Oliver twist question?

Question

At the end of tonight's episode Bill hangs himself in the sewers of London. Oliver twist is based in the 1830 approx yet the sewers as depicted didn't exist until 1859-1865. Am I being to picky or have I got my dates wrong?

I must admit that I haven't read the book itself, this is just a question about tonight's portrayal on BBC one.

Answer 1

That is ironic. The sewers built by Bazelgette and others (his statue faces the Bank of England in London) were a noble response by the Victorians to the poverty and disease that Dickens spent most of his novels arguing against. To use an improvement (sewer) as a metaphor for degradation shows how perverse and feeble are the minds of todays TV executives.

Answer 2

In the book Bill Sikes (note the spelling) is cornered in his house by an angry mob, seeking him for the murder of Nancy. He takes the "longest and strongest cord" he can find and climbs onto the roof. His intention is to escape by lowering the rope into the "Folly Ditch" (a river) and making his escape. However as he climbs across the parapet he cries out in terror "The eyes again" and falls from the roof. The rope makes an accidental noose about his neck and he is killed. Incidentally his dog then jumps from the roof and is also killed.

Therefore, the dates of the sewers notwithstanding, the manner of Bill's death in the TV dramatisation is completely incorrect. I agree with other respondents' despair as to the need for modern dramatisations to change the original story.

However, in answer to your question, you are correct that construction commenced on the sewers in 1859. Oliver Twist was first published as a book in 1838 (having existed as a serialisation even early) and therefore no character could possibly have had any connection to the sewerage system.

Answer 3

I haven't seen the final episode as yet, that pleasure has been recorded due to other commitments when it was being shown. However, this has been dreadful! Why on earth was Nancy played by a black actress? Without in anyway being racist, there is no mention in the book that she was anything other than white. The programme was scripted by a writer of Eastenders. Nuff said? Agree about the sewers. They weren't built until afte the 'great stink'

Answer 4

I thought in the original story Bill fell from a roof and broke his neck! Not sure about the dates for the sewers in London though.

Answer 5

Well the book itself wasn't set in a particular year. Quote " in this workhouse was born, on a day and date which I need not trouble myself to repeat" Chapter 1 paragraph 1!
It was written in 1838 and in the book Sikes accidently hung himself from a chimney! Chapter L last but one paragraph!
Film and TV makers take it onto themselves to add or subtract things in Adaptations!

Answer 6

I thought he hung himself on a wood beam at the top of a building in the original film?

maybe because its a made for tv version they rewrote the story to suit themselves

shame i say!

Answer 7

It ain't real Nomad its only drama,
but I think your right about the walk along sewers.

bonee chance Mon Ami
joyeux noel

Answer 8

You're being picky.

It's a story and this is one of many adaptations. They're all different but equally relevant as stories.

I mean, Fagan used to be in 'Auf wiedersehen pet' for crying out loud.

Answer 9

The writer of this adaptation has changed a LOT of the story, this is just one of many changes. Why can't these people leave the classics alone?

Answer 10

No, no. That's true, but they obviously didn't think about that. That's happened in a few other random movies it annoys me!


Have a Happy christmas & New year

GOOD Q *