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Oliver Twist
part of the Industrial Revolution) caused many more in the
INTR
INTRODUCTION
ODUCTION middle classes to read as a pastime.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLES DICKENS
KEY FACTS
Born to an English Navy clerk and a mother of seven other
children, Charles Dickens lived a life of some middle-class • Full Title: Oliver Twist, or, The Parish Boy's Progress
comfort until, abruptly, changes in the family's financial • When Written: Written serially, February 1837 to April
situation forced his family into a poorhouse and him, at age ten, 1839
to work for some time at a boot-blacking factory. Although • Where Written: London, England
Charles eventually went to school and began a career as a law
• When Published: February 1837 to April 1839; revised
clerk, journalist, and writer, he never forgot this period of
1847
economic privation and social despair, and he included
depictions of poverty in many of the fifteen novels and other • Literary Period: Victorian
stories and pieces of prose he wrote over the course of his life. • Genre: Victorian social novel; Bildungsroman (novel of
education); novel of morality
HISTORICAL CONTEXT • Setting: London, England, and the countryside surrounding,
1830s
The Victorian Period coincides with a series of political,
• Climax: Oliver is shot by a servant of the Maylies; he
economic, and social changes in England that are inseparable
recovers under their care, and begins the process of learning
from the nature of the fiction produced. The high-point of the his true parentage
Industrial Revolution took place, more or less, at the time of
• Antagonist: Monks and Fagin
Oliver Twist's writing; the production of goods had transitioned
from "cottage industries" in the countryside to centralized • Point of View: third-person omniscient
factories in London and in the newer cities of Manchester and
Birmingham. A whole host of other industries sprang up to EXTRA CREDIT
support these new modes of production (including coal energy Musical adaptation. Many have come to know the general
and railroad infrastructure development), and cities grew to story of Oliver Twist via the musical Oliver!, which premiered in
include vast tenements of workers recently relocated from the 1960 in London, and which was made into a successful motion
country. England was also the crown jewel of an Empire "on picture in 1968. The musical retains many of the characters
which the sun never set," meaning it extended across much of made most famous in the novel, including Fagin and the Artful
the known world, including Australia and New Zealand, the Dodger.
Indian subcontinent, and interests in Africa. London was not
just a hub for English workers, writers, artists, and thinkers—it
was a multinational cosmopolis, the like of which the world had PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY
never seen (or had not since the far different Roman Empire,
1800 years previous). Dickens fiction reflects London both as a Oliver Twist begins in a workhouse in 1830s England, in an
center of international power, as a city consisting of small unnamed village, where a young woman, revealed to be Oliver's
neighborhoods, and of a city made up of the rich and those mother, gives birth to her son and promptly dies. The boy, lucky
clinging to new and tenuous economic circumstances. to survive, is raised until the age of nine in a "farm" for young
orphaned children, and then is sent to the local workhouse
again, where he labors for a time, until his innocent request for
RELATED LITERARY WORKS
more food so angers the house's board and beadle, Mr. Bumble,
Dickens was, in essence, a genre unto himself: his novels have that the workhouse attempts to foist Oliver off as an
come to seem synonymous with the "Victorian" period in apprentice to some worker in the villager. Oliver is eventually
English literature (extending roughly from the 1830s until given over to a coffin-maker named Sowerberry. Oliver works
1900, and coinciding with the cultural effects of the reign of as a "mute" mourner for Sowerberry, and must sleep at night
Queen Victoria in England and the English Empire). But the among the coffins. After a fight with Noah, another of
Victorian period was a high time for the novel in general. Many Sowerberry's apprentices, over Oliver's unwed mother (whom
magazines serialized works of prose fiction for public Noah insults), Oliver runs away to London, to make his fortune.
consumption, and increased education levels (derived from
many factors, including the movement of workers to cities as Near London, Oliver meets a well-dressed young boy who

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introduces himself as the Artful Dodger, a thief under the destroy these facts of Oliver's parentage in order to keep all
employ of a local crime boss named Fagin. The Dodger takes the inheritance for himself. But Brownlow confronts Monks
Oliver to Fagin, who promises to help Oliver but really holds with these facts, and Monks agrees, finally, to sign an affidavit
him hostage, and forces him to go on a thieving mission with the admitting his part in the conspiracy to defraud Oliver.
Dodger and Bates, another young criminal. Bates and Dodger Meanwhile, the members of Fagin's gang are all caught: Noah;
try to steal the handkerchief of an old man, who notices Oliver Charlotte, his partner; the Dodger; and Fagin himself. Sikes
(an innocent onlooker), and believes him to be the thief. Oliver dies, by accident, attempting to escape a mob that has come to
is caught and hauled to jail, only to be released into the old man kill him following Nancy's death. Brownlow manages to secure
Brownlow's company after Brownlow sees that Oliver had half of Oliver's inheritance for Oliver, and gives the other half
nothing to do with the crime. Brownlow nurses Oliver for a to Monks, who spends it in the New World on criminal activity.
time and vows to educate him properly. But after sending Rose Maylie, long in love with her cousin Harry, eventually
Oliver out to return some books and money to a bookseller, marries him, after Harry purposefully lowers his social station
Brownlow is shocked to find that Oliver does not to correspond with Rose's; Rose was said to be of a blighted
return—Oliver has been picked up by Nancy, an associate of family, and in the novel's final surprise, this "blight" is revealed:
Fagin's, and taken back to the criminal gang. Rose's sister was Agnes, meaning that Rose is Oliver's aunt.
The remainder of the novel comprises Brownlow's attempts to At the novel's end, Oliver is restored to his rightful lineage and
find Oliver, and Oliver's attempts to escape Fagin, his criminal is adopted by Brownlow. The pair live in the country with Harry,
associate Sikes, and the other boys. Fagin orders Oliver to who has become a parson, and Rose, along with Losborne and
accompany Sikes and another thief named Toby Crackit on a Mrs. Maylie. Oliver can, at last, be educated in the tranquility
house-breaking, in a country village, that goes awry; Oliver is and manner he deserves, as the son of a gentleman.
shot in the arm in the attempt, by a servant named Giles of the
Maylie house (the house being broken into); Oliver nearly dies,
but walks back to the house the next morning and is nursed CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS
back to health by Rose, Mrs. Maylie, and a local doctor named
Lorsborne. Lorsborne later takes Oliver into London to find MAJOR CHARACTERS
Brownlow, but they discover Brownlow has gone to visit the Oliv
Oliver
er T
Twist
wist – The novel's hero, Oliver Twist is aged nine at the
West Indies. Oliver is crestfallen, but is happy nonetheless with beginning of the novel, and several years older by the end (it is
the Maylies, and is educated by an old man in the Maylies' not clear exactly how much time elapses; he is probably about
village. Later, on a trip into London, Rose is visited by Nancy, twelve). Born of an unwed mother, in a poorhouse, Oliver is
who wishes to come clean about her involvement in Oliver's raised in the same poorhouse, then apprenticed to a
oppression, and Oliver finds that Brownlow is back in the city, coffin-maker named Sowerberry. After getting in a fight with
having returned from the West Indies. another apprentice regarding his mother's reputation, Oliver
Meanwhile, Mrs. Corney, mistress of the workhouse, receives a strikes out for London on foot, where he accidentally falls in
package from a dying woman named Old Sally, which Sally in with a group of thieves led by Fagin. Oliver is briefly saved by
turn received from Oliver's mother upon her death. The Brownlow, only to be retaken by Nancy, and involved, later, in a
package contains material indicating Oliver's family history, burglary of the Maylies' house that almost kills him. The
which is of interest to a friend and shadowy associate of Fagin's Maylies, Rose and her aunt, take Oliver in, and the novel traces
named Monks. Nancy meets with Rose and Brownlow in secret the discovery of Oliver's parentage, a secret kept close by
in London, to discuss what she has overheard, from Fagin and Monks, Oliver's half-brother, who wishes to disinherit his
Monks, regarding Oliver's parentage; Noah, sent to spy on brother and eliminate all traces of Oliver's high-born ancestry.
Nancy, overhears this conversation, and reports it to Fagin. Oliver ends the novel happily, having been adopted by
Fagin tells Sikes, misleadingly, that Nancy has "peached" on the Brownlow. Throughout the novel, Oliver remains a boy of good
whole gang (even though Nancy refused to incriminate Fagin or morals, despite his dire financial situation.
Sikes to Brownlow), and Sikes, in a fit of rage, kills Nancy, then Agnes Fleming – Oliver's unwed mother, Agnes was engaged
goes on the lam with his dog. to Oliver's father, Edwin, but Edwin died before they could be
Brownlow realizes that he recognized Oliver as resembling the married; Agnes was pregnant when Edwin died. Agnes gives
picture of a woman in his parlor, and also recognized a man he birth to Oliver in a poorhouse, since her family has abandoned
comes to realize is Monks. Brownlow pieces together the her in the wake of her pregnancy—at the novel's end, the
mystery of Oliver's parentage: Oliver's father is also Monks' narrator says that, though she was a fine woman, and beautiful,
father, and Monks' mother defrauded Oliver's mother, an Agnes was "weak and erring," because of her dalliance with
unwed woman named Agnes, of the inheritance Oliver's father, Edwin before their marriage.
Edwin, intended to leave to Oliver and Agnes. Monks wishes to Edwin LLeeford
eeford – Married first to Monks' mother, and then

