought typical of, an upper-class background
5. imperiously: arrogant: haughty and domineering
6. quartern: one fourth: a fourth part of something, especially of some old weights and measures
Sticking with tradition, here are a few of Dickens' "deep quotes" and my humble interpretations:
1. "And now, for the first time, Oliver, well nigh mad with grief and terror, saw that housebreaking and robbery, if not murder, were the objects of the expedition. He clasped his hands together, and involuntarily uttered a subdued exclamation of horror. A mist came before his eyes; the cold sweat stood upon his ashy face; his limbs failed him; and he sunk upon his knees."
~This quote clearly is another example that Dickens is giving of Oliver's true character. He's saying that Oliver willingly will play no part in the evil of Fagin's band of thieves, and as soon as he realized what was really going on, he collapsed in terror.
2. "Such was the aspect of out-of-door affairs, when Mrs. Corney, the matron of the workhouse to which our readers have been already introduced as the birthplace of Oliver Twist, sat herself down before a cheerful fire in her own room..."
~This quote is clearly significant because Dickens is almost certainly hinting at something that will happen involving Mrs. Corney and Oliver Twist. By specifically mentioning Oliver's birthplace again, for no apparent reason, Dickens "has something planned up his sleeve."
3. "Having gone through this very extraordinary performance, he [Mr. Bumble] took off the cocked-hat again; and, spreading himself before the fire with his back towards it, seemed to be mentally engaged in taking an exact inventory of the furniture."
~Dickens seems to be conveying a message here about the upper class. As a beadle, Mr. Bumble believes that he's important; therefore, he's always concerned with things that he thinks are of "utmost importance." By doing something as irrelevant as inventorying Mrs. Corney's furniture, it shows how shallow the upper class is--all they think about is wealth.
4. "...the matron [Mrs. Corney], who had been impatiently watching until the dying woman should awaken from her stupor, joined them by the fire, and sharply asked how long she was to wait."
~The middle-class woman, the matron, is also only concerned with trivial things like getting back to Mr. Bumble in the other room, rather than assisting a dying woman. All she thinks about is "how long" do I have to wait here in this room for you to die already!
5. "The Jew stopped to hear no more; but uttering a loud yell, and twining his hands in his hair, rushed from the room, and from the house."
~It's clear the Dickens is foreshadowing some connection between Fagin and Oliver. For some reason, Fagin is concerned that he get Oliver Twist back, at all costs, and so he runs out of the room immediately to do just that, leaving the reader with a question: "Why?"

These chapters were interesting to read because they developed the storyline, advancing the plot and thickening it (sorry for the cliche). There were three specific ways that the story was interesting, that I picked up upon:
a. Oliver Twist has a soft side for hurting others, most likely because he was hurt growing up, and is still getting hurt by society.
b. The unexplained visit of Mr. Bumble to Oliver's birthplace.
c. Fagin's mysterious concern with Oliver's welfare.

The primary theme that developed in these chapters is twofold. First, the fact that Oliver Twist has a soft side for hurting others. This is the theme of society having an effect on a person's development and character. Oliver Twist feels compassionate to others, not wanting others to suffer the way he has. In addition, this plays into Dickens' earlier theme of the rich bullying and beating up on the poor. The scene with Mr. Bumble inventorying furniture plays into that theme, as well, illustrating the fact that the rich care only about themselves and their wealth - nobody else.