Mahsa Hashemi

This thesis is a study of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist using, Alfred Adler’s individual psychology and Eric Berne’s transactional analysis. A behavioral analysis reveals that the origin of the major and minor characters’ life styles, aggression, self-interest, and deep-seated inferiority complexes, which in some cases is shadowed by a superiority complex, trace back to the early psychological abuse they have been through by the authority figures in their families, workhouses, and criminal gangs. Their ability to change their life scripts, strive for perfection and fulfil tasks of occupation, friendship, and love is determined by their social interest and the ego state they adopt at critical points in their lives. This study reveals that criminal characters such as Fagin, Sikes, the Dodger and Monks are so absorbed in their selfinterest that they are beyond redemption. Superiority complex becomes their source of downfall. Mr. Bumble’s inferiority complex which is masked by his superiority complex is further intensified after his unsuccessful marriage when he starts showing signs of masculine protest. Nancy and Rose express their masculine protest in unique ways: Nancy by imitating men and Rose by her submissiveness. Their different life styles come from their different childhoods.