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engaged to Agnes Fleming, Oliver's father dies in Rome after their marriage from occurring until the end of the novel. It is
having claimed his inheritance, which he intended to pass on to revealed, at the novel's end, that Rose is Oliver's biological
Oliver and Agnes. This money, instead, went to Monks' mother aunt. Rose embodies pure goodness and generosity.
and to Monks, thus precipitating much of the drama in the Harry MaMaylie
ylie – Rose's cousin, Harry is poised for a "brilliant"
novel—Agnes' giving birth to Oliver in a poorhouse, and career in politics, but he renounces this, and takes on the life of
Oliver's travails in finding out his true identity. a village parson, in order to marry Rose, who believes she is far
Mr
Mr.. Brownlow – A man who becomes Oliver's adopted father too socially inferior to Harry to be an acceptable wife for him.
at the end of the novel, Brownlow is robbed earlier in the novel The two live "happily ever after" at the novel's end.
by Bates and the Dodger, only to think that Oliver, who was Mr
Mr.. Bumble – The village beadle of Oliver's home village, Mr.
with those two boys, was responsible. Brownlow recants his Bumble is another, more minor antagonist in the novel—he
accusation and takes Oliver home, to nurture him, but when he hates Oliver, and eventually marries Mrs. Bumble in order to
sends Oliver out on a mission to return books (prompted by his take over the poorhouse's control, such that he can order
friend Grimwig, to test Oliver's virtue), Oliver is re-taken by paupers around. But Bumble is exposed as being complicit in a
Fagin. Brownlow is distraught at what he believes to be Oliver's part of Monks' plot, and loses his social station—he and his wife
betrayal of him, but never entirely believes that Oliver is a bad later end up paupers in the very same poorhouse that they
at heart and spends the remainder of the novel solving the used to run.
mystery of Oliver's birth and inheritance.
Blathers and Duff – Two doltish investigators who attempt to
Losborne – A doctor and close associate of the Maylie family, see whether Oliver was one of the robbers of the Maylies'
Losborne cares for Oliver when Oliver is recovering from a home, they are misled by Losborne and sent back to London
gunshot wound in the Maylie home. Later, he cares for Rose with misleading information; Losborne makes it seem that
when she falls ill with fever. Losborne, at the novel's end, moves Oliver was wounded in a coincident gunshot accident, and that
close to Harry and Rose, as he has become almost a part of the Oliver therefore had nothing to do with the robbery.
family.
Fagin – One of the novel's trio of antagonists, Fagin is in charge MINOR CHARACTERS
of the "boys," his thieves, and their exploits pay for his life in
Mrs. Bedwin – Oliver's nurse when he lives, briefly, with
London. Fagin attempts to make Oliver a thief, but fails; Fagin is
Brownlow early in the novel. Mrs. Bedwin is Brownlow's maid.
later sentenced to death. Fagin is Jewish, and described in
She never believes that Oliver is not virtuous, even when Oliver
extremely anti-Semitic terms by the narrator.
disappears.
Monks – The second of the novel's antagonists, Monks (whose
Mr
Mr.. Grim
Grimwig
wig – Brownlow's cantankerous friend, Grimwig does
real name is Edward Leeford) is Oliver's half-brother, and is
not believe, initially, in Oliver's virtue, and commonly uses the
hellbent on keeping his own fraudulent inheritance by
expression, "I'll eat my hat." At the end of the novel, he enjoys
eliminating all traces of Oliver's inheritance, and on making
joking about how he used to not believe in Oliver's goodness,
Oliver into a thief so that his name might be ruined. Monks fails
once Oliver proves it.
in this attempt, after being caught by Brownlow, and admits to
his misdeeds and acknowledges Oliver's true parentage. Mr.. and Mrs. Sowerberry – A coffin-maker and his wife, Mr.
Mr
and Mrs. Sowerberry take Oliver in as an apprentice after the
Charle
Charleyy Bates – A young thief of Fagin's who is always joking
workhouse. Sowerberry takes something of a liking to Oliver,
and laughing, Bates undergoes a moral transformation in the
and makes him a "mute" mourner at funerals, but Mrs.
novel: from ironic young criminal to defender of goodness after
Sowerberry never likes or trusts Oliver.
Bates realizes Sikes has killed Nancy. Bates ends the novel
having given up crime and taken on a series of difficult jobs, Noah Cla
Claypole
ypole – An older apprentice to Sowerberry, Noah
working in the fields. picks a fight with Oliver and ends up blaming Oliver for it; he
later makes his way to London and winds up serving as a spy for
Nancy – Sikes' romantic partner, Nancy at first takes Oliver
Fagin, overhearing Nancy's conversation with Brownlow and
back to Fagin but later expresses regret for this, and attempts
Rose.
to protect Oliver as much as she can. After talking one night to
Rose and Brownlow, and being overheard by Noah, Nancy is Charlotte – Noah's partner and lover, Charlotte goes with
killed by Sikes in a rage, for Sikes believes Nancy has "peached," Noah to London, and at the end of the novel, the two have
or ratted out the gang (despite the fact that she has staunchly become a con-men pair in the city.
refused to do so). Sik
Sikes
es – The third of the novel's antagonists, Sikes is a brutal
Rose Ma
Maylie
ylie – Mrs. Maylie's niece, Rose helps nurse Oliver "housebreaker," or robber, who takes Oliver with him on the
back to health, only to catch sick later herself. Rose is in love failed robbery of the Maylies' house. Sikes later kills Nancy in a
with Harry, but social barriers (her low social standing) keep fit of rage, and accidentally kills himself while fleeing an angry

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mob. Old Sally – The woman who nursed Agnes just as she was
The Artful Dodger – The most skilled of Fagin's young boy- giving birth to Oliver, Old Sally dies later in the novel, and Mrs.
thieves, the Artful Dodger is a talented pickpocket and card- Bumble takes from her a small package that she (Mrs. Bumble)
shark. The Artful Dodger is caught by the police for stealing a later sells to Monks.
snuff box late in the novel, and is observed, by Noah, being sent
to jail in a triumphant and defiant manner.
THEMES
Bet – One of Nancy's fellow female thieves, Bet has a small part
in the novel, and is mostly notable for being the object of Tom In LitCharts literature guides, each theme gets its own color-
Chitling's romantic interest. coded icon. These icons make it easy to track where the themes
Mrs. Ma
Maylie
ylie – Rose's aunt, Mrs. Maylie takes care of Rose after occur most prominently throughout the work. If you don't have
the "blight" on Rose's family name, deriving from Agnes a color printer, you can still use the icons to track themes in
Fleming's pregnancy and death. Agnes, it is revealed later, is black and white.
Rose's sister.
Tob
obyy Cr
Crackit
ackit – Another housebreaker, Toby accompanies Sikes THIEVERY AND CRIME
and Oliver on the robbery of the Maylies' house. It is revealed Oliver Twist is, among other things, a meditation on
that Crackit is something of a coward, as he runs away at the the nature of criminality in 1830s England: an
first sound of gunshots, after the robbery is botched. examination of who commits crimes; of the
Tom Chitling – Another of the young robbers in Fagin's gang, spectrum of crimes (from petty thievery to murder); and of the
Tom is mostly notable for his love of Bet and his dim wit—he is idea of criminality as a learned behavior or an innate quality.
beaten by the Dodger repeatedly in cards. Oliver is born a poor orphan; he is raised in a workhouse and
makes his way to London, where is "rescued" by a group of
Mrs. Bumble (Mrs. Corne
Corney)
y) – Married to Bumble, Mrs. Bumble
young thieves controlled by Fagin. Thus Oliver, according to
takes a package from Old Sally once belonging to Agnes, and
Victorian ideas about the link between poverty and criminality,
sells this information to Monks. This small crime causes the
is seen as being "naturally" predisposed to crime, because he
Bumbles to lose their social station and, eventually, to wind up
was brought up poor, and was not school educated. Oliver is
in the poorhouse they once managed.
also at risk of learning criminal behavior from Fagin, Charley
Mrs. Mann – A maid at the poorhouse annex near which Oliver Bates, the Artful Dodger, and Sikes.
was born, Mrs. Mann is in charge of Oliver very early in his life, One of the novel's great questions, therefore, is: will Oliver
before he is sent to work in the poorhouse for adults. succumb to this "natural" predisposition and learned criminal
The man in the white waistcoat – A member of the behavior, or will he retain his innate virtue? Dickens presents a
poorhouse's board, the man in the white waistcoat is notable full range of criminality as a means of describing English
for shouting, constantly, that he believes Oliver will one day be criminal society at the time of his writing. Sikes and Fagin are
hanged for his "vices." both shown to be "natural" criminals—meaning they are men
Dick – A small friend of Oliver's at the workhouse, Dick gives for whom crime is an organic outgrowth of their innate badness
Oliver a blessing when Oliver is running away to London near or evil. But although Dickens is clear in his disapproval of Sikes
the beginning of the novel. Oliver hopes, at the novel's end, to and Fagin, he nevertheless reserves a certain amount of room
return this blessing, but does not have the chance, as Dick, for moral complication as regards the "criminality" of other
sadly, has died. characters in the novel. Dickens acknowledges that Nancy has
been forced to commit crimes, but Dickens has a certain
Giles and Brittles – Two servants of the Maylie household,
amount of sympathy for Nancy's condition, as she was forced
Giles accidentally shoots the "robber" who winds up being
to work for Fagin from a young age. The Artful Dodger and
Oliver, and Brittles, with Giles, seeks out the "robber" that
Bates are entertaining and funny characters, and there is a
night, only to have Oliver stumble back to the house the next
despair Dickens ascribes to their condition, as Fagin's servants
day.
and partners in crime (not out of choice, but out of necessity).
Barne
Barneyy – Another of Fagin's associates, Barney works at the The Dodger ends up going to a penal colony, and Charley
Cripples, a pub with which Fagin is involved, and where decides he ought to find honest work, and begins a series of
criminals often meet. Barney is notable for speaking with a menial jobs after renouncing his life of crime. Monks is given
constant headcold. part of his inheritance by Brownlow, in the hopes that he will
Monks' mother – Oliver's father's first wife, Monks' mother change, but he, too, returns to crime.
takes a good deal of Oliver's inheritance for herself and for Oliver's purity and strength of spirit are never compromised
Monks. throughout the novel; it is implied that his "gentlemanly"

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parentage makes it more likely that he will end up part of a INDIVIDUALISM AND SOCIAL BONDS
stable family structure, and that he will become educated and
Oliver Twist presents, also, an inquiry into the
find legal employment. Thus Dickens seems to indicate that
nature of "individualism" in 1830s England, and in
criminality is, after all, a mixture of moral disposition and of
the social bonds that must be formed and sustained
circumstances. Bates transcends his circumstances to live a
by individuals if they are to prosper. One of the novel's most
"legal" life, but his rewards are few, and his job training poor.
notable scenes is Fagin's speech, to Noah, arguing that one
Oliver is virtuous and strong, but also aided by the help of
must look out both for "Number One" (oneself) and "the other
members of the middle class, and by the fact that he is of noble
Number One," or Fagin. The thieves Fagin controls all look out
birth.
for themselves, since they would probably not work for Fagin if
they were able to earn their living elsewhere. But Fagin argues
POVERTY, INSTITUTIONS, AND CLASS that, since he is in command of this band of thieves, he is truly
Oliver Twist is a sustained attack on the British Poor their Number One, or the figure they must obey if they are to
Laws, a complex body of law that forced poor continue living.
families to labor in prison-like "workhouses." One of Fagin's organization of the group is based primarily on fear; if
the novel's effects is, simply, to describe what poverty was like the thieves do not rat one another out, they will be saved from
at this time in England. Although many parts of English society the courts and hanging. Dickens shows that this is not a strong
had come in contact with the poor, few had read accounts of enough social bond to keep the boys safe. Bates eventually
what it meant to be poor. Simply by telling of conditions in the leaves his life of crime; the Dodger is taken into court, and the
workhouse, Dickens does a service to the English poor—he boys are encouraged to believe that the Dodger will long be
shows they are human beings, and that they are not treated as remembered for his defiance in the courtroom. Sikes hangs
such. himself by mistake, and Fagin is tried and sentenced to death
Dickens' description of the workhouses, and of Bumble and on the scaffold.
Mrs. Bumble especially, also serves to show that the Poor Laws Oliver, however, is an example both of the importance of a
are not simply dehumanizing—they are a part of the cycle of strong individual work ethic and of social bonds. Oliver leaves
poverty rather than a remedy for it. The workhouse provides Sowerberry; braves the criminals of Fagin's gang in London;
Oliver and others with no meaningful skills, and it feeds them escapes to Brownlow; is recaptured by Fagin; survives a
so little that many simply become sick and die. Bumble is a gunshot to his arm and dodges Sikes; and finally educates
"beadle," or an Anglican Church official in charge of managing himself under Brownlow's tutelage. If it weren't for Oliver's
the poor within each county. Dickens shows that Bumble goodness and his drive to better himself, he would have
behaves "un-Christianly" in hoping simply to shelve the poor in remained at Sowerberry's for the rest of his life. But Oliver also
the workhouse, and to prevent them from leading meaningful benefits greatly from the love he receives from Brownlow, Rose
lives. The novel's goal, then, is not just to describe English Maylie, Mrs. Bedwin, Mrs. and Harry Maylie, and Mr. Losberne.
poverty—it is actively to change perceptions of both poverty Dickens praises these social bonds above all—the bonds of love
and the general sense of Victorian society that poverty is being and of a family-like atmosphere. The Maylies and Mrs. Maylie
dealt with humanely and appropriately, in the hopes of move to a parsonage with Oliver, who is officially adopted by
changing society. Brownlow, so that he can continue in his education with all the
Dickens' argument about poverty, social institutions, and class legal protections afforded to the child of a gentleman.
immobility is a complex imagining of the interrelation of the
three. Dickens believes that workhouses play to the worst SOCIAL FORCES, FATE, AND FREE WILL
desires of people in power—people like Sowerberry and the
In the novel, "fate" is revealed to be an interaction
Bumbles—to keep the poor poor. The workhouses then enable
of social forces or pressures on one's life, and one's
the middle and upper classes to argue for a self-fulfilling
decisions as an agent possessing free will. Oliver is
prophecy: that people who have no options in life, no ability to
an orphan and a pauper, meaning his "fate" is more or less
make a positive contribution to society, either die or become
sealed from birth: social forces appear poised to keep him in a
society's outcasts. Dickens does not excuse crime committed
"low" position forever. But Oliver, as it turns out, is the
by those who are inherently evil (Fagin and Sikes), but he does
illegitimate son of a gentleman, and his father has inherited
tend to be more sympathetic to the lives of those that have
enough money to be able to pass some on to Oliver. Thus
been determined by terrible circumstances (Oliver, Nancy,
Oliver has a competing fate: that of a son who realizes his
Bates and the Dodger). Dickens champions Oliver above all,
fortune later in life. The grand question of the novel, then, is
since Oliver struggles so mightily to maintain his goodness, and
which fate will determine the course of Oliver's life: the fate of
manages to do so.
the pauper, or the fate of the gentleman?

