Chapters 46-53

Whew, that was a long novel. I'd love to comment on the novel as a whole, but I have so much to write about it, that will just have to wait for a later post.
In the meantime, let's go back to the basics:
Vocabulary:
1. supplication: appeal made to somebody in authority: a humble appeal to somebody who has the power to grant a request
2. alacrity: eager readiness: promptness or eager and speedy readiness
3. attenuated: long and narrow: long, narrow, and sometimes tapering
4. jaundiced: cynical state of mind: an attitude that is characterized by cynical hostility, jealousy, or prejudice
5. fain: happily: with gladness or eagerness
6. tottering: be unstable: to be unstable or on the point of collapse

Quotable Quotations:
1. "And now, the hand that traces these words, falters, as it approaches the conclusion of its task: and would weave, for a little longer space, the thread of these adventures."
~Dickens, in this seemingly deep quote, says that his hand falters, or shakes as he comes to the closing of this novel. He's almost implying that he regrets having to finish the novel. It could be that Oliver Twist has endured so much througout the course of the novel, and now, when he's finally discovered kindness, the novel ends. Dickens is almost wishing he could continue along these happy lines for more time.
2. "I would fain linger yet with a few of those among whom I have so long moved, and share their happiness by endeavoring to depict it."
~Dickens, in sync with the previous quote (above), wishes that he could "spend more time" with Oliver in his new, happy setting. He wants the reader to experience more of the "happy Oliver," rather than the mournful one that we've seen thusfar.
3. "I have said that they were truly happy; and without strong affection, and humanity of heart, and gratitude to that Being whose code is Mercy, and whose great attribute is Benevolence to all things that breathe, true happiness can never be attained."
~Dickens, in this quote, is giving us a message and his ideal view of religion. I believe that he's saying that, no matter which god you believe in, no matter how much you love Him, you can still never acheive anything without god's attribute of benevolence, or kindness to others. Therfore, a man like the beadle, who is technically in the employment of the Church, is not necessarily a good person just because he believes. Rather, he's actually the opposite because he lacks "benevolence."
4. "Within the altar of the old village church, there stands a white marble tablet, which bears as yet but one word,--"Agnes!" There is no coffin in that tomb; and may it be many, many years, before anyther name is placed above it!"
~Dickens refers, here, to a lone tablet, or gravestone, without a coffin actually in the tomb. This is the final image that he leaves in the mind of the readers as he closes the novel. It is this image that really puts Oliver's mother in perspective, and even though she, technically, did an immoral act, she was still loved. Someone (Dickens leaves this open to interpretation) placed a tomb there for her, even without the actual body.
5. "But, if the spirits of the Dead ever come back to earth to visit spots hallowed by the love--the love beyond the grave--of those whom they knew in life, I believe that the shade of Agnes sometimes hovers round that solemn nook."
~Dickens, in the second to last sentence of the novel, refers again to that "lone white tablet" with "Agnes'" (Oliver's mother) name on it. He's saying that if there was one spot where spirits ever came down to rest there because it was established and engrained with so much love in it, it was that empty grave. It's amazing how Dickens can really feed so much emotion into just one word on a simple, white tombstone: "Agnes!"

These final chapters of the novel are really powerful. They tie the story together, giving Oliver a sense of closure (he finally finds out about his family). Also, Oliver gets adopted, which is one of the happiest possible endings Dickens could have thought of, by a benevolent and kind man, Mr. Brownlow. Dickens, although he was a bit fantastical in the previous chapters (see my last, angry blog), tied the story together nicely in the end.

There are several overall main themes in this novel that are worth noting:
a. The theme of how horribly poor people were treated in the Victorian era and how it "ticked off" Dickens
b. The theme that orphans were considered outcasts, burdens to society
c. The fact that every single person has a good part of them inside; nobody is truly bad - "you are what you choose to be."
d. Nobody's future is set in stone (For example, Oliver was destined to be just like all other orphans and give up, eventually starving to death in a workhouse. However, he rose to the challenge and, as Dickens states, "...jumped to his feet and walked forward.")