OLIVER TWIST
By
Charles Dickens
Edited by:
Dr. Anil Aneja
Department of English,
School of Open Learning,
University of Delhi,
Delhi – 110007.
OBJECTIVES
Dear Students,
This study material has been designed to help you study and appreciate various dimensions of
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. As you are aware, this novel is prescribed in the English
Discipline Course for B.A. Programme 2nd Year students.
The present study material contains useful background information relating to Dickens’ life and
times, important aspects of the plot of the novel, a detailed summary, critical analysis of some of
the characters and a discussion of salient themes.
Oliver Twist is one of Dickens’ masterpieces, a delightful work of fiction and an important social
critic of its times.
It is important that you read the novel before reading this study material.
Oliver Twist
Background
In order to understand a text well we have to know something about the age in which it was
written. It is always useful to know about the circumstances prevailing when the author was
young and we can perhaps guess what things affected him and prompted him to write about
them. A writer may not always agree with what his contemporaries think. It would indeed be
hasty on our part to conclude that he is merely reflecting those ideas. Nevertheless a writer
would be reacting to the ideas of his age in his own way and by examining them we can
comprehend what he is trying to say.
Charles Dickens was born in 1812. Europe at that time had just been through the French
Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. Major and rapid changes were taking place in England
during that time. Increasing population and industrialisation had caused migration to the town
from villages. One can easily visualise the problems this overcrowding caused in the towns. Lack
of proper shelter, sanitation and medical facilities made the life of the poor miserable.
The wages for the workers were very low and the children who worked in such places suffered
the most. Increasing mechanisation meant that anybody could lose his job and so the situation
was desperate. There was always the danger of the poor revolting as there was no police to
control them and the middle classes dreaded this prospect. Some such situation is occurring
today again with increasing computerisation causing loss of jobs in offices.
Some of those who were members of the ruling class did show awareness of the problems of the
poor. In his work A New Way of Society Robert Owen stressed the need for educating and
training the poor. Earlier William Wilberforce (who had also worked for the abolition of the
slave trade) had spoken for the need to replace what he called professed Christianity by a religion
which would encourage high moral behaviour. But unfortunately he never really stood up for
those who had been made wage slaves by the industries of the day.
Utilitarianists like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill also attempted to tackle the problems of
the age. In their view ‘It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of
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right and wrong.’ Dickens vehemently disagreed with this. He felt that those on the margin
would be victimised and therefore criticised the views of the Bentham and Mill in his novels. But
Utilitarianism did do some good and had a great influence on the reform process.
Laws had been in existence much before the time of Dickens to help those who could not take
care of themselves. Those who were cared for included the old, sick and otherwise disabled
people. Orphans were trained for a trade. Those who were able bodied were provided work.
Later even those who could work but failed to get a job were provided help. The Poor Law Act
first came into existence in 1601 according to which the Justices of the Peace were to be
responsible for appointing in every parish an Overseer of the Poor who was to collect a poor rate,
relieve the sick and aged, bind poor children as apprentices, set the able bodied to work and
punish sturdy beggars and others who would not work unless whipped. The Poor Law Act of
1723 gave the Overseers of the Poor the power to establish workhouses. The poor were supposed
to be working there under supervision. The Poor Law of 1834 discontinued assistance to the able
bodied poor as it wasted public money. A law was passed according to which those who were
not able to support themselves could be forced to live and work there. If somebody refused to do
so he would not be provided relief. However the conditions in these workhouses were such that
the poor dreaded being admitted there. As the authorities desired to control the population they
separated the married people. The children were as a result neglected. A starvation diet was
provided. The picture of Oliver and his companions in the workhouse is not a very exaggerated
one. This system was controlled by the parish and so called parochial. (Mr Bumble refers to it as
‘porochial’. The parish was the basic unit of the government in the rural areas of England but it
proved to be incapable of meeting the demands of industrialised society as the parochial board
was often inefficient and corrupt.
Four chief parochial officers managed the affairs. The Church Warden looked after the church
matters, the Constable managed the beggars and the poor, the Surveyor of Highways oversaw the
road repairs and the Overseer was attached to the churchwarden and administered the rates. Mr
Bumble in Oliver Twist held a smaller post. He was the parish beadle and his duty was to ensure
order in the church. The parish beadle did enjoy some power over the poor as we see in the
novel. Most of these parish officers were ill educated and incompetent which is why the affairs
of the parish were ill managed.
The time about which Dickens is writing was a period when there had been bad harvests. Small
farms had been merged into larger ones and unemployment had resulted. Cholera was
widespread due to poor sanitation. Wages were low. Some philosophers like Robert Malthus
considered such conditions to be natural. Population according to Malthus increased
geometrically while food supplies increased arithmetically. Famine, war and disease controlled
therefore were necessary evils to control population. Belief in such ideas encouraged the
government to ignore the problem. There inaction was perhaps encouraged by a belief in the
‘iron law of wages’ formulated by David Ricardo according to which the employer could make a
profit only by paying the lowest possible wages.
About the Author
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in Portsmouth an important port on the south coast of
England. He was the second of eight children and was taught English and Latin by his mother.
The family moved to London and always faced some financial difficulty or the other. John
Dickens, the author’s father worked as a clerk in a naval dockyard. As a child Dickens was lucky
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to have a nursemaid named Mary Weller who familiarised him with a lot of stories. This helped
in developing his imagination and he also read the novels written by the great eighteenth century
novelists. This relatively pleasant period of Dickens continued till 1822. During this time
Dickens was taught by his mother and the author has expressed his gratefulness to her for this
though he was otherwise critical of her attitude towards him especially because she wanted him
to continue working in a blacking factory to assist the family.
Dickens’ father mismanaged his financial affairs and as a consequence was imprisoned for debt
in 1824 at Marshalsea. Charles’ mother and her six youngest children joined Dickens in prison
but Charles himself went to work in a blacking factory where he had to cover pots of paste
blacking with paper. As people passing by watched him do this work Dickens felt humiliated and
hated his job. As he wrote
‘No words can express the secret agony of my soul, as I sank into this companionship. I
worked from morning till night with common men and boys a shabby child….I know I have
lunged through the streets insufficiently clad and unsatisfactorily fed. I know but for the mercy
of God, I might easily have been, for any care that was taken of me, a little robber or a little
vagabond.’
Fortunately John Dickens inherited a legacy and was able to pay off his debts. Charles Dickens
thus returned to school. At school he wrote stories and took interest in the theatre. He longed to
be an actor but decided against it when he succeeded as a reporter. After leaving school Dickens
worked with a lawyer but later learnt shorthand so that one day he could become a reporter. He
managed to get a job in the Courts of Doctors of Commons as a shorthand writer. At the age of
22 he joined the Morning Chronicle as a reporter. The experiences he gained as a reporter helped
him drawing the characters and scenes of his novels later. As a reporter he proved himself to be
popular and was always selected for the more important assignments of the day. He published his
first fiction in magazines around that time which were collected and published in 1836 under the
title Sketches by Boz. Dickens’ popularity increased with his serial the Pickwick Papers which is
a series of humorous episodes.
Dickens was married to Catherine Hogarth in 1836. Her father was a journalist and music critic.
During these days Dickens also wrote about social issues and criticised the workhouse system
and other charitable institutions for their inefficiency. He resigned from the Morning Chronicle
and started editing a magazine called Bentley’s Miscellany where Oliver Twist appeared in 1837.
Nicholas Nickleby was next and was soon followed by The Old Curiosity Shop (1840), Barnaby
Rudge (1841).
He visited America in 1842 and spent six months there. Martin Chuzzlewit (1842) makes use of
the knowledge of America Dickens gained from the trip. In 1843 Dickens published A
Christmas Carol and its huge success prompted him to write a series of Christmas books. In
1846 he edited a newspaper called The Daily News. Dombey and Son was published in 1848. In
1849 he started David Copperfield which to a large extent is an autobiographical novel. He also
took interest in a home for fallen women. The year 1850 saw him editing the journal Household
Words. In 1851 he started writing a social novel entitled Bleak House. Hard Times which
started in 1854 is an attack on the theory of Utilitarianism but here Dickens seems to be more
despairing than his earlier novels. But Little Dorrit started in 1885 though equally critical has
more humour. By now he was hugely popular as a novelist and did public readings of his novels
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in order to raise money for charities. His marriage was however not a success and he was
separated from his wife in 1854. He wrote about it in his journal Household Words. His sister in
law Georgina Hogarth looked after his affairs and his children. Later (1859) he edited another
journal All the Year Round. Here Dickens presented his readers a new novel A Tale of Two
Cities. Great Expectations came out in 1861.Our Mutual Friend appeared in 1865. The last of
Dickens was never finished. He passed away on 9th June 1870. The unfinished novel called The
Mystery of Edwin Drood has mystified many and unsuccessful attempts have been made to
guess its plot.
Some Comments about the Concept of the Plot
The plan, design, scheme or pattern of events in a play, poem or work of fiction and, further, the
organisation of incident and character in such a way as to induce curiosity and suspense in the
spectator or reader. In the space/time continuum of plot the continual question operates in three
tenses: Why did that happen? Why is this happening? What is going to happen next—and why?