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Other characters have their fates set up and determined in and seemed to provide ammunition for those who sought to
interesting ways. Monks, also the son of a gentleman (he and equate the "social diseases" of poverty and criminality. Thus
Oliver are half-brothers), seems not to be able to "realize" his Dickens has a complicated relationship to the city and the
fate as a gentleman himself—he become a criminal, and even country as he describes them. He believes that Oliver's virtue is
after inheriting half of his father's money, he dissipates it away best suited to the country, but that country is rapidly
and returns to crime. Fagin and his crew—including the disappearing as England becomes more connected by rail and
Dodger—are mostly fated to remain criminals. Although Fagin roads, and more economically dependent on the factories of
does everything he can to avoid detection, it is not a surprise the city. Dickens does not advocate that the country should
when he is captured at the novel's end, and sentenced to death. remain wholly separate from the city, or that the city should
Similarly, the Dodger, despite his skill in thievery, accepts that it cease to exist. Rather, he seems to argue that the country
is his fate to be sent to a penal colony. Sikes understands that, provides a kind of serenity and family structure that should be
after he kills Nancy, he is a hunted man, and that he can never brought back to the city.
recover the "normalcy" of his life-in-crime before the murder.
Rose and Harry, too, seem fated to be together. When Harry
first proposes to Rose, Rose rejects his offer of marriage—not
SYMBOLS
because she does not love him, but because Harry is poised for Symbols appear in teal text throughout the Summary and
a brilliant career, and she comes from a disgraced family. But Analysis sections of this LitChart.
Harry implies that he is willing to alter the trajectory of his
career, to take over the modest life of a country parson, in
order to "level" his social relationship to Rose, and therefore to COFFINS
facilitate their marriage. Thus the novel shows that, although Coffins crop up repeatedly in the novel, and
there are many strong social forces appearing immutably to symbolize not only the proximity of death
"fate" characters to certain destinies, characters can, through throughout Oliver Twist, but the very real possibility that Oliver
exceptional strength of character, determine their own paths in himself will not live long enough to realize his high birth and
life. receive his due inheritance. Oliver is apprenticed, first, to
Sowerberry, a coffin-maker, and is forced to sleep among the
CITY AND COUNTRY coffins while in the house. Oliver is made to witness numerous
The novel takes place in two separate, morally burials while working as a "mute" mourner for
distinct locations: the Country and the City. The Sowerberry—someone brought along to enlarge the size of a
Country is everything outside London and its funeral party. Other characters in the novel, too, use coffins in
outlying villages; London is the primary City. To Dickens, the their figures of speech: Monks, on seeing Oliver in the town of
country is a place of peace, quiet, hard work, and strong family Chertsey, while Oliver is delivering a letter, utters an oath
structures that ensure people continue to work hard and avoid involving the word, and Nancy tells Rose and Brownlow, later,
criminality. The city, however, is a place of difficult working that the only home she will ever know is the final home
conditions, where the poor are crowded together, ground provided by a coffin. Indeed, the novel ends with a bittersweet
down by all the difficulties of "modern" industrial life. image of a tomb for Agnes, Oliver's unwed mother, in the local
church near where Oliver settles; this tomb has no coffin,
Oliver, tellingly, comes from the "country," from a town
symbolizing the fact that, though Agnes was a good women, she
environment relatively far from London. He makes his way to
committed a crime against God by having a child out of
London to avoid Sowerberry, the coffin-maker, and a live of
wedlock, and her body was not buried with the rest of the
terrible poverty in the workhouses, but what he finds in the city
family but rather interred in a shallow grave near the
is not a means of escape, but rather, a more difficult life: one of
workhouse. Thus Oliver manages, at the end of the novel, to
forced criminality. Only when Oliver stumbles, half-dead, upon
avoid the grisly fate, the waiting coffin, reserved for
the Maylies' house far outside the city, does he begin to
others—Nancy and his mother among them.
recuperate, to think longingly for Brownlow, and to begin to
find a stable family life. Oliver ends up near a country
parsonage at the novel's end, with the Maylies and those who QUO
QUOTES
TES
care about him; he is adopted as Brownlow's legal son, allowing
him to be educated in peace and quiet. Note: all page numbers for the quotes below refer to the Dover
Dickens wrote during the English Industrial Revolution's most Publications edition of Oliver Twist published in 2002.
robust stage—when cities were becoming "the" location for all
those hoping to make their fortunes, and to rise up out of
poverty. But cities were also repositories for vice and poverty,

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Chapter 1 Quotes
has seeped into the popular culture, even for those who
Wrapped in the blanket which had hitherto formed his haven't read Oliver Twist. This is Oliver's first act of
only covering, he [Oliver] might have been the child of a rebellion. It is also a polite act, one that is designed not just
nobleman or a beggar . . . . But now that he was enveloped in the to better his own circumstances but the circumstances of
old calico robes which had grown yellow in the same service, he those around him. Oliver believes that because he is hungry,
was badged and ticketed . . . a parish child . . . the orphan of a and because he is fed so very little, it would not be
workhouse. unreasonable to ask those in positions of authority for more
food.
Related Characters: Oliver Twist But, of course, this is simply not done - not because getting
more food would be a bad thing, or a waste of resources,
Related Themes: but because those in charge have not thought about the
condition of the boys' lives at all. This kind of indifference to
Page Number: 3 the suffering of others is a hallmark of corrupt people in
Explanation and Analysis power in Oliver Twist, and indeed throughout Dickens'
novels more generally. And it is this indifference that Oliver
As the narrator notes here, there is no difference, in a
seeks to push back against.
newborn child, between being wealthy and being poor - or,
for that matter, being lucky or unlucky, being intelligent or
unintelligent. For a newborn, life is utterly a blank slate - and
Chapter 3 Quotes
it awaits the impress of the events that happen to a person
as he or she ages. Oliver fell on his knees, and clasping his hands together,
prayed that they would order him back to the dark room—that
Oliver Twist is, among other things, a novel about how
they would starve him—beat him—kill him if they
people court fate, and how people change their fates - how
pleased—rather than send him away with that dreadful man
both people's decisions and the situations of their
[Gamfield, the chimney-sweep].
environment impact the kinds of lives they lead. Oliver is a
child who takes life by the horns, who is willing to attempt
scary or dangerous things in order to improve his station. Related Characters: Oliver Twist
He is also a child who, by any account, has experienced bad
luck at an early age - he is here "ticketed" as seemingly Related Themes:
headed for a life of poverty and labor. The only way he can
change this fate is through more luck, and through the Page Number: 18
sheer force of his will. Explanation and Analysis
This passage is an indication of just how cruel and unfair
Chapter 2 Quotes Gamfield will be. Oliver hates the workhouse, and cannot
imagine living there another second--that is, until he
Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked realizes he might also have to live with a violent man, whose
for more! work is dirty, laborious, and incredibly dangerous for those
For more! . . . Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me boys employed to do it.
distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had
As throughout the novel, this passage is an instance of the
eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?
immensely difficult choices Oliver is forced to make at every
---
term. Is it sensible to want to return to the workhouse,
That boy will be hung . . . I know that boy will be hung.
where the administrators hate him, and where he has
already made a name for himself as a "rabble rouser"? Or is
Related Characters: Mr. Bumble, Oliver Twist it better to go off with a man Oliver doesn't know, who
promises to employ him in a field that has caused many
Related Themes: other children to perish? Oliver is forced to make this
decision - and to do so at an age when boys of privilege are
Page Number: 11 largely playing with their friends and enjoying their time
Explanation and Analysis with their families.
This is one of the most famous scenes in the book - one that

