Brief Analysis of the Semantic Deviation in Oliver Twist

黄二靓

【Abstract】As one of the foremost critical realist writers of the Victorian era， Charles Dickens is adept at using language to create all kinds of characters in a humorous or ironic tone. Therefore he received massive popularity for his unique style in storytelling. Oliver Twist is one of Charles Dickenss masterpieces and also the most appropriate choice for the stylistic study on Charles Dickens. This thesis endeavors to explore the aesthetic effect of semantic deviation appearing in Oliver Twist so that we can have a better comprehension about the excellent writing skill of Charles Dickens.

【Key words】Oliver Twist； Charles Dickens； semantic deviation.

1. Introduction

Charles Dickens is one of the greatest novelists of English critical realism. He was keen on using divers of speech of figures to depict characters vividly and to criticize the reality， which makes his works be always full of the sense of humor and irony. This thesis will give a detailed analysis of semantic deviation in Oliver Twist to explore the aesthetic effect and artistic charm produced by semantic deviation so that we can have a better comprehension of the excellent and unique feature of Charles Dickenss writing style.

2. Semantic deviation in Oliver Twist

2.1 Semantic deviation

Semantic deviation refers to semantic bizarreness of expression. According to Leech， it is for the purpose of linguistic effects involving something odd in the cognitive meaning of a certain linguistic unit， e.g. a word of phrase. It shows an unconventional way of collocation， which may be conveniently exhibited in figures of speech. In other words， semantic deviation occurs when the literal interpretation of a sentence or a line of poetry is nonsensical， and there remains no choice but figurative interpretation of the sentence.

2.2 Hyperbole

Hyperbole is the deliberate use of exaggeration in order to strengthen the effect or add force. As a rhetorical device or figure of speech， hyperbole may be used to present something much greater of less， better or worse， or more intense than it really is， or that depicts the impossible as actual with the purpose of evoking strong feelings or creating a strong impression， but is not meant to be taken literally. When used in a rhetorical form， hyperboles sometimes imply the personality and thought process of author or characters depending on how， when， and why they are used in the context. Now look at a sentence in of Oliver Twist “……and he was ……had been locked up for atrociously presuming to be hungry， when Mrs. Mann， the good lady of the house……”. （Charles Dickens， 2000：7）

Generally speaking， the word “atrocious” is used to refer to extremely violent action or behavior or cruel or the man of bad quality. However， Mrs. Mann regards the normal physical phenomenon of hungry people especially children for more food as atrocious behavior. It is obvious that hyperbole is used. The two hungry and weak boys are exaggerated as man of bad quality and their reasonable requirement is deliberately exaggerated as cruel and violent action of to make a sense of humor and to criticize the cruel society and Mrs. Mann who is the representative of atrocious authority.

2.3 Analogy

Analogy is a form of comparison which draws a parallel between two different things that have several common qualities or points of resemblance so as to convince the listener of reader. Because of many similar aspects between two things being alike in some many aspects， a conclusion drawn from one suggests a similar conclusion from the other.

In Oliver Twist， analogy is often craftily used by author as a device to highlight the miserable existence of children in branch-workhouse under the control of Mrs. Mann. For instance， in chapter II， Mrs. Mann compares homeless and poor children to the livestock or the horse. “a horse being able to live without eating， and who demonstrated it so well， that he had got his own horse down to a straw a day”. In the accordance of this absurd theory， she offers children the smallest possible portion of the weakest possible food to make them just alive. Terrible living condition and extreme starvation always make children be sick or die. However this phenomenon in the eyes of Mrs. Mann is just as normal as a horse died， four-and-twenty hours before he was to have had his first comfortable bait of air. It is no doubt that the idea of comparing human to animal is unreasonable even ridiculous. Human is the creature with logical thing， emotion and can create something in virtue of intelligence. Thus， human is different from animal and should be treated in a different way from animal or livestock. However in branch workhouse， drawing an analogy between the children and the horse is taken for granted by Mrs. Mann. She treats the orphan and the poor as prisoner just like the horse behind barriers. In virtue of analogy， Charles Dickens criticizes the so selfish and egocentric people of 18th Britain society who care nothing but money and benefit. The general collapse of moral and belief in society makes people lost conscience and humanity and despise life and dignity.

2.4 Irony

There are mainly three types of irony： verbal irony， dramatic irony and situational irony. Verbal irony is a subtle form of statement in which the meaning that a speaker employs is sharply different even opposite from the meaning or attitude that is ostensibly expressed. Irony is often use by author especially realistic writer for sarcasm or emphasis in a humor and implicit tone.

In Oliver Twist， Charles Dickens often uses verbal irony to describe and criticize the selfishness and hypocrisy of authority. Taking the sentence of describing the parish authority for instance：

“The parish authorities inquired with dignity of the workhouse authorities， whether ……Upon this， the parish authorities magnanimously and humanely resolved， that Oliver should be 'farmed，' or， in other words， that he should be dispatched to a branch-workhouse some three miles off……”（Charles Dickens， 2000： 5）

In this sentence， Dickens uses the word “dignity”， “magnanimously” and “humanely” to describe the authority. We know that “dignity” means being valuable and worthy of respect and admiration while “magnanimously” and “humanely” mean behaving in a kind and generous way. Nevertheless， the following description of parish authority reveals that its performance and operation are far from dignity， magnanimity and humanity. Actually， the parish authority is hypocritical. They are master of disguise and good at pretending to be kind， considerate. It seems that their resolution of sending Oliver to be farmed provide Oliver an opportunity of being trained， but actually， they want to dispatch Oliver to a remote and strange place where life is more painful and harder as punishment.

In conclusion， irony is the most precious and efficient weapon used aptly by Dickens to mock the society and arouse readers consideration into reality.

2.5 Pun

Pun refers to the form of word play that suggests two or more meaning or different association， or the use of two or more words of the same or nearly the same sound with different meanings. Thus homonyms， homophones and homographs are all available to construct puns with. In Oliver Twist， Charles Dickens uses the pun skillfully in naming the roles and each name represents personal qualities.

For instance， Oliver Twist is the protagonist of the novel and his name is endowed with specific meaning. “Twist” originally means to wrench or pull out of shape with a twisting action and it implies death by hanging. By looking through the story and the whole life of protagonist， we can see that the name is not given to the little poor boy by accident. Twist not only suggests the miserable doom that he must undergo but also implies the outrageous reversals of fortune that Oliver would experience and.

Another example is Mrs. Mann. Mann is derived from “man”， which means to take charge of or control. Charles Dickens uses the pun skillfully when naming the old female who is in charge of the branch-workhouse and infant Oliver with the purpose of emphasizing Mrs. Manns desire for control in her personality. It is this desire for control that makes her a selfish and cruel woman. To some degree， Mrs. Mann is rather a controller than a manager. Then the word “mann” also means the man， being male without the feminine beauty of women. The lack of maternal instinct makes Mrs. Mann a hypocritical， ruthless and cold woman with fiery temper.

From the analysis above， the use of pun is an available literary device to highlight the theme of criticism in a more flexible way and arouse readers sympathy and consideration. It is also a very manifestation of the perfect command of the language and words of Dickens.

3. Conclusion

From rhetoric perspective， this thesis analyses the semantic deviation including pun， irony， analogy and hyperbole found in Oliver Twist. The use of semantic deviation not only acts as an instrument to reveal the dark and cruel society of the Victorian age but also is a good demonstration of Charles Dickens perfect command of language， achieve. Thus from the thesis， we can not only have a better comprehension about the excellent writing skill of Charles Dickens， but also acquire more understanding of aesthetic effects and artistic value the semantic deviation has achieved.

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