(To which may be added: And-- is anything going to happen?) Cuddon: A Dictionary of
Literary Terms and Literary Theory
We have defined a story as a narrative of events arranged in time-sequence. A plot is also a
narrative of events the emphasis falling on causality. “The king died and the queen died” is a
story. “The king died and then the queen died because of grief,” is a plot. The time-sequence is
preserved, but the sense of causality over-shadows it. Or again: “The queen died, no one knew
why, until it was discovered that it was through grief at the death of the king.” This is a plot with
a mystery in it, a form capable of high development. It suspends the time- sequence, it moves as
far away from the story as its limitations will allow.” E M Forster: Aspects of the Novel
The plot of Oliver Twist has often been commented on. The Marxist critic Arnold Kettle who
admires the novel criticises the plot. “It is a conventional plot about a wronged woman, an
illegitimate baby, a destroyed will, a death-bed secret, a locket thrown into the river, a wicked
elder brother and the restoration to the hero of name and property. That it should depend on a
number of extraordinary coincidences( the only two robberies in which Oliver is called to
participate are perpetrated, fortuitously, on his father’s best friend and his mother’s sister’s
guardian) is the least of its shortcomings. Literal probability is not an essential quality of an
adequate plot. Nor is it a damning criticism that Dickens should have used his plot for the
purposes of serial publication, i.e., to provide a climax at the end of each instalment and the
necessary twists and manoeuvres which popular serialization invited. (It is not a fault in a
dramatist that he should provide a climax to each act of his play, and the serial instalment is no
more or less artificial a convention than the act of a play.)…..What we may legitimately object to
in the plot of Oliver Twist is the very substance of that plot in its relation to the essential pattern
of the novel.” However for Kettle the centre of interest is not the plot but the pattern which it
has. The novel according to him has two worlds –one of the workhouse, the thieves and the
contrasting comfortable world of Brownlow and Maylies. “The contrast of the two worlds is at
the heart of the book, so that we see a total picture of contrasted darkness and light…The power
of the book …proceeds from the wonderful evocation of the underworld and the engagement of
our sympathy on behalf of the inhabitants of that world. The weakness lies in Dickens’s failure
to develop and carry through the pattern so powerfully presented in the first quarter of the
novel…..The Brownlow –Maylie world is indeed no world at all; it is merely the romantic
escape-world of the lost wills and dispossessed foundlings and idiotic coincidences which make
up the paraphernalia of the conventional romantic plot….The plot makes impossible the
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realisation of the living pattern and conflict of the book.” Oliver’s demand for more gruel is
described as the struggle of the poor against the bourgeois state. When he wakes up in
Brownlow’s house or at the Maylies he is a part of the bourgeois world. This ending where the
state finally serves Oliver is objected to by Kettle because it interprets life in a way that is far
less true than what the novel has revealed earlier.
This is a damning indictment of the plot indeed. But the plot is always intertwined with
characters and Dickens has used his characters with telling effect. The impudence of The Dodger
and his criticism of the court have led him to be called by some critics an anti establishment
hero. But though we sympathise with The Dodger he is not let off by Dickens. He is transported
to the colonies. The novelist ignored requests of the reader that he should be let off. In this and
many other cases Dickens did take the unsentimental realistic approach. Fagin is also shown for
what he is- a person who encourages small children to take to the world of crime—one that
causes Nancy’s murder and is finally hanged for his crimes. The popularity of the novel right
from the day of its first publication to this day shows that the readers are not bothered by the so
called deficiencies of plot construction.
Plot Summary
Oliver Twist is born in a workhouse to an unwed mother who dies almost immediately after his
birth leaving behind a big mystery about his parentage. As a child Oliver suffers a great deal at
the hands of those who manage the poor house and Dickens has provided us vivid pictures of the
situation there. Later he is apprenticed to an undertaker called Sowerberry. Mistreated there in an
even worse manner he runs away towards London. At the outskirts of the city he is lured by a
young boy who offers him help. This boy is a member of the gang of Fagin, a Jew, who trains his
followers the ways to commit all kinds of petty crime. Some older persons like Bill Sikes who is
a robber cum house breaker and Nancy a prostitute are also associated with him. Nancy however
develops some liking for Oliver because of his innocence. Oliver is so innocent that he is trapped
when the boys take him out on a thieving expedition because he does not realise what is going
on. His companions run away and he is arrested. Fortunately Mr Brownlow the person who is the
victim of the theft takes Oliver home when he discovers that Oliver is innocent. Oliver is badly
in need of care having fainted due to exhaustion. Mr Brownlow is surprised to notice a similarity
between Oliver and a picture that hangs in the room where Oliver is kept to recover.
Fagin arranges for Oliver being captured by Nancy as he is afraid that Oliver may reveal his
wrong doings. This task is performed easily by Nancy when Oliver is out on an errand. But
Nancy develops a sense of guilt about her act when she sees the innocent Oliver being mistreated
by the gang members as she remembers the days when she was herself a stranger to the world of
crime.
One day Bill Sikes needs a boy of small size for a house breaking job. He manages to get Oliver
from Fagin so that his mission can be accomplished. Things however go wrong and the robbers
are discovered. Oliver is shot at and Sikes abandons him and flees. When Oliver regains
consciousness he somehow manages to drag himself towards a house which is the very house he
was supposed to help to rob. The house belongs to a kind lady Mrs Maylie who lives with her
adopted niece Rose and gives the little boy protection. Rose is in love with Mrs Maylie’s son
Harry but refuses to marry him because there is some mystery about her parentage.We also come
to know of a mysterious character called Monks who meets Fagin, is greatly interested in Oliver
and wants him to join the world of crime.
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Mr Brownlow puts out an advertisement enquiring about Oliver as he could not believe that the
boy had disappeared because he was a thief. But the advertisement is seen by Mr Bumble a
parish official who had maltreated Oliver earlier. He tells Mr Brownlow that Oliver is an
ungrateful wretch. Mr Bumble also chances to meet a mysterious man called Monks who is
curious about Oliver’s birth and wants other information about him. Mrs Bumble who is a
workhouse matron and was present when Oliver’s mother breathed her last gives Monks some
details about Oliver’s identity along with some other clues which he throws into a river.
Mrs Maylie’s niece, Rose is in love with Harry the son of Mrs Maylie who looks forward to a
political career. She refuses to marry Harry as she is afraid that the mystery about her birth may
hamper his progress. She feels great affection for Oliver and takes care of him. Oliver manages
to meet Mr Brownlow once again. Nancy meets Rose and informs her about the danger faced by
Oliver from Monks and Fagin. She had overheard Monks and Fagin making their plans. As they
mentioned Rose’s name also Nancy decides to inform her as she is afraid that their wicked
designs may lead her lover Sikes into trouble. Rose informs Mr Brownlow and he decides to
meet Nancy along with Rose. Nancy is prevented from coming to meet them the first time but
her attempts to go out rouse Fagin’s suspicions and he sets a follower of his called Noah
Claypole after her. In this manner Fagin discovers that Nancy is informing Rose about his
activities and reports to Sikes that she has betrayed them. Sikes in anger murders her and runs
away but is finally trapped and hangs himself by accident.
Monks for all his manipulations is basically a coward. Mr Brownlow extracts a confession from
him and Oliver’s identity is discovered. Oliver is the nephew of Rose. Her elder sister had given
birth to him out of wedlock. Oliver’s father was a friend of Mr Brownlow. He had an unhappy
marriage and looked for comfort in the relationship he established with Oliver’s mother. Monks
is Oliver’s stepbrother and as he wishes to possess the entire property left by his father he had
used every means he had to ruin Oliver. In return for not being reported to the police Monks
agrees to give Oliver the share stipulated by his father in the will that he had made.
Fagin is arrested and hanged. Before being hanged he agrees to tell Oliver where some evidence
of his parentage is kept. Harry Maylie tells Rose that he does not wish to embrace a political
career and therefore she need not worry that his life will be affected by the remarks of people
about her parentage. They are happily married and Oliver is adopted by Mr Brownlow as his son.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
In the first chapter we learn about Oliver’s birth and how the poor are treated. Luckily Oliver
survives in spite of the poor treatment he receives. Dickens presents a gloomy picture of the
workhouse where the poor are treated like dirt by those who are supposed to take care of them.
In a matter of fact tone the old woman who attends Oliver’s mother speaks of the death of her
children. Given the conditions it is not surprising that mortality rate of the children is high.
Chapter 2
Oliver remains in the workhouse for the first year of his life and is later moved to a house for
juveniles managed by a lady called Mrs Mann. The children are ill kept but deaths at the place
are blamed on natural causes or unfortunate accidents. Mr. Bumble a pompous man who is the
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parish beadle visits the place when Oliver reaches the age of nine. It is his job to look after the
children who have been sent to such juvenile centres. But he drinks gin with Mrs Mann and
ignores the plight of the children. He also tells Mrs Mann how he followed the alphabet in giving
Oliver his surname Twist. Oliver has been locked up the cellar but is cleaned up before he is
presented to Mr Bumble who has come to take Oliver back to the workhouse so that he can be
put to some work. His job is to pick oakum i.e. unravel old rope. The work is dreary but apart
from that Oliver and his companions are poorly fed. The thin gruel leaves all the children hungry
and one boy declares that he if he does not get enough to eat he will eat one of his companions.
The boys then have a discussion and decide to ask for more food. This task is given to Oliver
who reluctantly agrees. After finishing his supper Oliver asks for more. This leads to an uproar in
the workhouse and Oliver is punished by being put under solitary confinement. The workhouse
board puts up a notice and offers 5 pounds to anyone who will take Oliver off their hands and
train him for a job. Oliver is considered a rascal who will come to a bad end.
Chapter 3
Oliver is flogged before his companions now and then so that he becomes an example for others
and they never dare to do what he has done. A chimney sweep called Gamfield sees the notice
offering 5 pounds to the person who takes Oliver and trains him As he needs money he meets the
Board officials who however agree to give him only three pounds. But when Oliver appears
before the two magistrates who are to approve the papers for his apprenticeship he looks so
frightened that one of the magistrates who is very old asks him about his views about the
apprenticeship. Oliver expresses his reluctance about going with the chimney sweep and the
magistrate declines to give his approval. Dickens thus shows that there are considerate people in
the world even though the social system is far from perfect. The Board members are
disappointed and are of the view that a worse fate awaits Oliver. A fresh notice about Oliver’s
availability for employment is put up.