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Chapter 4 Quotes
creations throughout the entirety of his works. Here, the
Then come with me . . . your bed's under the counter You Dodger is defined as a man before his time - although he is a
don't mind sleeping among the coffins, I suppose? But it doesn't very young child, he is adept at the world of pickpocketing
much matter whether you do or don't, for you can't sleep and petty crime and has, from a young age, largely fended
anywhere else. Come . . . ! for himself. Oliver is in awe of the Dodger's city ways, of his
knowledge of London, and of his ability to mix in with
Related Characters: Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry (speaker), different groups of people. In this sense, Oliver will look up
Oliver Twist to the Dodger, and in the Dodger's cavalier attitude toward
life, he is a foil of Oliver.
Related Themes: But the Dodger also has no scruples. He is perfectly willing
to lie, cheat, and steal to get his way - things that Oliver is
Related Symbols: decidedly not willing to do. And while the Dodger is mostly
interested in working to better his own circumstances,
Page Number: 24 Oliver has a pronounced soft spot for the lives of other
people, and for their own particular anguish.
Explanation and Analysis
This is another famous scene, and one of the more
immediately comic depictions of just how deplorable the Chapter 9 Quotes
conditions are in which Oliver is expected to live.
Sowerberry, despite the inherent black humor in what he is Oliver wondered what picking the old gentleman's pocket
proposing, is not kidding. He really does expect his young in play, had to do with his chances of being a great man. But
apprentice, who has no family, to sleep among the coffins he thinking that the Jew [Fagin], being so much his senior, must
is assembling, in which he will inter dead bodies. know best, he followed him quietly to the table; and was soon
Sowerberry does not care at all that this might frighten deeply involved in his new study.
Oliver. Indeed, he seems to delight in the idea that Oliver
would be scared and made to suffer. Related Characters: Oliver Twist, Fagin
In the early pages of Oliver Twist, then, Dickens tests the
limits of narrative plausibility - the coffin-maker's name is, Related Themes:
after all, Sowerberry ("sower" as in planting things in the
Page Number: 54
ground, and "berry" as in "bury") - and the limits of Oliver's
own physical and psychological endurance. Indeed, Explanation and Analysis
everyone in Oliver's life will test him in this way, and he will
At this point in the text, Oliver is still very naive - he does
continually rise to the challenge that people in positions of
not entirely understand that Fagin is interested in grooming
authority put to him.
him to become a pickpocket, a child he can let out onto the
street in order to fetch goods. And Fagin is not interested in
doing this so that Oliver can make a living. Instead, he works
Chapter 8 Quotes
primarily so that he, Fagin, can enrich himself. Oliver is
He wore a man's coat, which reached nearly to his heels. merely a means to an end for Fagin - a new, guileless worker
He had turned the cuffs back . . . to get his hands out of the whom he can train to do his bidding.
sleeves . . . . He was, altogether, as roistering and swaggering a Fagin's depiction, here as in elsewhere in the novel, is
young gentleman as ever stood four feet six, or something less, deeply unsympathetic, and Dickens makes no bones about
in his bluchers. his own racism in describing Fagin using anti-Semitic
stereotypes. This is an aspect of the novel that it is
Related Characters: The Artful Dodger important to critique: Dickens, like a great many other
famous authors in the history of the English language, have
Related Themes: ascribed to Jewish characters traits that, according to
contemporary consideration, would be considered
Page Number: 45 defamatory and offensive.
Explanation and Analysis
The Artful Dodger is one of the most colorful of Dickens'

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Chapter 12 Quotes
he is not a boy who will engage in treacherous behavior, or
What's this? Bedwin, look there! rob his benefactor. Thus Grimwig tells Oliver to go to the
As he [Brownlow] spoke, he pointed hastily to the picture bookseller with money to fetch a book - and if Oliver is
above Oliver's head; and then to the boy's face. There was its honest, he will return.
living coy. The eyes, the head, the mouth; every feature was the
It is exactly this kind of circumstance, however, where
same. The expression was, for the instant, so precisely alike,
Dickens decides to test Oliver's fate. Oliver is caught at the
that the minutest line seemed copied with a startling accuracy.
bookseller's by Nancy, and then delivered back to Sikes - he
does not have a chance to announce to Brownlow and
Related Characters: Mr. Brownlow (speaker), Oliver Twist Grimwig what has happened to him, and so they naturally
assume that he's run off with their money, and that they
Related Themes: cannot trust him. In this instance, then, Oliver's bad luck has
caught up to his good intentions - he is trapped.
Page Number: 69

Explanation and Analysis

Chapter 17 Quotes
This instance of fate, or luck or chance, is of great interest in
the novel, and is a fine of example of how coincidence works I should like . . . to leave my love to poor Oliver Twist, and
in Dickens' fictions. Oliver lies below a portrait of a woman to let him know how often I have sat by myself and cried to
he greatly resembles - and he notes that, while asleep and think of his wandering about in the dark night with nobody to
dreaming, he thought about his mother a good deal, help him.
wondering if she is safe in another life. What Oliver does
not know, and what the reader will not find out till much Related Characters: Dick (speaker), Oliver Twist
later, is that the woman in the portrait is indeed Oliver's
mother, and that she was quite literally "looking down on Related Themes:
him" at this juncture in the novel. In a second reading, this
instance of dramatic irony - wherein the reader knows more Page Number: 103
than the character in the fiction - will be more pronounced.
But in the first read, the reader might simply wonder why it Explanation and Analysis
is that Oliver's appearance would be likened to that of a DIck is an especially saintly character in the workhouse, and
woman in a picture, in a house he stumbles into by accident. another foil for Oliver - indeed, if the Dodger is the "bad"
version of the hero, then Dick is the perfect one, a boy who
is so sick he cannot participate in life's events, but who
Chapter 14 Quotes nevertheless has the finest of feelings and the best of
intentions (similar to Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol). Dick
Send Oliver with them . . he will be sure to deliver them
tells Bumble that he wishes to leave Oliver his "love,"
safely, you know.
because he wants the best for Oliver. And, of course, this
Yes; do let me take them, if you please, sir. . . . I'll run all the way,
infuriates Bumble, who hates that Oliver has whipped up a
sir.
great deal of support among the other boys in the house.
At this point in the novel Bumble seems aware of Oliver's
Related Characters: Oliver Twist, Mr. Grimwig (speaker) ability to stand out among the other boys, and indeed
among other people in general, and to lead them. Bumble
Related Themes:
hates that this is the case, and vows to make life even more
Page Number: 85 difficult for Oliver if ever he is to find him - and, of course,
Bumble then stumbles upon the notice Brownlow places in
Explanation and Analysis the paper, wondering where Oliver is. Bumble decides that
Here is another instance in which Oliver's goodwill is tested he will "set the record straight" with Brownlow, and tell him
by those around him, especially by those in positions of that Oliver is really a very bad boy.
authority. Brownlow is inclined to trust Oliver, to believe
that he is a young boy in the city without a family, and that
he is in need of help. But Grimwig wants proof of Oliver's
good will. He wants to know that he is not a con artist, that

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Chapter 22 Quotes
robbery with his own life, and though Fagin is more
The cry was repeated—a light appeared—a vision of two concerned with Oliver's fate, it's because Oliver's injury or
terrified half-dressed men at the top of the stairs swam before death would be detrimental to Fagin himself - it would lay
his eyes—a flash—a loud noise—a smoke—a crash somewhere . . him open to the charge that Fagin had endangered the boy
.. and allowed these crimes to happen.
Crackit and some of the other malicious characters in the
Related Characters: Oliver Twist, Giles and Brittles novel, including Sikes, are mostly concerned with their own
safety, and demonstrate time and again their willingness to
Related Themes: sacrifice those around them to further their own aims. This,
then, is exactly the opposite of Oliver's temperament -
Page Number: 137 Oliver, unlike a great many other characters in the novel, is
Explanation and Analysis concerned with the welfare of those around him, and does
what he can to improve their circumstances even as he tries
In this scene, Oliver faces his own death - although of
desperately, and often fails, to improve his own.
course he survives the attempted burglary. But he blacks
out entirely, and all that he sees before him is, as the
narrator describes, a flash of light. As in many other scenes,
Chapter 26 Quotes
especially in the beginning of the novel, Oliver is entirely at
the mercy of the older men around him - he must do what I tell you again, it was badly planned. Why not have kept
they say or suffer the consequences. And thus, although him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, sniveling
robbing someone is essentially the last thing Oliver would pickpocket of him at once?
ever do, he is forced along on this mission, and very nearly
killed during it. Related Characters: Monks (speaker), Oliver Twist
If Oliver is currently at the prey of the men, often criminals,
who control him, he will not always be this way, and as the Related Themes:
novel progresses Oliver's fate will not be quite so drawn out
by those around him. Instead, Oliver will increasingly find Page Number: 161
that his fate is in his own hands - or, that the coincidences Explanation and Analysis
and strange twists and turns that occur in his life might have
something to do with the choices he, as a maturing young Monks, an associate of Sikes whose relationship to Oliver is,
man, makes. at this point, unclear, is upset that Oliver has been initiated
so quickly into serious robbery. He's upset not because he
fears that robbery is bad, or thinks that Oliver shouldn't rob
Chapter 25 Quotes things at all. Instead he absolutely supports the idea of
Oliver becoming a thief - but he believes that Oliver should
Bill had him [Oliver] on his back and scudded like the wind. be led slowly into the craft, initially via pickpocketing, and
We stopped to take him between us; his head hung down; and then, over time, into larger and larger hauls. Therefore
he was cold. . . . We parted company, and left the youngster Monks critiques Fagin, in the conversation with Sikes,
lying in a ditch. Alive or dead, that's all I know about him. arguing that Fagin has rushed along Oliver in his
"development."
Related Characters: Toby Crackit (speaker), Sikes, Oliver What is interesting to note in this section, too, is how
Twist Monks and Fagin are each concerned with Oliver's
"development" as a thief, his "education" such as it is. This
Related Themes: follows in the tradition of the "Bildungsroman," or coming-
of-age novel, in which a character is educated in schools or
Page Number: 153 school-like places, and in which he or she learns the
Explanation and Analysis difficulties of life from a young age. For Oliver, this learning
often comes outside educational establishments, within the
It is interesting that, at this moment in the text, Crackit
seedy underworld of London.
admits to having "buried" Oliver hastily, in a ditch, not
knowing if Oliver will survive - and not particularly caring.
Crackit is mostly happy that he has escaped the attempted

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Chapter 27 Quotes
running back to the Maylie's house after having delivered a
Say it again, you vile, owdacious fellow! . . . How dare you letter for Dr. Losborne, who is to help Rose in her illness,
mention such a thing, sir? And how dare you encourage him, runs straight into the man who will turn out to be Monks.
you insolent minx! Kiss her! . . . Faugh! And Monks, though he seems only to "accidentally" be in the
same place as Oliver, is indeed following him, and has had
Related Characters: Mr. Bumble (speaker), Noah Claypole, his eye on him. Oliver, of course, cannot know this, nor can
Charlotte he know what will be revealed later - that Monks is Oliver's
half-brother, and has been trying to frame Oliver as a thief
Related Themes: in order to "ruin" Oliver.
Monks brings up the "coffin" again, a symbol that recurs in
Page Number: 168 the novel. The coffin is emblematic, of course, of the
Explanation and Analysis omnipresence of death - and it is also a piece of
workmanship, and a trade, into which Oliver almost himself
This is an important, and comedic, indication of the
enters. Oliver, wherever he turns, cannot seem to avoid the
profundity of Bumble's hypocrisy. Bumble has just been
coffin - they surround him, as does violence and death on
wooing Mrs. Corney, and wondering what he might do to
the difficult streets of London.
curry her favor - and also how to make use of her for his
own ends, since Mrs. Corney could give him a job as the
manager of a poor home for which Corney also works. But
Chapter 34 Quotes
Bumble, walking in on two young people carousing without
any other motive - simply because they enjoy spending time It was but an instant, a glance, a flash, before his eyes; and
with one another - finds this completely intolerable. He they were gone. But they had recognized him, and he them; and
launches into the tirade here, accusing Charlotte of their look was as firmly impressed upon his memory, as if it had
possessing lax morals, and implying that Noah is a beast for been deeply carved in stone . . . .
having any romantic interest in anyone.
Hypocrisy in Dickens is often shot through with class Related Characters: Oliver Twist, Fagin, Monks
distinctions. Bumble pretends that he is not of the "lower"
classes, although he is not wealthy - but he makes a living Related Themes:
ordering around the poor in workhouses. Bumble therefore
considers himself above Noah and Charlotte, and Bumble Page Number: 214-5
participates in a common critique of the poor in Dickens' Explanation and Analysis
time - the idea that poor people are "naturally" immoral,
have no control over their emotions, and tend to engage Oliver has been attempting to improve himself - to become
readily in illicit sexual behavior. educated following a lifetime's lack of formal schooling. He
does this in the Maylie's home, under their supervision, and
in his room there is a space for quiet contemplation and a
Chapter 33 Quotes good deal of work. It is, in short, the life he has always
wanted - a life of personal and intellectual freedom.
Death! Who would have thought it! Grind him to ashes!
But when Monks and Fagin show up, they do so in part,to
He's start up from a marble coffin, to come in my way!
remind him that they have not forgotten him - that they will
hound him for as long as they can. They want to take Oliver
Related Characters: Monks (speaker), Oliver Twist back to them as a point of pride - because they believe they
are responsible for Oliver's "education," such as they see it.
Related Themes: They are also worried that, if Oliver is free, he might be able
to point the authorities to them - and that would be the end
Related Symbols: of their criminal enterprise.

