Gubar is thorough and methodical in her argument that the children’s literature of Victorian England reflected a changing social dynamic. ‘Nineteenth century England was a nation in which the concept of childhood was being actively developed and redrafted (sweet 171)  – through this period all kinds of debates were taking place about the definition of childhood and the child’s proper role within the family and society at large.’ (152)  Bur as I read Gubar’s Artful Dodgers I felt as if I were being compelled to take her position instead of Rose’s,  namely that children’s lit is not a ‘colonization’ of children by adults as Rose contends, but rather a collaboration with them – and though she may be right, I feel more comfortable somewhere in between.  Isn’t it possible to reconcile the ‘cult of the child’ with the ‘artful dodger’?

Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist seems to be a manifestation of that reconciliation. Although the book is considered adult literature, it exemplifies the ‘collaboration’ between child and adult that Gubar suggests. If her argument is that many celebrated Golden Age children’s authors were extremely self-reflective about their own genre, producing children’s book that attend to the issue of the complications that ensue when adults write books for children.(126) Might we assume

that Dickens’ was aware of this complication as well, and perhaps even created characters that personified  the debate? Oliver in all his goodness, is a symbol of the ‘pure child’, while Dawkins, is the symbol of an experienced, precocious one. Oliver is shy, timid, and very much a pawn of the adults around him, while Dawkins is empowered, an agent of his own destiny, who is able to make his way in the adult world.He tries to convert Oliver to his lifestyle, but Oliver does not have the constitution for it. Hawkins appears as a foil to innocent, guileless Oliver. Each character or caricature, is at opposite ends of the spectrum. It’s as if they need each other to exist.
Although children of the era may not have read Oliver Twist, the story is does contain a lesson aimed at them, namely that goodness and obedience are rewarded, while Artful Dodging lands you in prison.