Chapter 4
The Board considers sending Oliver to sea a career meant to reform the worst among humans.
But Mr Bumble happens to discuss the matter of Oliver with Mr Sowerberry an undertaker. Mr
Sowerberry agrees to take the boy and train him. Oliver raises no objection this time as he is too
exhausted to protest. It is to be noted that the Board members and Mr Bumble do not feel any
thing wrong in asking a boy to live among coffins and dead bodies. At the undertaker’s place the
little boy is fed by Mrs Sowerberry with scraps left for their dog. Oliver who has been used to the
thin gruel of the workhouse is glad to get something solid to eat. This description of Oliver’s
state and his acceptance of it is a telling comment on the conditions of the day. ‘Out of the frying
pan, into the fire’ seems to Oliver’s fate.
Chapter 5
Oliver is naturally frightened when asked to sleep among the coffins. He wishes he were dead
and lying in one of the coffins. He is mistreated by Noah Claypole a charity boy who
nevertheless superior to Oliver who is an orphan. Even those who are badly treated by the world
themselves do not hesitate to insult others. The maid Charlotte sides with Noah and also
mistreats Oliver. Later Oliver is trained to be a ‘mute’ at funerals i.e. a paid mourner by
Sowerberry. Sowerberry tells Oliver that he will get accustomed to the trade. Mr Bumble and
others simply consider the death of the poor as an inconvenience. They do not realise that their
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neglect of the poor is causing their death. The death of the poor is an expense and everybody is
interested in profiting from it.
Chapter 6
Oliver learns about the hypocrisy of people by witnessing their behaviour at funerals. He realises
that they are making a show of grief. Sowerberry is however pleased with Oliver’s ability to
learn his job. Noah and Charlotte continue to humiliate him and Mrs Sowerberry hates him
because she considers him to be favoured by her husband. Noah one day makes slighting
remarks about Oliver’s mother and Oliver hits him. Though bigger Noah is a coward and shouts
for help. Mrs Sowerberry and Charlotte thrash Oliver and lock him up. They decide to ask Mr
Bumble for help as it is Mr Bumble who sent him to their place.
Chapter 7
Noah finds Mr Bumble and tells him that Oliver has beaten him up. By faking he manages to
convince Mr Bumble and another member of the board that Oliver has indeed done something
for which he should be suitably punished. But Oliver refuses to be cowed down and kicks at the
door asking to be released. Mr Bumble is surprised and says that this has happened because
Oliver has been well fed. There is great irony in this remark for Oliver has generally been ill
treated and ill fed. He suggests that Oliver should be locked up and kept hungry for a few days.
When Mr Sowerberry arrives he has to beat Oliver up because his wife will not forgive him if he
does not do so. Oliver is once again locked up among the coffins and weeps. Finally he decides
to run away. He gathers his few things and escapes. But on the way he goes to see Dick a sick
friend of his at Mrs Mann’s place. Dick blesses Oliver and as Dickens tells us it is the first time
any body has blessed him.
Chapter 8
Oliver moves fast so that he is not caught and returned to the undertaker’s place. He has no idea
of where to go but notices a sign which indicates that London is 70 miles away. He has heard
about London as a place where a man may get on in life and decides to go there. Somehow
Oliver manages beg his way to the town of Barnet. There a boy of his age befriends him. He
talks like an older person and treats Olive to a meal. Oliver comes to know that the boy’s name is
Jack Dawkins and is impressed by his behaviour and generosity in giving him a meal. Dawkins
tells Oliver that he will take him to and old gentleman who will provide him a place to stay and
food as well. He also tells him that he is known among his companions as ‘the artful Dodger’.
Oliver agrees to go along with the Dodger as he does not have many options He thinks that he
will later part company with him if they are doing something wrong. They arrive at London and
finally reach a place which Oliver feels to be dirty and wretched. The picture of London that
Dickens provides is a depressing one. A large number of the inhabitants of the city thrive on
crime. No romantic picture of the criminals is presented in the novel. After a password is given
by the Dodger they gain access to a dirty room where and old Jew Fagin meets them. He is evil
and repulsive and a group of boys are with him who are smoking and drinking. When Fagin
pretends to be making friendly gestures to Oliver he is actually feeling him and trying to see if he
has anything valuable. After they have supper Oliver is given a drink mixed with gin and he goes
to sleep.
Chapter 9
Oliver gets up late the next day and notices Fagin taking out boxes and counting his jewellery.
He talks about his treasures and the boys who have gone to their death without betraying him.
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When he notices Oliver is awake he is alarmed and moves towards him with a knife. But when
Oliver tells him that he has just got up he recovers and tells Oliver that the jewellery is
something he has saved for his old age. A boy called Charley Bates is also introduced to Oliver
and the Dodger and Bates display the items they have managed to pickpocket at a public
execution. Oliver however does not realise the true nature of their activities. Fagin does not
explain their activities to Oliver and merely tells him to follow the Dodger who would be a great
man one day. But he does play a game with the boys through which he is actually training them
to pick pockets. Two heavily made up girls called Nancy and Bet are also present. Oliver also
gets his lesson in picking pockets without his realising that it is actually a training that is being
given. Thus Dickens provides us further insights into the world of crime where innocents are
corrupted. Academies like that of Fagin train young boys and girls to do crimes and not betray
their trainers who pocket most of what they earn. It is they who pay the price by getting arrested,
hanged or transported while their masters escape.
Chapter10
Initially all that Oliver does is to remove the identifying marks from the handkerchiefs that are
stolen by the Dodger and his companions. But finally he asks Fagin to let him go out with the
Dodger so that he also can do some work. He of course is not aware of the nature of their work.
But the Dodger notices a prey- an old man intent on reading a book and decide to rob him of his
handkerchief. Oliver realises what is going on and is shocked. Meanwhile the old gentleman
notices that his handkerchief is missing and suspects Oliver who is still around while the others
have run away. His cries cause Oliver to be pursued knocked down and taken prisoner. The old
man pities Oliver who is hurt but also identifies him. The concept of honour among thieves does
not seem to work as the Dodger and Bates first abandon Oliver and later pursue him as part of
the mob.
Chapter11
At the police station the old gentleman whose name is Brownlow somehow feels that he notices
something in Oliver’s face which makes him seem familiar. But he cannot remember whom
Oliver reminds him of. When they are before the magistrate Mr Brownlow tries to explain to the
magistrate Mr Fang that he cannot definitely say that Oliver stole his handkerchief. But the
magistrate does not listen to him and sentences Oliver to three months’ hard labour. But the
owner of the bookstall where Mr Brownlow was standing rushes there and informs the
magistrate that Oliver is not the culprit but another boy who has run away. Oliver, he tells the
court was too shocked at the act to do anything. The magistrate releases Oliver and unnecessarily
rebukes Mr Brownlow for making a false case. Mr Brownlow is angry but forgets his anger
when he notices that Oliver is lying unconscious on the pavement. Along with the bookstall
owner Mr. Brownlow puts Oliver in a cab and takes him away.
Chapter 12
Mr Brownlow lives in Pentonville a suburb of London. This place contrasts a great deal with the
place in the city where Fagin and his cronies live. Mrs Bedwin the housekeeper is a very
affectionate old lady and takes good care of Oliver. When Oliver recovers after along illness he
wonders where he is and how he reached that place. The doctor and Mrs Bedwin reassure him.
When Oliver is better he notices a portrait of a lady and is greatly drawn to it. He feels that the
eyes of the lady are looking at him with sorrow. But Mrs Bedwin is unable to identify the lady in
the picture. When Mr Brownlow comes and visits Oliver he notices a resemblance between
Oliver and the picture on the wall and points out the similarity to Mrs Bedwin. Oliver at this
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point faints due to his weakness. But the portrait indicates to us a deeper connection between Mr
Brownlow and Oliver. For the first time in his life Oliver enjoys some kindness and attention
from elders.
Chapter 13
Fagin is angry when he finds that the Dodger and Charley Bates have lost Oliver. He struggles
with the boys who dodge and defend themselves. The fight stops with the arrival of Bill Sikes a
35 year old rough and strong robber who is an associate of Fagin. He is accompanied by his big
white dog. Because of their arrival Fagin calms down and all of discuss what is to be done about
Oliver. They want Oliver back as he knows too much about them and may reveal all to the
authorities. But none of them wants to visit a police station and enquire about Oliver for they are
afraid of the police. It is decided that Nancy who has also arrived there will be fit person for the
job as she is not known in the neighbourhood. She poses as Oliver’s sister, wears a clean apron, a
bonnet and carries a basket. She is able to find out that Oliver was released by the police and
taken away by Mr Brownlow. She informs Fagin about this and he issues instructions that Oliver
is to be kidnapped and brought back. Both he and Sikes decide to leave the place.
Chapter 14
The portrait that had so interested Oliver is removed as it may cause him distress and hamper his
recovery. When he is better he is provided with a new set of clothes and gives the old ones’ to a
servant. He learns to play cards and is generally happy with his life. Mr Brownlow asks him
about his life story. Before Oliver can tell him anything Mr Grimwig an eccentric friend of Mr
Brownlow arrives. He likes to contradict Mr Brownlow and offers to eat his head if he is wrong.
As Mr Brownlow has a good opinion of Oliver he takes a contrary view and insists that Oliver is
not to be trusted. Mr Brownlow has to return some books to the bookstall and Oliver offers to do
the job. Mr Grimwig decides to make this into a trial of Oliver’s character. Mr Brownlow has
great faith in Oliver and asserts that Oliver will return in twenty minutes. Grimwig naturally
offers to eat his head if Oliver were to return. The two friends sit and wait for Oliver to return
keeping a watch between them.