Page Number: 204

Explanation and Analysis

This is an instance of foreshadowing, and of the nature of
coincidence and apparent coincidence in the novel. Oliver,

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Chapter 35 Quotes
that marrying Mrs. Corney would make him a rich man
The prospect before you . . . is a brilliant one; all the honors without too much work - and if there is anything Bumble
to which great talents and powerful connections can help men does not like to do, it's work hard. Instead, however, he finds
in public life are in store for you. . . . I will neither mingle with that Mrs. Corney is not particularly nice to him - or, from her
such as hold in scorn the mother who gave me life; nor bring perspective, she is willing to critique his laziness -
disgrace or failure on the son of her who has so well supplied something he is more or less comfortable with.
that mother's place.
The Bumbles' marriage thus represents a third option in the
spectrum of marriages in a Dickens novel. There is
Related Characters: Rose Maylie (speaker), Harry Maylie thwarted, beautiful love - illicit, dangerous love - and
loveless, married life. Dickens implies that Bumble longs for
Related Themes: his bachelor days, and that those days are long in the past -
that his life now must be made with someone to whom he is
Page Number: 219 not particularly well suited, and who is willing to point out
Explanation and Analysis his shortcomings.
Rose is the novel's most selfless character - the one to
whom all other characters' generosity, including Oliver's,
Chapter 40 Quotes
might be compared favorably. Rose thinks so much of Harry,
and indeed loves him so much, that she could not imagine a Do not close your heart against all my efforts to help you . .
world in which the unexplained "blight" on her family causes . I wish to serve you indeed.
her to alter Harry's promising life's work as a lawyer and You would serve me best, lady . . . if you could take my life at
politician. She loves so deeply that she cannot be with the once; for I have felt more grief to think of what I am, tonight,
person she loves - and she is okay with this. that I ever did before . . . .
Harry's devotion to Rose, and Rose's devotion to Harry, is
one of the book's underlying romances. In Dickens, Related Characters: Rose Maylie, Nancy (speaker)
romantic entanglements tend either to be like this one -
where love is profound but thwarted - or like Nancy and Related Themes:
Sikes' relationship, where love exists but is deeply imperfect
and haunted by violence. There is a moral element, here, too Page Number: 256
- Harry and Rose are "chaste" in their life, whereas it is Explanation and Analysis
hinted that Nancy and Sikes are not - only adding to the
illicit, "criminal" quality of the latter relationship. Rose and Nancy are not so much foils as characters in utter
opposition. Rose Maylie, as above, has devoted her life to
others, and her sickness, which nearly kills her, is an
Chapter 37 Quotes occasion for much grieving among those in her family.
Nancy, on the other hand, has made a life of petty theft -
Are you going to sit there snoring all day? although Fagin and Sikes did help to raise her and care for
I am going to sit here, as long as I think proper, ma'am. . . . And her, and she is loyal to them because of it. Nancy, Dickens
although I was not snoring, I shall snore, gape, sneeze, laugh, or implies, chose her life because she had nothing else to
cry, as the humor strikes me . . . . choose - there were no other options available to her that
would keep her safe and fed.
Related Characters: Mr. Bumble, Mrs. Bumble (Mrs. Rose seems to understand this and wants to protect Nancy.
Corney) (speaker) She believes that Nancy is, at heart, a good person, and,
further, that Nancy can change her circumstances, can
Related Themes: improve them by leaving Fagin and Sikes behind. But Nancy
seems already to know at this point that she can never
Page Number: 225 abandon her life, nor can she leave Sikes - that Sikes would
Explanation and Analysis as soon kill her as let her do that.
Dickens here gives us another domestic scene, and a further
contrast to Rose and Harry's relationship on the one hand,
and to Nancy's and Sikes' on the other. Bumble believed

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Chapter 43 Quotes
distance, that she hopes to build a life for herself away from
You'll pay for this, my fine fellers. I wouldn't be you for Sikes' control. In this, Fagin sees an opening.
something. I wouldn't go free, now, if you was to fall down on
Dickens thus describes in this section two different kinds of
your knees and ask me. Here, carry me off to prison! Take me
treachery. On the one hand, Nancy is, of course, giving up
away!
her friends and associates to help Oliver and Rose, whom
she considers to be worthy people. She is doing this,
Related Characters: The Artful Dodger (speaker) however, because she knows that her "friends" are criminals
and should be stopped - she is serving, in effect, as a
Related Themes: whistleblower. Fagin also wants to go against his friend
(Sikes), but his treachery is motivated only by the possibility
Page Number: 280 of greater personal gain - of cutting Sikes out of their illicit
Explanation and Analysis business.
This passage is an indication of the Dodger's carefree
attitude and odd charm, right till the end. The Dodger does
Chapter 45 Quotes
his best to show the court that he does not care much for
their ruling - indeed, that someday, somehow, they will She goes abroad tonight . . . and on the right errand, I'm
"regret" what they've done to him. Of course it is not clear sure; for she has been alone all da, and the man she is afraid of,
how exactly this will come to pass, but the Dodger is will not be back much before daybreak . . . .
accustomed, even at his young age, to a life lived as a mature
adult - wherein, if the Dodger wants something, he will do Related Characters: Fagin (speaker), Nancy, Sikes, Noah
everything he can do to get it, and will not let anyone, adults Claypole
or the law, tell him otherwise.
The Dodger runs up against a limit on his free will when he Related Themes:
finds himself in court, however. The Dodger could do as
much as he pleased on the streets of London, but there are Page Number: 288
rules he cannot break - and when caught stealing the snuff Explanation and Analysis
box, he knew that his time had been called, that he was
going to be hauled off to jail and made to serve at least one This is a further instance of Fagin's treachery. He has
penalty for a young lifetime of small crimes already recruited Noah to do his spying for him, to track Nancy.
committed. Thus, he is not really trying to help Nancy at all, to help her
get away from Sikes, for example, or to make a life for
herself on her own. No - he wishes, instead, to use Nancy as
Chapter 44 Quotes a pawn, as a means of enraging Sikes, perhaps, and further
asserting control among the other criminal associates.
You have a friend in me, Nance; a staunch friend. I have the
Fagin is a difficult character to summarize for several
means at hand, quiet and close. If you want revenge on those
reasons. First, of course, he is a profoundly offensive
that treat you like a dog . . .come to me. I say, come to me.
caricature, especially in the contemporary context
(although the offensiveness would also have been apparent
Related Characters: Fagin (speaker), Nancy in Dickens' time) - and, related to this, his motivations are
hard to understand. For Fagin seems to have almost no
Related Themes: shred of dignity at all - he will do anything, at any cost, to get
his own way - and he seems not to care who stands in his
Page Number: 285 path.
Explanation and Analysis
Fagin does not realize exactly what Nancy is doing - he
Chapter 47 Quotes
believes that Nancy is meeting with another lover (not
Sikes, that is), on the bridge, rather than meeting with Rose It was a ghastly figure to look upon. The murderer
and attempting to work for Oliver's ultimate protection. But staggering backward to the wall, and shutting out the sight with
for Fagin, the real reason for Nancy's distance with Sikes is his hand, seized a heavy club and struck her down.
not important. What does matter is that Nancy wants this

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Related Characters: Sikes, Nancy but really should not be, as Dickens has primed the reader
to expect coincidences at every turn. The characters in
Related Themes: Oliver Twist, as in many Dickens novels, are drawn together
in a "net" of overlapping relationships that is often knotted
Page Number: 302 up, or unwound, at the close of the novel - when those
relationships are revealed and explained, or else destroyed.
Explanation and Analysis
The most gruesome passage in the book, and the moment
when the foreshadowings of death, which have run Chapter 50 Quotes
throughout the pages of Oliver Twist, become actualized in
Nancy's murder. From the beginning, Nancy has attempted The noose was at his neck. It ran up with his weight, tight
to assert herself against, and protect herself from, Sikes, a as bow-string . . . there was sudden jerk, a terrific convulsion of
man who has no moral scruples, no willingness to contain the limbs; and there he hung, with the open knife clenched in
his anger - and who has abused Nancy brutally for years. his stiffening hand.
Sikes is a character with no good in him, and Dickens does
not hide the cruelty Sikes is capable of inflicting on those Related Characters: Sikes
around him. Sikes directs the vast majority of that cruelty
against Nancy. Related Themes:
Nancy's death is the book's most upsetting, most graphic,
and most jarring moment. It is noteworthy that Rose, in her Page Number: 326
attempts to encourage Nancy to leave Sikes and stay with Explanation and Analysis
them, was not able to convince Nancy of this plan. This is
In the Dickensian universe, bad behavior cannot go
not because Nancy didn't think it would work, but because
unpunished for very long. Sikes has quite literally gotten
Nancy felt her rightful place was with Sikes, even if he
away with murder - at least, he has gotten away with
vowed, ultimately, do to great violence to her.
murder for a time. But Nancy will be avenged - and in this
instance, Sikes dies a painful and very public death, at
exactly the moment when he is trying to elude being
Chapter 49 Quotes
captured for the heinous crime he has committed. This is
You must do more than that . . . make restitution to an another gruesome moment in a novel that has seen
innocent and unoffending child, for such he is, although the increasing violence done to its characters.
offspring of a guilty and most miserable love . . . .
Indeed, the relationship of the violent to the comedic, of the
serious to the lighthearted, is one of Dickens' hallmarks.
Related Characters: Mr. Brownlow (speaker), Oliver Twist, Oliver Twist, one of Dickens' earlier novels, is perhaps more
Monks lighthearted than others, as evidenced by some of the
characters' rather whimsical or unrealistic-sounding names.
Related Themes: But Oliver Twist is also a novel about the consequences of
decision-making, and of criminal and selfish behavior. And to
Page Number: 319 this end, Sikes' death is representative of a public and
severe form of moral justice.
Explanation and Analysis
Brownlow has remained a staunch and dedicated defender
of Oliver's throughout the novel, even as other characters Chapter 53 Quotes
have attempted to convince him that Oliver is only using
Brownlow for his money and goodwill. Brownlow seems to I believe that the shade of Agnes sometimes hovers round
sense that Oliver has "good" or "noble" (really, wealthy) that solemn nook [in the country church]. I believe it none the
blood in him - and that, though Oliver might have been the les, because that nook is in a Church, and she was weak and
child of an unwed mother, he is nevertheless "deserving," erring.
based on his "high birth," of a far greater lot in life than he
has already achieved. Related Characters: Agnes Fleming
That Monks and Brownlow know and have known each
other is a surprise to the reader at this stage in the novel - Related Themes:

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Page Number: 346 development from young boyhood into young adulthood,
the final paragraph should be reserved for a continued
Explanation and Analysis statement on the moral status of his mother. It is as though
This is a somewhat strange ending to the novel. Dickens has Dickens wishes to remind his audience that, despite
reserved a good deal of shame for Oliver's unwed mother - everything, some choices - even made innocently, or having
going so far as to blame her, implicitly, for Oliver's mitigating circumstances - can produce ill effects for other
difficulties in life as an orphaned boy. Dickens and his people involved. In this case, Dickens argues that Oliver's
narrator are unable to consider Agnes as being anything but fate - the things in his life beyond his control, the social
guilty for her "crime" of giving birth to Oliver outside of disadvantages he has had to endure - have a cause, and that
wedlock. This, for the time in England, was an unpardonable is his mother's decision so many years before. Although it
sin, and Dickens does not excuse Agnes' behavior for any seems preposterous to a contemporary reader, this, for
reason. Dickens, was an important point to make at the close of the
book.
It is also striking that, in a novel so concerned with Oliver's

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SUMMARY AND ANAL

ANALYSIS
YSIS
The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the
work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.

