EE ABSTRACT The concept of inner goodness in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling Juho Tuovinen Oliver Twist, the main character of the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, and Harry Potter, the main character of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, are both orphans who have had an unpleasant childhood. Despite the constant mistreatment and abuse, the boys have grown up to be stable and warm people. It was the aim of this Extended Essay to find out how it becomes evident in the characterisation that Oliver and Harry have inherited their personalities from their parents, and to find motives on why the authors have chosen to do so. It is suggested by modern psychological theories that a child’s personality is mainly formed by upbringing and environment, not genetically. The basic rights every child should enjoy in order to develop into a healthy adult are defined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). By studying both of the novels in detail, many contradictions to modern cognitive principles were found. Oliver and Harry talk and behave differently than the other people in their surroundings, even though these are characteristics learnt by examples from one’s environment. Even after living among corrupted and unethical people they have developed a clear sense of right and wrong. To emphasize these traits the authors have made a clear distinction between the good and the bad in their novels. Several motives behind this choice were discussed. For Dickens, Oliver Twist was also a medium through which he could affect the people of his time to oppose the Poor Law Act. Both Dickens and Rowling want through their main characters to set a good example and to share the idea of goodness with their readers.