Chapter 15
Fagin visits Sikes to give him his share of the loot. Both of them are dependent on each other and
yet they suspect each other. Another Jew called Barney is also around. Nancy comes and tries to
tell Fagin that She has located Oliver. Fagin signals to her to keep quiet. She leaves with Sikes
and together they kidnap Oliver who is on his way to the bookshop. Nancy pretends to be
Oliver’s sister and the people believe her. Mr Brownlow and his friend are unaware of this
incident and keep waiting for Oliver.
Chapter 16
Sikes threatens Oliver to keep quiet or he would set the dog on him. They reach the place where
Fagin is waiting along with the Dodger and Charley Bates. Oliver is frightened and submits to
whatever they do. They take his things and the money. When they refuse to return the books to
Mr.Brownlow Oliver pleads with them to send the books back or the old man will think of him
as a thief. This causes great amusement to the gathering and Oliver who is desperate, tries to
escape. He is unable to do so and Fagin is about to hit him when Nancy intervenes. She fights
with Fagin but is restrained by Sikes and faints. Oliver’s new clothes are taken away and he is
given back his old clothes which had been bought by a Jew known to Fagin and given an
indication about his location.
12
Chapter 17
In this chapter Dickens takes us back to Oliver’s birth place. We once again meet Mr Bumble the
parochial Beadle on his way to meet Mrs Mann who had Oliver’s charge when he was a child. At
Mrs Mann’s place he meets Dick, Oliver’s sick friend about whom she has been complaining.
Dick expresses a desire to leave a message for Oliver as he does not hope to live long. The
request irritates Mr Bumble for he considers Oliver to be the person who has spoilt the
atmosphere of the workhouse by his audacious behaviour. Dick is locked up in the cellar and Mr
Bumble proceeds to London where he has to attend some case. After attending to his work at
London he happens to see an advertisement enquiring about Oliver. As a reward of 5 guineas is
being offered Mr Bumble at once proceeds to Pentonville the place mentioned in the
advertisement. He meets Mr Brownlow who has put out the advertisement and Mr Grimwig. He
speaks ill of Oliver and thus disappoints Mr Oliver who had hoped for a favourable report. Mr
Bumble pockets his reward and leaves. Mrs Bedwin, Mr Brownlow’s housekeeper however does
not believe Mr Bumble.
Chapter 18
At Fagin’s place attempts are made to break Oliver’s spirit and teach him the art of thieving.
Oliver resists their attempts and implores them to let him go. But The Dodger and Charley Bates
tell him that he has to do what they want and if he does not steal, somebody else will. Fagin and
the other play the pick pocketing games with him and tell him stories about famous crimes and
criminals. They also tell him that he is ungrateful and does not acknowledge that they saved him
from dying of hunger. All this indoctrination they hope will finally turn Oliver into a confirmed
thief.
Chapter 19
Fagin pays a visit to Bill Sikes. Nancy is also present. There is not much trust between Sikes and
Fagin but they know that they are dependent on each other. They discuss a plan to rob a house in
Chertsey. But Toby Crackit a companion of Sikes has scouted around and has told them that the
servants of the house cannot be bribed to participate in the robbery and therefore any attempt to
rob will not be successful. Sikes claims to have another plan but does not give details. He says
that he needs a small boy for the job. Fagin does not want the matter to be discussed before
Nancy as he is afraid that she might object to his suggestion of Oliver being used but surprisingly
Nancy does not demur. Fagin feels that once Oliver is involved in a crime there will be no escape
for him from a life of crime. The time for the crime is decided and Nancy is given the job of
bringing Oliver to Sikes’ house. Fagin wants to tell Oliver about his shift to Sikes’ place but
Oliver is already asleep when he reaches home and so Fagin decides to tell him later.
Chapter 20
Fagin gives Oliver a pair of shoes and tells him that he has to go to Sikes’ place. Oliver does not
show much interest and Fagin does not discuss the matter further. He provides Oliver a book
where the life of famous criminals is described. This reading causes Oliver to plead to God to
save him from such a career. As decided earlier Nancy arrives to take Oliver to Sikes’ abode.
Due to her sympathy for Oliver she is uneasy about the plan to involve Oliver in a robbery.
When Oliver appeals to her for help she tells him to cooperate as if he did not do so both he and
she would pay the price. He reaches their destination in a buggy and does not shout for help
because of the appeal made by Nancy. Sikes threatens Oliver with a gun and tells him that he
13
would certainly be killed if he made any sound when they were out. Oliver expects some help
from Nancy but she does not offer any.
Chapter 21
The next morning Oliver and Sikes leave early and Oliver later notices the activities in the city.
He wonders where they are going but keeps quiet because of Sikes’ threat. Finally they arrive at
Hampton and later have supper at a public house. Sikes wakes him up at night and they proceed
to a place called Shepperton. Oliver is afraid that Sikes means to murder him and throw his body
into the river. Then he notices that they have arrived at a house which is decaying and looks
deserted.
Chapter 22
Barney the Jew who is a waiter at the Three Cripples and Toby Crackit are waiting for Oliver
and Bill Sikes. They enjoy themselves and force Oliver also to have some wine which causes
Oliver to fall asleep. The robbers get up early and make their preparations which Oliver does not
understand. They scale the wall of a house and carry Oliver along with them. When they are near
the house Oliver realises what is going on and he desperately appeals to the Sikes to not to
compel him to steal. But his appeals go unheeded. Sikes opens the shutters and tells Oliver to get
in and open the door of the house for them to enter. Oliver decides to enter and wake up the
people in the house so as to foil the robbery. But Sikes suddenly shouts at him to comeback as
they have been discovered. Two men appear at the top of the stairs and one of them shoots.
Oliver is hit and Sikes drags him back. But Oliver loses consciousness. In a repeat of an earlier
situation Oliver once again appears guilty without having committed a crime, becomes
unconscious and recovers to be at a place which offers peace and security.
Chapter 23
In this chapter the scene shifts to the workhouse where Oliver was born. Mrs Corney who is the
matron is thinking about her condition. She resents the fact that the paupers she attends are not
grateful and that she is a widow having lost her husband years ago. Mr Bumble arrives and both
of them talk about how the paupers can never be satisfied. Dickens shows the attitude of the
officials managing the workhouse and how they have no intention of making things comfortable
for the paupers. Mr Bumble then starts to make advances to Mrs Corney who is quite willing to
be wooed. Their lovemaking is interrupted by a call for Mrs Corney who is wanted by Mrs Sally
a pauper who is dying. Mrs Corney leaves reluctantly asking Mr Bumble to wait. Mr Bumble
carefully studies the room with the intention of judging the value of Mrs Corney’s property.
Chapter 24
Mrs Sally asks the two women attending her to leave as she wishes to speak to Mrs Corney in
private. She talks to Mrs Corney about the time of Oliver’s birth and how Oliver’s mother had
given her a gold object which she had stolen instead of giving it to the child. Mrs Sally dies and
the Mrs Corney informs the attendants that she had received no information from the dead
woman. Suspense is thus created about Oliver’s parentage. As it is, we wonder what happened to
Oliver after he was shot.
Chapter 25
Fagin is at his place with the Dodger and the some other boys when Toby Crackit arrives and
after having something to eat informs him that Oliver had been shot and left at the place where
they had gone to commit the robbery. Fagin already knows that the robbery has failed from the
14
newspapers but is disturbed by the fact that Toby cannot tell him anything about the whereabouts
of Sikes or Oliver. Toby points out that after the failed attempt at robbery everyone fled and did
not bother about the others.
Chapter 26
Worried about what may result due to Oliver’s capture Fagin goes to The Three Cripples the
tavern where Barney the Jew who met Bill Sikes before the robbery works. He is unable to locate
Barney or get any information about him or Sikes. He also asks for a person called Monks and is
told that he would come soon. He then goes to Sikes’ place and meets Nancy who is no state to
give him anything useful. She only expresses the hope that Oliver is dead and therefore cannot
suffer further. Irritated, Fagin threatens her that Sikes will come to harm. He also almost
discloses something else but then checks himself. Then he returns home and finds Monks the
man he was looking for waiting for him. After ascertaining that nobody can hear them the two
have a discussion. Monks accuses Fagin of mismanaging things and that he should have arranged
it in a way that Oliver had been trapped in some crime and imprisoned. But Fagin points out that
it was almost impossible to train Oliver to commit a crime. He is afraid that Oliver is dead.
Strangely Monks expresses no desire to have Oliver dead. He merely wants him to take the path
to crime and says that if Oliver is dead he has no part in it. Monks suspects that a woman has
been overhearing them but later on thinks that he must have been imagining things and leaves.
Chapter 27
The story now shifts to Mr Bumble who is waiting for Mrs Corney to return after attending the
dying pauper. He is satisfied with the fortune Mrs Corney seems to possess. Mrs Corney returns,
helps herself to a drink and the two resume their romantic conversation. Mr Bumble proposes to
the lady and is accepted. She tells Mr Bumble that she will tell him more about Mrs Sally later.
Mr Bumble goes to inform Mr Sowerberry the undertaker about the death of Mrs Sally. There he
finds Noah Claypole and Charlotte making love. After rebuking them for this and totally
ignoring the fact that he had been involved in similar activities a little earlier Mr Bumble orders
for a coffin and leaves. The hypocrisy of Mr Bumble is once again exposed.
Chapter 28
We now learn what happens after Oliver is shot. Sikes carries Oliver but has to abandon him
when he feels he will be captured. Both he and Toby flee the place as they are being pursued by
the men of the house and some dogs. Oliver lies unconscious covered with a cape. Mr Giles, the
butler in the house where the robbery was attempted and Brittles who are pursuing the robbers
now retreat as they are too afraid to pursue. Oliver recovers consciousness when it is day and
somehow reaches a house for help. He then realises that it is the house where the robbery was to
be done. But as he is too weak to go any further he knocks at the door and collapses. Meanwhile
Giles and Brittles are boasting about their bravery at the time of the robbery. But when they hear
Oliver’s knock they are scared. When they muster up enough courage to open the door they find
Oliver and triumphantly announce that they have captured a robber. A young lady in the house
hears them talking and discusses the matter with her aunt who is the owner of the house. She
then asks Giles to take the injured person to his room and call the doctor and the police. Both the
aunt and the niece are unaware that the robber is just a little boy.