CHAPTER 1
The narrator introduces Oliver Twist, the novel's young The narrator here introduces his (or her) ironic tone, which will be
protagonist, who is born in an unnamed town in 1830s maintained throughout the course of the novel. Although it appears,
England, in a workhouse for the poor. The narrator claims that, at first, that the narrator is going to highlight the importance of
although it is typically not considered good luck to be born in a family, and the ways in which a family might help a mother giving
workhouse, Oliver was, in this case, lucky: he had trouble birth, instead the narrator states that all those meddling relatives
breathing at birth, and if he were surrounded by family would only get in the way of the young child's breathing. Much of
members trying to help him breathe, he surely would have died the humor in the novel derives from this ironic detachment from or
because of their misguided efforts. Since it was only the subversion of one's expectations of a typical "family drama" of the
surgeon, an attending old woman, Oliver's mother, and Oliver time.
at the birth, however, Oliver was allowed simply to "fight with
Nature," and he eventually breathes.

Oliver's mother asks to see Oliver once before she dies. The It is a cardinal sin, in the Victorian era in England, to be pregnant
surgeon places Oliver in her arms, and she falls back and dies and to give birth out of wedlock. This is the first strike against Oliver,
immediately. The surgeon and the attending woman, Mrs. in his unlucky early years—that he is a "bastard," or, officially, the
Thingummy, discuss Oliver's mother's origins. The night before child of parents who were not married.
the birth, Oliver's mother came to the workhouse in torn, dirty
clothes, without a wedding ring. Oliver's father is unknown.

The narrator states that, when Oliver is simply wrapped in Another ironic note. Poverty, the narrator states, is not inherent to
swaddling clothes, he cannot be distinguished from the child of the poor—it is something taken off or worn, like clothing; it is indeed
a very rich man—all newborns exist outside the hierarchies of inseparable from the clothing one wears. Oliver's reversal in fortune
social class. But then Oliver is placed in a garment of the later on will show that his "poverty" was not an essential quality of
workhouse, indicating that he is to be a pauper. The narrator his character (many in Victorian England, though, did seem to
comments that, if Oliver were aware of his poverty, he would believe that poverty was just that: innate, a product of a person's
be crying even louder. inner laziness or badness.

CHAPTER 2
Because the parish determines that the workhouse does not Although this "farming house" is supposed to exist to raise the
have a woman in place to care for Oliver, he is "farmed" to a children of deceased parents, it mainly serves to keep these children
branch-workhouse three miles away, where he plays with "out of the way." Many of the children die before they even reach
twenty or so other young children. He is nursed "by hand," or adulthood, meaning that the state no longer has to look out for
with a bottle. The woman in charge of this branch-house, Mrs. them or take care of them. Those children that do, almost by
Mann, spends most of the parish stipend on her own accident, survive to "grow up" will simply be placed in the
purchases, and leaves only a very small amount to feed the workhouse, to labor alongside other paupers—and to be shelved,
children, many of whom die of malnourishment. But the similarly, out of sight of the general populace.
surgeon and the local beadle make sure not to investigate the
branch-house's activities, which continues operating to the
detriment of the children in it.

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It is Oliver's ninth birthday, and Mr. Bumble, the beadle, or Oliver's iconic last name was invented by Bumble and assigned to
church official in charge of administering the Poor Laws in that him—much of the novel, indeed, will be a search for Oliver's origins,
region, has arrived to speak with Mrs. Mann about him. The for his "true name." It should be noted, too, that conceptions of
beadle declares also, as an aside, that he gave Oliver his full "adolescence," or teenage years, did not exist at this time, nor did
name (he invented the first, and the last was the next child labor laws. From the age of nine, Oliver is expected to work like
alphabetically, after a previous boy named "Swubble"). After an adult.
this, the beadle announces that Oliver, being aged nine, will
have to leave the "farm" and return to the workhouse.

Although Oliver finds Mrs. Mann to be a cruel woman, he Some trades were reserved specifically for children, as they involved
pretends that he has loved her and his time at the "farm." He small, repetitive actions that would better be practiced by those
goes with the beadle to the workhouse, and is brought before with lots of time and small hands. The picking of oakum is one of
"the board," or the group of men that manage and administer these trades; and it is irrelevant whether or not Oliver agrees to this
the house. Oliver cries before them, out of nervousness, and assignment—he has no choice in the matter.
they wonder why he would be crying. They tell Oliver he is to
be assigned a trade: he will learn to pick "oakum," or hemp used
for making ships, the next morning.

The narrator describes how the board regulates the amount of An iconic scene in the novel. Oliver dares do what no one else
food those in the workhouse are allowed to eat; it is mostly does—this is an indication that Oliver possesses "heroic"
"gruel," or water mixed with thin oatmeal, and many of the qualities—that he is a beacon of virtue toward which other
workers starve and die. An episode is then related: Oliver, after characters in the novel seem to gravitate. Oliver's decision to ask for
three months of near starvation, approaches the master in the more—to think that he might deserve more or that the world might
dining hall and asks if he might have more gruel. The master is be willing to give him more—precipitates his leaving the workhouse,
flabbergasted, and calls for the beadle, who brings Oliver and his journey through the world and into London.
before the board again.

One member of the board, a "man in a white waistcoat," This man in the white waistcoat will repeat his refrain, of "hanging
remarks aloud, over and over, that he believes Oliver, a for Oliver," numerous times. Of course, it is not Oliver but several of
troublemaker, will eventually be hung. The beadle and the the criminals around him, namely Sikes and Fagin, who will be
board decide to post a notice outside the workhouse: five hanged later on.
pounds to anyone who will take on Oliver Twist as their
apprentice.

CHAPTER 3
Oliver is placed in a small room, in solitary confinement, as Here Oliver's punishment in the workhouse is indistinguishable
punishment for asking for more oatmeal; he remains there one from the punishment he would receive in prison. This lays bare the
week. Oliver is flogged in public and in private, including before truth of the workhouse: that it is, essentially, a jail for the poor, who
the other boys in the dining hall. Meanwhile, a chimney- are treated, by the state, like criminals, simply for being poor.
sweeper named Mr. Gamfield happens to notice the posted bill,
advertising Oliver's services as apprentice.

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Mr. Gamfield, who has been mercilessly beating his donkey The board merely pretends they are concerned for Oliver's health as
outside the workhouse, is believed, by the man in the waistcoat a chimney-sweep's apprentice—in reality, the board wants to pay
and others on the board, to be a "suitable" and strong-willed less to foist him off on someone else. Another irony: while the board
master for Oliver. But the board pretends that they have fakes concern for Oliver's condition, they have him locked up in a
reservations, sending Oliver to such a dangerous trade as solitary room not far away.
chimney-sweeping, and they argue their reward down to three
pounds, fifteen shillings. Gamfield accepts.

Bumble takes Oliver before the magistrate, in order to have One of Oliver's qualities, throughout the novel, is an inability to
papers signed granting Oliver to Gamfield as a chimney- dissemble—to lie about his feelings. Rather, as here, Oliver must
sweep's apprentice. All proceeds according to Gamfield's show what he feels—he "cannot tell a lie." He is scared about serving
wishes, until the magistrate notices that Oliver is pale and as Gamfield's apprentice, and he shows this to the magistrate.
upset about his coming apprenticeship. The magistrate asks Bumble believes Oliver is trying to trick his way into sympathy, but
Oliver what's the matter, and Oliver replies by begging the this is simply Oliver's way of expressing emotion.
magistrate to do anything he can—even to send Oliver back to
the workhouse—to avoid going off with the cruel Gamfield.

Bumble is immensely angry with Oliver, and he leads him back It should be noted that the board is mostly upset, here, because they
to the workhouse; Gamfield walks away, wishing he might have now have to expend extra effort in "placing" Oliver again, and
had Oliver as an apprentice; and a sign is once again posted because they had a "good deal" in placing him with
outside the house, offering Oliver's services. Gamfield—paying Gamfield less than the promised five pounds.

CHAPTER 4
The board and the beadle decide that they will try to send Sowerberry, as evidenced here, also participates in the economy of
Oliver to sea, to apprentice him to a captain on a ship. On his poverty that surrounds the workhouse, but which benefits no one
way back to the workhouse, the beadle encounters Mr. who actually lives in the workhouses. Sowerberry makes a profit
Sowerberry, a coffin-maker, who looks to collect money for manufacturing cheap coffins for the poor who die while in the
recent coffins he has made for the workhouse, and who workhouse—the coffins can be cheap because the bodies of the poor
complains, to the beadle, that the workhouse pays him very placed inside are so frail.
little for his coffins. The beadle replies that the pay is small
because the coffins, and the people that go inside them from
the house, are small.

Bumble asks Sowerberry if the latter knows of anyone needing Another irony. Bumble has been given an award for his
an apprentice, and Sowerberry responds that he himself needs "Samaritanship," meaning his willingness to help others when they
one. Sowerberry also compliments the beadle on his "button," a are in need, but of course Bumble cares not a jot for the needs of
medal he received from the church of the Good Samaritan for anyone but himself. Sowerberry points this out, subtly, to Bumble,
healing a sick man. The beadle recalls that he first wore the who has difficulty taking the hint. Sowerberry, though a participant
medal to the official meeting wherein the death of a tradesman in the exploitative economy surrounding the workhouses, does seem
was investigated, and Sowerberry reminds the beadle, not more aware of the injustices this system creates.
without irony, that the tradesman died because he was locked
out of the workhouse late at night, and froze to death just
outside the door.