Chapter 29
While having breakfast Mrs Maylie the owner of the house and Rose her niece wonder why it is
taking so long for the doctor to arrive. The Doctor is a bachelor, eccentric but warm hearted.
15
When the Doctor whose name is Losberne comes he spends a lot of time with the Oliver and
keeps all the servants busy in attending the injured boy. Then he asks the two ladies to see the
robber assuring them that they are in no danger. He does not tell them what Giles also has not—
the robber is just a little boy.
Chapter 30
The two ladies expect to see a dangerous criminal and are surprised to see a little boy who looks
innocent and is in pain. Rose appeals to her aunt to help the boy and the aunt agrees. The Doctor
agrees to help provided he is convinced that Oliver is indeed free of blame. He decides to talk to
Giles and Brittles also wants their help too. When Oliver awakes the three of them listen to his
story and believe him. Doctor Losberne then confronts Giles and Brittles with a policeman and
creates a situation where the two are not very sure if Oliver is the boy they had shot. But other
special police officers from Bow Street arrive which seems to pose a further problem.
Chapter 31
Blathers and Duff, the officers from Bow Street are cleverly tackled by Doctor Losberne who
has decided to protect Oliver. He takes the policemen around the place from where the robber
tried to enter and convinces them that Oliver had nothing to do with the business. Giles and
Brittles give confused replies to the policemen. When the policemen conclude that two men and
a boy are involved in the crime the doctor plies them with liquor. Later he show Oliver to them
and invents a story about Oliver getting accidentally injured and being mistaken for being one of
the robbers when he came for help. When the gun that Giles used is examined it is found to
contain only gunpowder as the Doctor had quietly removed the bullets. The policemen now do
not believe that Giles shot anyone and Giles is relieved that he had not shot Oliver. The
policemen leave without suspecting Oliver.
Chapter 32
After Oliver recovers the Doctor takes him to Mr Brownlow’s but it is locked. Mr Brownlow
and the housekeeper have left for the West Indies. Oliver wants to visit the Bookstall owner to
prove his story but the Doctor decides against it. On the way to Brownlow’s house Oliver had
taken the Doctor to the house where he had been kept just before the robbery attempt but it is
occupied by a person whom Oliver cannot place. The Doctor is therefore not very sure about
Oliver’s tale. The Maylie family moves to the country where Oliver’s health improves. He learns
reading, writing and gardening.
Chapter 33
One day Rose suddenly falls ill. When Mrs Maylie expresses her fears about Rose’s health
Oliver insists that she could not die at such a young age. The experienced Mrs Maylie points out
that it is not the young and the best who always survive. Later she sends Oliver with a message
for Dr Losberne. On the way back Oliver collides with a stranger who curses him. He then falls
in some sort of a fit and Oliver arranges help for him and leaves. The condition of Rose worsens
and Dr Losberne who arrives is also concerned. Oliver prays for her recovery. Fortunately Rose
recovers.
Chapter 34
Oliver is very happy that Rose has recovered. Mr Giles arrives with Harry Maylie who is Mrs
Maylie’s son. Harry complains to his mother that she had not informed him about Rose’s ill
health. He expresses his love for Rose but his mother points out that strong attachments of a man
16
may not hold when he discover there is some question about the good name of his wife. Harry
however makes light of her objections and tells her that he will tell Rose that he loves her. The
Doctor welcomes Harry and quietly informs Giles that he has been rewarded 25 pounds for his
role during the night of the robbery. Oliver finds a new companion in Harry who is always
collecting flowers for Rose. Though Oliver is happy he one day dreams of Fagin and wakes up
to find the Jew watching him along with the stranger who had abused him. They disappear when
Oliver calls for help.
Chapter 35
A search is conducted but Fagin and his companion have disappeared. For some days the search
goes on but is finally given up. Rose recovers and Harry one day makes his proposal to her. But
she refuses saying that she will be an obstacle in his progress as her identity and parentage are
unknown. On being pressed she agrees to see him again later and also acknowledges that she
does feel for him. Dickens gives us a picture of the conventions which rule society through this
incident.
Chapter 36
Harry leaves without meeting his mother or Rose and asks Oliver keep him informed about any
developments. Rose hidden, watches him leave and weeps as he leaves.
Chapter 37
Mr Bumble and his wife get involved in a power struggle shortly after there marriage. Both of
them feel that they have made a sacrifice in getting married. Mr Bumble tries to dominate his
wife but fails. She attacks him physically and he retreats. Further humiliation is in store for him
when he threatens the paupers. Mrs Bumble sends him away calling him a fool and telling him to
mind his own business. Mr goes out and enters a tavern when it rains. There he meets a tall
stranger who knows about him. The stranger promises Mr Bumble money in exchange for
information. He wants to know about Sally a nurse who was present at a birth 12 years ago. Mr
Bumble says that she is no more but that he can introduce him to a woman who was present
when Sally died. The stranger asks him to bring the woman to a certain place the next night at
nine. When Mr Bumble asks for his name he says that he is known as Monks. The mystery about
Oliver’s birth thus increases
Chapter 38
. Mrs and Mr Bumble go the place where Monks is supposed to meet them. For a payment of 25
pounds Mrs Bumble reveals that Sally had told her how she stole something from Oliver’s
mother but died before she could say what it was. But as she was holding a pawn ticket in her
hand when she died Mrs Bumble was able to get the articles. They consisted of a gold locket
containing two locks of hair, a gold wedding ring. The locket bore the name of Agnes. Monks
throws the articles into a river flowing below the room and warns the couple never to talk about
him or this incident.
Chapter 39
We meet Bill Sikes once again in this chapter. He is sick and in financial difficulties. Nancy has
taken care of him. Fagin pays him a visit and promises help. He has taken along The Dodger and
Charley Bates with him and some food. Sikes is angry with him for ignoring his difficulties but
Fagin assures him that he is willing to help. Nancy goes to Fagin’s place for the money. Monk
also reaches the place at the same time. Nancy pretends to ignore him but eavesdrops when the
17
two go upstairs to talk. After Monks leaves Fagin gives her the money. She is quite disturbed
after listening to the conversation and Fagin notices it. She then returns to Sikes’ place. The next
day she puts something in his drink and reaches a hotel in Hyde Park an area where the rich
people live. There she plans to meet Miss Maylie. But the hotel attendants do not allow her to
meet Miss Maylie as it is quite late and she does not look respectable. But Nancy manages to
send a message to Miss Maylie who calls her to her room.
Chapter 40
Nancy tells Rose many things about Oliver which are not known. She tells her that Fagin and
Monks are plotting against him and that Monks is Oliver’s brother. Monks wants all the property
which he will not get if Oliver is around. He has destroyed all the things which could help
identify Oliver. She had come to know of Rose when she overheard Fagin and Monks talking.
Monks plans to collect a ransom from the Maylies after capturing Oliver. Nancy refuses help
from Rose and promises to meet her everyday Sunday night at London Bridge. She says that she
cannot leave Sikes as she loves him.
Chapter 41
Rose wonders what to do next. She thinks of taking Harry’s help but hesitates. Her problem is
solved when Oliver comes and informs her that he has seen Mr Brownlow when he had gone out
with Mr Giles. When Rose finds that Giles knows the address she proceeds at once to see Mr
Brownlow and take his help. She meets him and Mr Grimwig. Oliver also meets Mr Brownlow
and Mrs Bedwin. Rose tells Mr Brownlow what she knows and they discuss the matter with Dr
Losberne who wants to immediately take action against Fagin. But Mr Brownlow dissuades him
and points out that they have to help Oliver and for that they should be patient. His plan is that
they should catch hold of Monks when he is alone and for this they should take the help of
Nancy. In order to trap the gang they decide to take the help of Harry Maylie and Mr Grimwig
also.
Chapter 42
Two characters from the early chapters of the novel make their appearance in the novel once
again. They are Charlotte and Noah Claypole. After robbing Mr Sowerberry they flee to London.
They stop at The Three Cripples and are received by Barney and Fagin eavesdrops and hears
Noah boasting about how he intends to take charge of a gang of pickpockets. He then lets Noah
know that he knows things about him and tells him that he is in the very trade that Noah intends
to take up. The price for helping Noah meet a person who will help is 20 pounds, the very sum
that he stole from Mr Sowerberry. Noah agrees but wants light work. Fagin suggests that he
should steal from little children who are sent on errands by their parents. Noah gives and
Charlotte’s name as Mrs and Mr Morris Bolter.
Chapter 43
Fagin discloses that he himself is the person who will help Noah in his criminal career. He tells
Noah that he has lost one of his able workers The Dodger who has been caught for stealing a
snuff box. He is likely to get a stiff sentence. Charley Bates arrives and shares their fears. But
they expect The Dodger to put on a good performance at his trial and send Noah to observe his
performance. The Dodger as expected puts up a remarkable performance and does not betray his
companions. He is convicted and is sentenced to life imprisonment for his deeds. Noah reports
The Dodger’s performance to Fagin who is satisfied with his pupil’s performance.
18
Nancy plans to see Rose the next Sunday as decided. On that day Fagin is present at Sikes’ place.
Nancy is not very sure as to whether she should betray Fagin though she hates him. When she
tries to leave at 11 p.m. Sikes prevents her as she does not disclose where she is going. Nancy
struggles but gives up when the clock strikes 12. Fagin and Sikes wonder at the reason for her
behaviour. Later when Nancy comes out to leave Fagin he offers her help if she is being troubled
by Sikes. He suspects that she is now involved with another man. He considers her affair as an
opportunity to get rid of Sikes through Nancy and use her new friend. He decides to spy on her
and get her secret.
Chapter 45
Fagin congratulates Noah on his success in his new career. He tells Noah that he wants him to
spy on Nancy whenever she goes out. As on the next Sunday Sikes is away Fagin feels Nancy
will definitely go where she wished to go earlier. He identifies Nancy for Noah and tells him to
quietly follow her. His task is easy as Nancy has never met him.
. Chapter 46
Nancy meets Rose and Mr Brownlow at London Bridge. She explains that she was prevented
from coming the previous week. She refuses to betray Fagin and Mr Brownlow promises her no
to do anything against him without her consent. She agrees to tell them how to locate Monks and
how to recognise him. When she describes the identification mark Mr Brownlow seems to be
able to place him. Nancy once again refuses to accept any money and takes only Rose’s
handkerchief as a memento. Noah proceeds to report to Fagin all that he has overheard.
Chapter 47
Noah’s report enrages Fagin. When Sikes arrives with his loot he asks him what he would do in
case he discovered that one of his associates was deceiving him. Sikes assures him that he would
punish the person for the betrayal. Fagin then tells Sikes that Nancy has betrayed him. Sikes
leaves in anger and confronts Nancy at his place. He tells her that all that she has said at the
bridge at night is known. Though Nancy tries to explain he refuses to listen and ruthlessly
murders her.
Chapter 48
Sikes is unable to face up to what he has done. He tries to hide the body, cleans himself and flees
from London. His guilt gives him the feeling that he is being watched. When he reaches a village
called Hatfield a pedlar selling stain remover tries to remove a stain from his hat. Sikes snatches
his hat back and rushes away from the place. People are talking about the murder and this
unnerves Sikes all the more. Nancy’s eyes seem to pursue him. As he is being searched for in the
country he decides to return to London and escape to France later. The dog who keeps him
company also seems to him to be a danger as it may help the authorities in identifying him.
Before he can do away with the dog it escapes. Sikes returns to London alone.
Chapter 49
Monks is finally trapped by Mr Brownlow and the reasons for his animosity towards Oliver are
revealed. Afraid that he will be arrested Monks admits everything. Mr Brownlow discloses that
the real name of Monks is Edward Leeford. His father Edwin was a close friend of Mr
Brownlow. Edwin was trapped into an unhappy marriage and Monks was his child. Monks’
mother separated from Edwin and left for Europe breaking all connection with his father. The
son was a great source of unhappiness to the father because of his habits. Later Edwin met a
19
retired naval officer and his two daughters. He fell in love with the elder called Agnes and
planned to marry her. Having inherited some money Edwin left for Rome. He fell sick there and
Monks and his wife reached Rome. The very next day Edwin died and his property was claimed
by his wife and son. But Edwin had told Mr Brownlow about Agnes before leaving for Europe.
Mr Brownlow attempted but was not able to find Edwin’s fiancée or her family. Then by a
strange chance Oliver turned up in Mr Brownlow’s life and he noticed the striking resemblance
of Oliver to a portrait in his house. When Oliver disappeared Mr Brownlow went to the West
Indies to find Monks. Monks had by then left for England and finally Mr Brownlow tracked him
down. Monks tries to deny Oliver his inheritance but Mr Brownlow tells him that he knows
about his attempts to destroy all evidence of Oliver’s parentage. When threatened with also being
blamed for the murder of Nancy Monks surrenders and agrees to give Oliver his share of the
inheritance. The Doctor comes and informs them that Sikes and Fagin are going to be arrested
soon. Monks is more scared then ever and agrees to all that Mr Brownlow says.
Chapter 50
Toby Crackit, Tom Chitling and a criminal called Kags hide in a place called Jacob’s island
which as the name suggests is surrounded by water during high tide. They are hiding there as
Fagin has been arrested and they have no other place to go to. The Three Cripples is also closed.
They talk about how the mob wanted to kill Fagin and the policemen had a hard time keeping
him safe after his arrest. Sikes’ dog arrives and this becomes a cause of worry for the criminals
as they feel Sikes will follow. They hope Sikes has left the country but he does arrive there some
hours later. Sikes makes inquiries about Fagin. Charley Bates also enters and is shocked to see
Sikes there. He curses him and threatens to turn him in. There is a struggle between the two but
Crackit separates them. Sikes locks Bates up and tries to escape. But the tide is out and he cannot
go through the water. He attempts to jump from the house with a rope round his waist and escape
in the confusion. But he thinks he sees Nancy’s eyes and stumbles with the rope round his neck.
Sikes thus falls to his death and his dog tries to jump on misses him and falls to his death as well.
Chapter 51
Oliver is taken to his place of birth. Rose. Mrs Maylie Dr Losberne and Mrs Bedwin accompany
him and he is followed by Mr Brownlow in another carriage. Oliver hopes to meet Dick once
more. At night Monks whom Mr Brownlow has brought along is confronted with Oliver. Mr
Brownlow and Monks tell everybody the details about Oliver’s parentage and what Monks had
been doing and why. Oliver’s father had written a letter to Oliver’s mother Agnes Fleming
before dying and apologised to her for not being able to marry her. In his will he had expressed
displeasure with his wife and son and left them a sum of 800 pounds annually. The rest of his
property was to be given to Agnes Fleming and the child born to her. The daughter would inherit
the property without any conditions but the son would get the property only if he had a good
character. The property would go to Monks if Agnes’ child would turn out to be evil. The will
was destroyed by Monks’ mother. Agnes’ father hid himself and his daughters in Wales after
discovering that she was pregnant but Agnes one day quietly disappeared from home. Her father
thought she was no more and died of a broken heart. Monks tells them that his mother suspected
that Agnes had a child and told him to treat the child as an object of hate. That is why Monks
approached Fagin and paid him to see that Oliver was corrupted beyond redemption. Mrs and Mr
Bumble are also exposed as the paupers who attended Old Sally’s death reveal how Mrs Bumble
hid the truth about Oliver. Brownlow vows that he will see them removed from any responsible
position whatsoever. Mr Brownlow also informs everybody that Rose is the sister of Agnes
Fleming and Monks’ mother had led people to believe that her origin was tainted. She had been
20
badly treated till Mrs Maylie decided to take care of her. Oliver is delighted to know that Rose is
his aunt. Rose is upset when she comes to know the sad details of her past but is affectionately
consoled by Mrs Maylie. Harry Maylie turns up with more pleasant news for Rose. He has given
up his career ambitions and has become a village minister. Nothing can now prevent his
marrying Rose. But Oliver is somewhat sad as his friend Dick is dead.
Chapter 52
Fagin is found guilty and awarded the death sentence. The people present approve of it. All
Fagin can say is that he is an old man. He is sent to Newgate prison to await his hanging which is
due on the coming Monday. His behaviour alarms the guards. Mr Brownlow brings Oliver to
Fagin on Sunday so that they can ask him about some papers concerning Oliver that Monks gave
to him. Fagin tells them where the papers are and then asks them to help him escape. When
Oliver and Mr Brownlow leave he shrieks in desperation.
Chapter 53
Rose and Henry are married. Oliver accepts Mr Brownlow’s advice and gives a portion of the
income from his inheritance to Monks. But Monks wastes all his money and leaves for America,
indulges in crimes and dies in prison. Oliver is adopted by Mr Brownlow and they live near the
Maylies. Dr Losberne also shifts to be near them and Mr Grimwig often visits them. Noah
Claypole and Charlotte become police informers. The Bumbles are dismissed from their jobs and
end up in the workhouse they lorded over. Giles and Brittles also move to the country to attend
to the Maylies and their friends. Charlie Bates gives up crime after his experience with Sikes and
becomes a herdsman. The good we see, are finally victorious.
Characters
In any work of fiction or drama there are a number of characters. Some of these have a more
prominent role than others. Dickens has always been considered as a master of the art of
characterisation. The characters that he has created have become immortal and the words that
they have uttered remain in the reader’s memory long after he finishes the novel. We still tease a
person who is courting a girl by saying, “Barkis is willing.” He has created both round i.e. fully
developed characters and flat i.e. static characters. Some of the characters are more like
caricatures. Mr Grimwig is an example of that type. Let us examine the role of some of the
characters created by Dickens in Oliver Twist.
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist the character after whom the novel has been named is presented as a picture of
innocence. As an orphan, he is at the mercy of the parish officials. By depicting his condition
Dickens wished to show how good can triumph in spite of adverse conditions. Unlike The
Dodger or Noah Claypole Oliver does not succumb to the temptation of choosing the world of
crime in order to survive. Deliberate attempts are made to compel him to become a part of the
world which has no morals. But Oliver refuses to do so and yet manages to remain unsullied by
the criminals around him. According to Angus Wilson the subtitle of the novel ‘or the Parish
Boy’s Progress’ suggests a connection with Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress and the moral
fable tradition.
Some would object that Oliver is simply too good to be true. But we must notice that Oliver has
one virtue that helps him triumph. He is a courageous person and resists what he considers
wrong. When he asked for more he did show some spirit. It would be wrong to say that he did so
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only because the others compelled him. After all he there must have been awareness on his part
that he would not escape the wrath of those who were managing the workhouse. Later at Mr
Sowerberry’s place he is again ill treated. But he stands up to Noah and beats him up when
taunted about his mother’s character. Noah’s bigger size does not intimidate him When he is
locked up he takes the decision of running away. Before that he tells Mr Bumble clearly that he
no longer fears him. Such acts show that though he is gentle he is not a coward.