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The beadle brushes of Sowerberry's criticism aside and informs Here, again, Bumble's lack of concern for others shows. Bumble has
Oliver, while Sowerberry is meeting with the board, that Oliver no idea why Oliver might be crying—why Oliver might be afraid to
will either go as apprentice to Sowerberry, or he'll be sent to be taken out of the only home he has ever known (and a terrible
sea, where surely he will drown. The board approves this home at that), to be placed in the house of a strange family, and to
apprenticeship. Later that evening, Oliver becomes quiet and be forced to work a terrifying trade from a young age. Bumble
frightened. As Bumble drags Oliver to meet Sowerberry and appears, for a moment, to sympathize with Oliver here, but just as
his wife at their home, Oliver begins to cry again, and the quickly drags Oliver along to Sowerberry—Bumble is incapable
beadle starts to yell at Oliver. But Oliver pleads that he is actually of changing his attitude toward the poor.
merely lonely at the workhouse and afraid of what will become
of him. The beadle, confused by Oliver's emotion, allows Oliver
to collect himself, then continues dragging him to Sowerberry.

Mrs. Sowerberry remarks that Oliver is very small and thin, Mrs. Sowerberry believes she is doing Oliver a good deed by giving
when he is dropped off at their house by the beadle. She offers him any meat at all, even if this meat is of such low quality that a
Oliver small bits of meat that their dog wouldn't eat, and Oliver dog won't eat it. No one seems to think that Oliver might be terrified
eats them down in the basement. Mrs. Sowerberry then shows by the thought of sleeping among so many coffins, about to be
Oliver upstairs, to the attic containing the coffins, where Oliver placed in the ground.
is to sleep.

CHAPTER 5
Oliver spends the night, alone, among the coffins, and can This section indicates the "naturalness" of certain hierarchies, which
barely sleep, he is so disturbed by the strange and macabre will always develop in societies, no matter how impoverished the
sight of the coffins laid out. Oliver is awoken the next morning circumstances. Noah is a boy of no means, but his family is alive,
by Noah Claypole, a boy only slightly older than him, who and his parents work trades—menial ones, but trades nonetheless.
nevertheless begins ordering Oliver about. Charlotte, the This makes Noah, in his own mind, superior to Oliver. Of course,
Sowerberry's daughter, finds Noah's mistreatment of Oliver there is a dramatic irony here, for it will be revealed, later, that
funny. Noah believes himself superior to Oliver because, Oliver is in fact the son of a gentleman, and of higher social station
though he is also poor, he knows his parents, who live close than anyone in the Sowerberry home.
by—unlike Oliver, the orphan, who has never known his
parents.

One night, after about a month of Oliver's apprenticeship, These "mutes" help mourners to feel that their loved one was an
Sowerberry tells his wife that, because Oliver is an attractive important personage, one for whom many will come and pay
young man with a "melancholic" disposition, he would make a respects. At the same time, the more people at a funeral, the more
good "mute," or a mourner brought along to accompany and who know about Sowerberry's coffin-making services; it is an
"enhance" funeral parties. advertisement for the man's business.

The beadle arrives soon thereafter, and tells Sowerberry that a How quickly Oliver is forgotten. Bumble seems only to care about
woman in the parish has died, and is in need of a coffin and a Oliver when Oliver is making problems for him in the
funeral preparation. The beadle does not ask after Oliver, nor workhouse—otherwise, the poor, to the beadle, are nothing more
does he seem to remember that Oliver is even present at than objects to be collected, managed, moved about, and profited
Sowerberry's. Sowerberry decides to take Oliver along with from.
him to the house of the deceased woman.

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Oliver and Sowerberry find the house in squalid, impoverished A harrowing scene, intended surely, by Dickens, to show the
condition. The husband of the deceased woman is afraid to crushing horrors of poverty outside the workhouse. The woman has
have her in the ground, "where the worms can get her," and died simply for want of basic amenities, yet even in her death the
mourns her quick passing, of fever. The woman's mother asks family is being charged (to them) high rates just to bury the body
when the funeral is to take place, and Sowerberry responds and perform the last rites.
that it will be the next day. The beadle has sent to the house a
small amount of food, to placate the family.

Oliver walks with Sowerberry, the beadle, and four pallbearers A continuation of the harrowing scene above. To bury bodies more
the next day, at the woman's funeral; the casket is so light, with cheaply, the poor are placed in makeshift mass graves, some of
the woman's frail body, that the pallbearers more or less run to which are then exposed by heavy rains. All this contributes to an
the grave, where they are kept waiting by a pastor busy with atmosphere of horror and degradation for the poor.
other funerals. The casket is buried atop numerous others in a
shallow grave, and the ceremony is very brief.

Sowerberry asks, after the funeral is over, whether Oliver At least Sowerberry shows some concern for Oliver—even if this
minded being a "mute" mourner; Oliver says he does not like concern ultimately derives from a business interest (Sowerberry
the job very much, but Sowerberry ensures he will get used to believes Oliver's handsomeness will bring in more customers).
it. Oliver wonders how long it took Sowerberry to get used to Although Sowerberry is cruel to Oliver, he is the least cruel of the
this line of work. novel's early characters.

CHAPTER 6
Oliver continues working for Sowerberry as a "mute," and Another of Dickens' ironies. Dickens makes it seem as though he
because it's a time of year when sickness is more prevalent, the does not judge those "mourners" who use funerals as excuses to
coffin trade increases, and Oliver attends more funerals. Oliver meet new romantic partners—when, of course, Dickens is strongly
notes that many mourners—including people who have lost criticizing the apparent superficiality he sees in the Victorian middle
their wives and husbands—seem all too happy to bury their class.
dead, and to look for new partners. Oliver interprets this as a
sign of their happiness, but the narrator implies that these
people are actually selfish and heartless.

Noah keeps ordering Oliver around, and Charlotte, following Marriages in the novel tend either to be Happy or Unhappy, with
Noah's lead, does so as well. Mr. Sowerberry tends to look out very few falling in between. The Sowerberrys' marriage, like the
for Oliver (because Oliver is so useful for business, serving as a Bumbles' later on, falls into the latter category.
mute), and Mrs. Sowerberry, to oppose her husband, typically
criticizes Oliver.

An important episode is recounted: Noah and Oliver descend The implication here is that Oliver's mother, apart from having
to the basement to eat dinner (as usual), and Noah asks about Oliver out of wedlock, was also what Victorians would call a
Oliver's mother. Oliver replies that she is dead, and Noah, "woman of loose morals." This is not borne out by the facts of Agnes'
knowing this, goes on to say that Oliver's mother was a "bad life—as Edward, Oliver's father, was her true love, and she was
‘un"; he implies that she was a prostitute and a criminal. At this, committed to him.
Oliver becomes enraged, and flies at Noah in a fury.

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Noah immediately cries out (coward-like) for help, and Noah appears to talk a good deal, but when it comes to fighting,
Charlotte and Mrs. Sowerberry rush to his aid, pulling Oliver Oliver—never one to instigate—will battle to defend his principles,
away, and remarking that they always knew Oliver was a bad and, in this case, to protect his mother's reputation (although at this
seed. They pledge to inform Mr. Sowerberry of Oliver's actions point he knows nothing about his mother). Oliver's bravery here is
when he returns home. Noah feels he is lucky to be alive. No implicitly praised by Dickens, and Noah's cowardice is criticized.
mention is made of the fact that Noah incited the fight.
Charlotte and Mrs. Sowerberry send Noah to tell Bumble of
the fight.

CHAPTER 7
Noah runs all the way to the workhouse, and finds Mr. Bumble. It was not enough that Noah pushed Oliver into a fight for which he
Noah informs Bumble that Oliver has "gone vicious" and (Noah) was not ready—Noah also lies to Bumble, making it seem
attempted to kill him; Noah exaggerates the episode, and says that Oliver started the fight, and that Oliver has been plotting to kill
also (falsely) that Oliver pledged to kill Sowerberry as well. the Sowerberrys all along. Bumble is all too willing to believe
Noah asks whether Bumble would return to the Sowerberry this—to ascribe unsavoriness to Oliver's character. Of course, later
home and beat Oliver, since Sowerberry is out at the moment. in the novel, it is Bumble who is revealed, by the narrator, to be an
The man in the white waistcoat, who overhears this exchange, unsavory and immoral man.
remarks that he always knew Oliver was a bad seed—a boy who
one day would be hung.

Bumble heads with Noah back to the Sowerberrys'. He finds A means by which Bumble justifies his, and the workhouse's, thin
Oliver locked in a room, and Oliver tells Bumble he is not afraid ration of gruel—any larger amount of food, and the prisoners and
of him. Bumble informs Mrs. Sowerberry that Oliver's anger is workers, well-fed, would revolt against Bumble and the board. It is
attributable to his being fed meat at their home. Bumble hard to believe that Oliver would be strong enough to fight Noah,
recommends leaving Oliver down in the cellar for a day or too, who is much larger than Oliver, even if Oliver is being fed "meat."
to "starve" him a little; he says that Oliver's mother was also
physically very strong, and she fought long and hard before she
died in childbirth.

Sowerberry returns at this point. Mrs. Sowerberry insists that An important point, noted by the narrator: Sowerberry is still
whatever Noah said about Oliver's mother was true, but Oliver inclined to like Oliver and to side with him. Only after Oliver
becomes enraged at this, and shouts to Mrs. Sowerberry that contradicts his wife does Sowerberry decide that, to save face, he
these are lies. Mrs. Sowerberry bursts into tears, and at this must punish the boy. Sowerberry's major flaw, demonstrated here, is
point Sowerberry, initially reluctant to punish Oliver, feels he a willingness to please his wife at all costs.
must do so.

Sowerberry beats Oliver to Bumble's and Mrs. Sowerberry's A turning point in the book. Oliver decides to take his "fate" into his
satisfaction, then has him sleep in the coffin workshop alone. own hands. If he were to stay at the coffin-shop, he would be an
That night, Oliver realizes how alone he is in the world, and unhappy, poor apprentice for much of his young life. Instead, he
resolves to do something about his position. In the early attempts to make his fortune in London.
morning light, he sneaks out of the Sowerberrys' house and
makes his way, quickly and quietly, to the workhouse.

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Oliver encounters an old friend named Dick in the workhouse Dick barely appears in the novel—he is in three scenes—but he is
garden. Oliver tells Dick never to tell anyone that he has seen something of a foil to Oliver, another "good boy" who is not so lucky,
Oliver there; Oliver announces that he is going off in the world and who apparently does not come from high-born parents.
to seek his fortune. Oliver tells Dick he will one day be happy, Whatever benefits Oliver later receives, Dick does not; thus their
and Dick, overcome with love for Oliver, kisses him and blesses two fates, so similar in the beginning of the text, diverge a great deal
him. The narrator says that Oliver never once forgot this by the end, when Oliver returns to his village with Brownlow and the
blessing from Dick—which were really the first kind words Maylies and Dick dies. In this way, Dickens is able to maintain his
anyone had ever spoken to him. criticism of England's Poor Laws even as Oliver escapes poverty.