Things are a bit different at London. There Oliver is up against a set of criminals and his half
brother Monks. Not knowing what is going on Oliver is unable to do much. His innocence saves
him for he again refuses to do anything wrong. The innocent look he has inherited from his
mother always comes to his aid and people like Mr Brownlow, Dr Losberne, Mrs Maylie and
Rose Maylie believe him. Fagin and his cronies want to exploit his innocent looks in order to
successfully commit crimes. Oliver however continues to look and behave innocently. He cannot
pretend. To a certain extent it is true that he does not put up much of a fight. But perhaps this is
because Dickens wished to project the situation in which those who are good are placed. Evil is
strong and good finds it difficult to much against it. Yet in the end evil is destroyed but some
good does survive. That this is not always the case is also shown. Oliver’s friend Dick and the
only person who cares for him at the workhouse does not survive. But evil as Dickens shows
never really or finally prospers. Evil will ultimately be destroyed even though it may harm those
who are good. In Oliver Twist none of the evil characters are triumphant. But Oliver survives and
against all odds.
Fagin
The red haired Jew, Fagin is the most interesting character in the novel. He teaches children how
to travel on the ways that lead to a life of crime. He lives on the money he makes through their
ill doings. They are so devoted to him that they never betray him even when they are arrested. A
selfish person, he thinks only of himself. This aspect of his irritates Bill Sikes, and Fagin fears
him. All Fagin’s actions are concentrated on increasing his ill gotten wealth and he does not
hesitate to blackmail those he makes use of. He plans to use Nancy against Sikes when he
suspects that she has another man in her life. It is for that reason that he sets Noah Claypole as a
spy to watch on her. But when it turns out that she is loyal to Sikes but has spoken against him he
does not hesitate in giving Sikes the impression that Nancy has betrayed him. Ironically this is
what causes his arrest for after Nancy’s death Mr Brownlow and the others do not see any reason
to withhold their hand as it was only their promise to Nancy which prevented them from acting
against Fagin.
Some critics have objected to the portrayal of Fagin and felt that he is being presented in this
manner because he is a Jew. But Dickens had always denied any such accusations. Most of the
criminals are not Jews but Christians. But for the support that Fagin got from his gang which had
Christians as members he would not have been successful. This criticism can therefore be
ignored. The animal imagery that is used to describe Fagin highlights his degraded condition.
Most of his activities are done at night. This again draws attention to his predatory nature. He is
addressed as a Jew by Sikes also but the appellation seems to be used only to identify him and
not for any other purpose.
Even towards the end Fagin does not realise the enormity of his crimes. He feels that society has
no right to judge him. When he provides Oliver and Mr Brownlow some documents concerning
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Oliver’s parentage he does so in the hope that they will help him escape. His crazed and diseased
mind remains perverted to the last. No self realisation redeems his character.
Monks
Monks is the half brother of Oliver and his real name is Edward Leeford. He hopes to get hold of
all the property left by his father by corrupting Oliver’s character. Fagin is the agent he hires for
this purpose. According to the will left by Oliver’s father Oliver would not inherit the property if
he was found to have undesirable qualities. In the earlier part of the novel he is not present and
remains a mysterious character till Mr Brownlow unravels his plans. A cowardly person he is
subject to fits. He bullies those whom he feels superior to but surrenders when he is cornered.
Strangely he does not wish to kill Oliver but ensnare him in a criminal world. Monks’ mother
filled him with hate towards Oliver. Mr Brownlow asks Oliver to give Monks a share of the
property his father has left. But Monks loses all of it and finally ends up in an American prison.
As a villain he is far less convincing and impressive than Fagin. That evil destroys itself seems to
be the message.
Mr Bumble
Oliver owes his name to Mr Bumble the parish beadle of the town where he was born. He names
all the orphans of the poor house alphabetically. Mr Bumble bullies the poor and is a pompous
and corrupt person. Part of the humour of the book arises from his behaviour and speech. The
position he has is that of a minor officer but he pretends to be a person of great importance. He
threatens the paupers but ends up as a pauper himself. His hypocrisy is also humorous. After
courting Mrs Corney the matron of the workhouse at her office he rebukes Noah Claypole and
Charlotte for kissing each other when at work in Mr Sowerberry’ place. He is the person in the
novel who for one reason or another knows a good deal about Oliver’s past. He speaks ill of
Oliver to Mr Brownlow and arranges a meeting of his wife with Monks and gives him the few
things which could establish Oliver’s identity. A bully himself he is beaten into submission by
his wife whom he has married in the hope of improving his fortune. When he is before the Board
members he is humiliated for his inability to answer questions precisely. We are left with many
impressions of Mr Bumble--a corrupt and pompous official, a henpecked husband, a
representative of an inefficient parish management, a hypocrite, a person whom one is amused
at.
Mrs Corney/Bumble
Mrs Corney is the matron of the workhouse. A greedy person she is worse than Mr Bumble
whom she later marries. Her attitude towards the paupers in her care is worse than Bumble’s.
The way she behaves exposes the deficiencies of the system which had been put in place for the
care of the poor. One is inclined to sympathise with Mr Bumble in spite of his defects for he pays
a heavy price for getting married to her. She humiliates him in front of the paupers she is
supposed to be taking care of. Even Monks notices her dominating nature and comments on it.
Mrs Mann
Mrs Mann is the superintendent of the orphanage where Oliver lives in the first few years of his
life before he is sent to Mr Sowerberry’s place. Like Mr Bumble she is a hypocrite and hates the
children she is supposed to care for. She rebukes Dick sharply and beats the children and locks
them up whenever she is irritated with them. Mr Bumble is however all praise for her for the
manner in which she handles the children.
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Noah Claypole
Noah like Oliver is a boy who is poor. He lacks Oliver’s innocence and is easily attracted
towards a career of crime. He is working at Mr Sowerberry’s place and feels himself superior to
Oliver and insults him. Charlotte the maid servant at the Sowerberry’s place is attracted to him
and his boasts and favours him. When Noah says bad things about Oliver’s mother Oliver reacts
and hits him. Though bigger, Noah is a coward and gets thrashed. Later both he and Charlotte
steal things from Sowerberry’s place and flee to London. There they are trapped by Fagin who
blackmails them into giving him all the money they have stolen. Even when he joins the
criminals Noah expects to be given light work. He decides to rob small children who are sent on
errands by their mothers. Fagin uses him to spy on Nancy and he reports about her meeting Rose
and Mr Brownlow. He exploits Charlotte and is quite ready to let her be trapped for any crime
the two have committed. Finally he becomes a witness against Fagin and starts a career as a
police informer.
The Artful Dodger
Jack Dawkins known as The Artful Dodger is Fagin’s most dependable agent. It is he who picks
up Oliver and brings him to Fagin’s place. Though he is a criminal his antics and speech are
amusing and he is one of the most interesting characters in the novel. Snub-nosed and flatbrowed he behaves like an adult. Under five feet his hands are always in his pockets. He is a
master pick pocket who takes pride in his art. When Oliver is trapped for a crime The Dodger
has committed he does not hesitate to abandon him. Though loyal to Fagin he attacks him when
blamed and cornered for losing Oliver. But he does not disclose that it is Fagin who put him on
the path of crime even when he is brought to court and sentenced to be transported. As a matter
of fact his daring behaviour in the court and his sauciness makes one sympathise with him for he
is an example of a clever person who if taught good things could have been an asset to the
society. The world being what it is The Dodger has learnt how to deal with it. His friends regret
that he is trapped not for a big crime but a small one which is an insult to his abilities as a
criminal.
Themes
Any novel worth reading is bound to have a theme or themes. As E M Forster says it is not just
the story that we are concerned with. The fact that Oliver Twist has been read again and again
over the years proves it undying popularity. But what are the subjects that Dickens has dealt with
in this novel? What kind of characters has he depicted? What is the significance of various
incidents in the novel? A great writer does not put anything in his work unless there is a need for
it. Of course sometimes a writer may slip up. But the chances are that we have failed to notice
the point that the author has made. To understand him we have to read his work carefully and
more than once. Any summary which is provided to the reader oversimplifies many of the
complexities of the author’s depiction of the incidents and dilutes the power of his language. We
will try to identify some of the themes of the novel and try to examine the characters. But no
analysis can substitute the experience which one gets when one reads the author’s own telling of
the tale.
Most of us ignore the world we cannot see. As the poor are not visible to us we easily forget
them and their problems. We leave them to their fate in the slums they live in and do not care for
their health, education and housing problem. In his essay A Fly in Buttermilk the Black
American writer James Baldwin draws our attention to the fact that in South America the
Negroes are segregated in certain areas so that the whites do not have to notice them. And if the
whites do not notice the Negroes they do not have to feel concerned about their problems.
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Dickens forced the middle class to notice the poor and did succeed in altering their attitude
towards them. He showed that the poor people are not an amorphous mass but have a certain
vitality and variety. Some of those among the poor who rise slightly above their station become
the lower middle class and develop a superior attitude towards those below them. This was a
development that Dickens deplores in his novels. Characters like Mr Bumble and his wife though
somewhat better off than the poorest disdain the fate of the poor. This has caused some critics to
complain that the novelist has not appreciated those who have risen due to their efforts. This
charge could be partly true as Dickens disliked the drudgery to which most people were
condemned to at work and described them in a fashion which made them unattractive. However
we cannot deny that he is basically critical of the system which has made the people to be
grotesque characters. The interest which Dickens takes in the plight of the poor is something that
cannot be denied by anyone who reads Oliver Twist. It is to be noted that a recent study about the
social conditions of Dickens’ time has pointed out that the workhouse children did get enough to
eat. One suspects that there was some exaggeration on the part of the novelist so that something
would be done for the suffering poor whom he knew so well and was deeply concerned about.
The interest in children and their innocence is something that Dickens shares with the poet
William Wordsworth who in his poems often wrote about children and their uncorrupted way of
understating things. Oliver is an innocent boy whom his half brother and Fagin attempt to initiate
in the world of crime. ‘The child is the father of man’ wrote Wordsworth and indeed we feel that
an Oliver who succumbed to the temptation of crime would be a Sikes or an ‘Artful Dodger’ and
a Rose Maylie could end up as Nancy. That it does not happen in the present set up is because
there are Brownlow’s and Mrs Maylie’s around who counter the Fagins and their like. But the
social set up which provides for officers like Bumble is definitely going to increase the supply of
‘Artful Dodgers’. Oliver in the novel is a symbol of goodness which survives in spite of all odds.
He does ask for more and refuses to participate in wrong deeds but most of the time he is a
helpless person dictated to by others. Dickens like most of us did not want to see evil triumphant
no matter how powerful it was.
The world of crime brings people together in order to achieve their aims. But the criminals
because of their very nature cannot be loyal beyond a point. They ditch each other (Dodger and
Bates abandoning Oliver) are suspicious of each other (Fagin and Sikes). However experts like
Fagin do succeed in sending others to prison or the gallows and escape themselves by somehow
encouraging a loyalty towards themselves by their followers. But for others like Nancy there is
no real protection in the company they keep. Crime by its very nature seems to isolate an
individual. The criminals work with each other in order to commit a crime but are quick to look
for an escape route for themselves the moment any danger surfaces as they are working not with
any higher aim but simply looking to make some profit for their own self. Their companions are
mere tools of their trade. We therefore see the uneasy relationship between Fagin and Sikes and
the mistrust they have for each other. At the Maylies household Sikes and his companion Toby
Crackit are noticed while attempting a robbery. Toby does not hesitate to abandon Sikes and run
away and stops only when Sikes threatens to shoot him for his act. Monks is deeply suspicious of
all those whom he deals with. On the other hand characters like Mr Brownlow, Oliver, Rose and
others of their kind live in a world based on trust and noble values. They take the help of each
other when faced with a problem as Rose consults Mr Brownlow when she does not know what
to do when Nancy comes to her.
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During the time Oliver Twist was written it was usual for writers to write novels in which
criminals were romanticised. These novels were about highwaymen and other criminals. These
were known as the Newgate novels so called because the criminals were kept in the Newgate
jail. Thackeray attacked such novels and even included Nancy as one of the characters who had
been sentimentally treated. Dickens defended himself in his 1841 preface and insisted that his
criminals were presented as the criminal they actually were. But critics feel that he did somewhat
sentimentalise Nancy. But as Angus Wilson says one message of the novel does seem to be that
‘crime does not pay’. The journalist in Dickens always took up issues that were bothering the
people and in that respect he was truly a writer representative of the age.
In the earlier part of the novel we see some of Dickens’s writing that is always going to be
remembered- the limited quantity of food provided to the boys causes them to polish the bowls
clean in manner that they never ‘wanted washing’, the scene where Oliver asks for more. In such
scenes Dickens portrays a world where much has gone wrong and needs to be corrected. The
death of the poor people has no significance for the authorities. They are simply concerned about
the cost of the funeral-the lesser the better. Arnold Kettle remarks that when Oliver asks for more
“issues are at stake which make the whole world of Jane Austen tremble” The value of the novel
derives from ‘its consideration of the plight of the poor’.
In an essay on Dickens George Orwell observes that Dickens never really criticises the capitalist
system as such. There is according to him no indication in the book that the existing system
should be overthrown. For Dickens what matters is ‘human nature’ and that is what he is critical
of. To quote Orwell ‘The truth is that Dickens’ criticism of society is almost exclusively moral.’
In the novel Oliver Twist the novelist draws upon his childhood experiences, his sufferings and
how he had been put to work when he was a child. As a reporter he had a good knowledge of the
kind of life the criminals led and the strategies they adopted.
Rose is supposed to be modelled on Mary Hogarth and the Rose – Harry affair reminds one of
Dickens and Maria Beadnell whose social status was superior to that of the novelist.
Humour
Humour is a quality one always associates with Dickens. He is known as the great entertainer.
This label has probably caused people to underrate his lasting contribution to literature.
Nevertheless the quality of Dickens’ humour deserves to be understood and admired.
Oliver Twist provides a picture of child in great trouble due to the callous attitude of the parish
officials who are to take care of him. But the grim situation he is in, still provides us a lot of
humour. The manner in which Dickens presents the people and society around Oliver makes us
smile even if wryly. Some examples of the ironical and humorous descriptions are given below:
Chap. II
“The elderly female was a woman of wisdom and experience; she knew what was good for
children; and she had a very accurate perception of what was good for herself. So, she
appropriated the greater part of the weekly stipend to her own use, and consigned the rising
parochial generation to even a shorter allowance than was originally provided for them. Thereby
finding in the lowest depth a deeper still; and providing herself a very great experimental
philosopher.” (Mrs Mann)
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“The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them with their spoons till they shone
again.”
Chap.III
“ Come Oliver! Wipe your eyes with the cuffs of your jacket, and don’t cry into your gruel;
that’s a very foolish action Oliver.” It certainly was, for there was quite enough water in it
already.”
There is a lot of humour through the descriptions of the activities of Mr Bumble, Mrs Mann Mrs
Corney, Mr Giles, Dr Losberne, The Artful Dodger and Mr Grimwig. The comments made by
Dickens about the way they conduct themselves adds to our merriment. Some of these characters
are downright offensive and some others are lovable but what matters is the way they are
presented. Grimwig’s penchant for contradiction and his hidden good nature are put before the
reader in a humorous way and he never really questions whether such a creature could really
exist. Though a minor character he looms large before the reader’s eyes. When we see Oliver
wondering how on earth the picking of pockets will make him a great man we are both amused
and concerned at Oliver’s plight. The gloom which is always present in the novel is thus
lightened. Because of the humorous narrative we believe that Oliver will somehow survive the
dangers he encounters.
The spirit of the reformer is always present in the humour that pervades the novel. When
Dickens shows us the hypocrisy of Mr Bumble and the other officials of the parish we are
amused but at the same time we feel the need for reform. Humour in Dickens serves as a tool for
realisation of the evils present in society which may be laughed but are terrible to live with. The
novel has also been made into a musical and even the terrible Fagin has been presented in a
hilarious manner. But in a sense it is not that far fetched as it seems. Fagin represents a reversal
of all the values we believe in. But his attempts to convince Oliver that crime does pay do seem
to be funny. He is convinced that he is right in training people to be successful criminals. In his
world his trainees are proud if they commit a big crime even if they get caught. Charley Bates is
genuinely upset that The Dodger has been arrested for a minor crime and will never be
recognised for the great pickpocket he was. And when The Dodger is taken before the court his
impudent behaviour makes us forget what he is there for and that he will be transported.
Crime is a serious business and finally Monks and Fagin pay the price for their actions. But
while they are busy and successful Dickens presents them with a vitality and humour that they
have become etched in our memories. Minor characters like Giles are treated gently but we laugh
at them all the same. Giles is a loyal servant but he tries to hide the fact that he is afraid and that
he shot a boy. And when the Doctor frightens him he is too willing to admit that he may not have
shot anybody after all. His loyalty however prevents us from ridiculing him.
Humour then is one of the main characteristics of the novel. In he world where much is wrong
and a world which Dickens sincerely wishes to be different, he still finds things which amuse
him and reduces the bitterness that one feels. He shows us what is wrong and never condones it.
But he manages to laugh at the shortcomings and encourages us to do so in the hope that our
perception of the hypocrisy depicted will help in developing an urge for reform.
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Pathos in Oliver Twist
Oliver is a character whose condition everyone pities and he is the chief cause of the pathos that
we find in the novel. An orphan, he seems to be buffeted about by powerful forces against whom
he is incapable of defending himself. What strikes one is his innocence, his refusal to do what he
considers wrong. That he has developed such virtues in the workhouse seems to be strange.
Nevertheless this attitude of his in the face of the pressures he faces causes the reader to
sympathise with him. Every detail of his life from the time of his birth seems to inspire pity. The
treatment he gets from Bumble, Mrs Mann, Sikes and Fagin evokes a sense of injustice in the
reader. Indeed even the hard hearted Bumble feels some sympathy for Oliver when he sees tears
in his eyes. His looks cause people to trust him and that is why Mr Brownlow, Mrs Bedwin and
later on Rose, Mrs Maylie and Dr Losberne take care of him and protect him. But though this
presentation of Oliver may appeal to the Indian reader who is somewhat accustomed to
sentimental presentation of characters and is a bit reluctant to accept that life may be truly tragic,
it has been criticized by critics who feel that the depiction of Oliver strikes a false note. The
parting of Oliver with Dick has been criticised because the two seem to speak of heaven etc in a
rather adult manner. But though Dickens plays on our heart strings now and then he never gives
up the real world. If Oliver survives, Dick does die. Nancy may have a sense of what is wrong
and may attempt to protect Oliver but that does not prevent her from being murdered by her
lover. In the world that Dickens presents Oliver is the lucky one. Not everyone is as lucky and
the tragedy that awaits many is not hidden. True there are people like Rose, Brownlow and Mrs
Bedwin who seem to be too good to be true. But most of them have faced disappointments in
their lives and are therefore more caring for those who suffer. Their presence in this world does
not prevent the existence of Fagin, Sikes and Monks who dominate a large part of the novel. So
to see the novel as a mere sentimental depiction by Dickens would be wrong.
Some words used by the underworld in Oliver Twist and unfamiliar to modern readers
Airy: area
Blow upon: betray
Booty: betray
Crape: mask
Crib: house; hideout
Flat: stupid
Fogle: handkerchief
Green: innocent
Jack Ketch: hangman
Jemmy: crowbar used by housebreakers
Ken: bar of a public house
Milled: jailed
Mull: mess
Prad: horse
Regimentals: prison clothes
Sort: alcohol
Stone jug: prison
Wiper: thief
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