CHAPTER 8
Oliver decides to walk to London, which is about seventy miles This is one of the most arduous tasks Oliver must accomplish in the
away. He is five miles outside the town, but he hides during the novel. It is not an easy walk for anyone, and Oliver is a small,
morning hours in case someone might be sent to find him and undernourished boy. Dickens here shows the extent of Oliver's
bring him back. He has only a "crust of bread," a penny, and a resolve and courage: his willingness to risk his life in order to escape
change of clothes, and he walks another four miles, wondering his circumstances.
whether he will make it to the big city at all.

On the first day Oliver walks twenty miles and sleeps under a One of the additional savageries of the Poor Laws in England was
pile of hay; the next morning, he exchanges the penny for the fact that paupers, as the poor were known, were not permitted
another loaf of bread. In the towns he passes through, Oliver to leave the place in which they were born. That is, paupers had only
attempts to get a ride in others' coaches, but they do not admit one option: the poorhouse, which was no option at all. Oliver has
him, and he often sees billboards stating that beggars will be forgone this "option," and therefore is, technically, a criminal, in the
arrested and prosecuted (as it was illegal to beg, and to travel eyes of Victorian law.
as a pauper; the poor were supposed to report only to their
local workhouses for relief).

Oliver continues walking for days. He encounters a roadworker This couple, the roadworker and his wife, play a very small part in
and his wife, who give him bread and cheese—enough to keep the novel, but they help Oliver a great deal—without their aid, Oliver
him alive. Oliver is thankful for their kindness and continues on. might have perished on the way to the great city of London.
On the seventh day, in the town of Barnet, Oliver comes upon a Dickens, and the narrator, appear to have a large amount of
young boy who asks him what's the matter. The boy is dressed sympathy for this couple—it should be noted that it was also illegal
in the manner of a young gentleman, though he is very small, to help the poor to flee the region of their birth, as this couple does.
and he speaks to Oliver in a slang Oliver does not understand.
But he says he will help Oliver to get food. Oliver agrees
readily, as he is nearly starved.

The strange boy purchases ham and bread from a shopkeeper, The narrator introduces one of Dickens' most famous characters,
and takes Oliver to a pub, where Oliver eats ravenously. The across all his novels. The Artful Dodger is not much older than
boy asks Oliver whether he is heading to London, and if he Oliver, and not much larger, but is impossibly wise in the "ways of
needs shelter; Oliver says yes to both. The boy introduces the world." The Dodger has been educated in the streets of London,
himself as Jack Dawkins, and says that he lives with a "kind old and he speaks a language so full of slang it is sometimes difficult for
gentleman" who will be able to provide Oliver shelter. Dawkins Oliver to understand.
says his nickname is the Artful Dodger.

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Oliver distrusts some aspects of the Dodger's bearing—he It is hard to piece through the Dodger's motives. Of course he brings
senses that the Dodger might be using him for some kind of Oliver to Fagin because Fagin is always on the look-out for other
trick—but resolves to go with him into London, to see about the boys to bring into the fold—small boys who won't be considered
"old gentleman," and from there to decide on the best course of "marks" or thieves. But the Dodger also seems to take a liking to
action. The pair make their way, in the evening, into London, a Oliver, and he wants, in however small a way, to help him, in the way
distance of several more miles, and go through a series of that the Dodger was helped when he arrived in the city. The Dodger
increasingly impoverished neighborhoods, until they reach an is still a largely immoral character, but he is not without his
apartment building, where the Dodger provides a password to humanity.
another young boy and asks if Fagin is home. The other young
boy says yes, and Oliver and the Dodger enter the building.

Oliver walks into the dirty, grimy apartment, and is introduced Dickens' anti-Semitism in this section deserves a mention. In
by the Dodger to Fagin, a Jewish man described (with great Victorian England, it was common in popular culture to attribute
prejudice) by the narrator as being small, shriveled, and evil- shockingly "evil" characteristics to Jewish people. These
looking. There are "four or five" other boys in the room, and representations go back to the Middle Ages, and though they should
they appear to work for Fagin. The boys cook sausages for not by any means be excused or ignored in Dickens, they are a
Oliver, who eats them hungrily, and Fagin mixes Oliver a hot gin product of the time and the dominant culture in which, and to
and water to help him sleep, which Oliver does almost which, Dickens was writing.
immediately, as he is exhausted from his journey.

CHAPTER 9
Oliver sleeps until the late morning, and wakes up slowly to find Another anti-Semitic stereotype: the idea that Jewish members of
Fagin boiling coffee for his breakfast. Fagin checks to see if society were somehow "obsessed" with gold and jewelry. There are
Oliver is awake—Oliver pretends still to be asleep, though he is numerous historical reasons for this association—the fact that
semi-conscious. Fagin then latches the door of the apartment many European societies did not allow Christians to lend money at
and pulls a small box out of a hutch in the floor—the box interest, thus causing many Jewish people to enter early banking
contains jewels and other valuable items, which Fagin examines industries—but Dickens does not concern himself with these
with great relish, remarking to himself how fine these objects subtleties. Rather, his Fagin is an amalgam of various common
are. Fagin mumbles to himself about the men who stole some Jewish stereotypes of the time.
of these objects, and implied that they have been hung by the
authorities, while Fagin has been left with the booty.

Oliver's eyes open for a moment and catch Fagin's—Fagin Fagin is also worried that Oliver will realize how much money he
immediately closes the lid and hides the box, asking Oliver how manages. What Fagin does not know, however, is that Oliver's
much of the preceding he has seen. Oliver says he has seen only concern for money is only very basic: Oliver wants enough money to
a little, but admits to noticing the jewels, which Fagin explains live comfortably and stably, but he has no desire to be rich. This
are the "little bit" he has to live on, now, in his old age. Oliver goodness, ironically, is later rewarded by the relatively large
remarks to himself that Fagin must be a "miser," to live with inheritance Oliver receives.
such wealth in such squalid surroundings.

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The Dodger returns to the apartment with a "sprightly" boy he Oliver believes that Bates and the Dodger work in some kind of
introduces to Oliver as Charley Bates. Fagin asks what the factory and manufacture these items. He will learn, slowly, that they
Dodger and Bates have "made" that morning, and the Dodger simply steal them. Dickens here attributes Oliver's naiveté to a
replies he has "made" some pocket-books, and Bates that he desire to believe the best in people—but it is sometimes difficult to
has made some handkerchiefs, or "wipes." Fagin asks Oliver if believe, in the novel, that Oliver is so willing to ascribe goodness to
one day he will "make" wipes, and Oliver readily agrees, not characters who are so clearly immoral and "bad."
understanding that to "make" means to steal these objects. The
boys laugh aloud at how "green," or naïve, Oliver is.

Fagin then plays a "game" with the Dodger and Bates, wherein This "game" is a form of pickpocketing practice for the Dodger and
he puts on a large coat, filled with trinkets and baubles, and Bates. Fagin, in this way, creates a life that almost resembles a kind
challenges the two to steal from it without Fagin's noticing. of foster home, where he cares for his "children" and helps them to
They play this game for a while, and Oliver watches, not play. But, in reality, this is only the appearance of a family: Fagin's
understanding how the game relates to their "jobs" in the relationship to the boys is only motivated by Fagin's greed.
streets. Two women, Bet and Nancy, arrive dressed in finery,
and after a little drink they head out with the Dodger and Bates
for the afternoon.

Fagin shows Oliver how easy the life of these young men and Fagin begins, here, to tell Oliver that he wishes for him to pattern his
women is—they "work" only in the mornings, and are free to behavior on Bates' and the Dodger's. Fagin wishes to "raise" Oliver
spend time to themselves in the afternoon, unless a "job" in the tradition of these other pickpockets. But Fagin will encounter
presents itself to them by chance. Fagin has Oliver practice resistance on Oliver's part—the boy is too virtuous to be corrupted
picking his pocket, and also has him take stitches out of people's by his surroundings, even when forced to by those who have power
personalized handkerchiefs, but Oliver does not understand over him, like Fagin and, later, Sikes.
how these "games" relate to the jobs the Dodger and others do
in the streets. Fagin says, simply, that Oliver ought to make
those boys his model, and do as they do.

CHAPTER 10
For the next several days, Oliver plays the "wipes" game with Like Oliver, this gentleman, later revealed to be Brownlow, is
Fagin, but is not allowed to accompany the Dodger and Bates considered "green," or too naïve and wrapped up in his own life to
on their work. Finally, Fagin allows Oliver to go out with them, think about the criminal activity going on around him. One of the
since there has been very little money coming into the house novel's great coincidences here occurs: that Oliver should find
for some time. Turning into a bookstall near a part of town himself near a man who, it is later shown, was a good friend of
called Clerkenwell, the Dodger and Bates spot an elderly Oliver's long-lost father. These coincidences build up in the novel,
gentleman examining his books, and believe he is "green," a especially as it nears its conclusion.
"good plant," someone from whom they might be able to take a
handkerchief. Oliver still does not understand, but walks up to
the man with the two boys.

Oliver observes the Dodger steal the old man's handkerchief Oliver's response is a normal one—to run from the scene of a
out of his pocket, and immediately the Dodger and Bates run crime—but it is also the response that a naïve person would have,
away. Oliver is horrified and doesn't know what to do. He thus implicating Oliver in a crime with which he had no part. Once
quickly realizes where all the jewels have come from in Fagin's Oliver is seen running away, he can only increase his perceived guilt,
apartment, and the reason for the "game" he plays with Fagin. not dispel it.
Oliver decides to run away, and the old man at the book-stall,
realizing his handkerchief is gone, sees Oliver running last and
assumes him to be the thief.

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Bates and the Dodger, to avoid suspicion, also raise the cry of This will be a common scene: that of shopkeepers and other people
"Stop, thief!" shouted by the old man as he runs after Oliver. on the street rallying to capture Oliver, or to allow him to be
Others in the street answer the call as well, and soon Oliver is captured. Later, when Oliver is taken by Nancy and Sikes, people on
hunted by many people, shopkeepers and bystanders alike, the street chastise Oliver for his apparent unwillingness to go along
down a narrow road. He is hit on the back of the head by one of with his "sister" Nancy.
them, and brought down; the old man identifies Oliver as the
boy he believes to have stolen his handkerchief.

A police officer arrives, and though Oliver pleads that he stole Bates and the Dodger have a reaction opposite to Oliver's; they
nothing, that it was "the other two boys," the officer says this is make no fuss and move slowly and surely away from the scene of
a likely story, and drags Oliver to the police station nearby. The the crime, thus avoiding being "pinched," or captured by the
old man follows along. The Dodger and Bates slink merrily authorities. Oliver is not yet versed in these sorts of criminal
away, undetected, knowing they have framed Oliver for their methods.
crime.

CHAPTER 11
The policeman walks Oliver to the magistrate's office, along Brownlow realizes, just by looking at Oliver, that Oliver has the
with the old gentleman. Questioned by a guard at the appearance of an honest boy. This is in marked contrast to others in
magistrate's gate, however, the old gentleman says he is not Oliver's life (Bumble, those on the board of the workhouse) who look
sure that Oliver actually stole the handkerchief—it could have at Oliver and see only a vicious, lying scoundrel.
been someone else—and he says he does not want to press
charges. But the guard says it is too late at this point; they must
see the magistrate about the case.

Oliver is thrown into a cell, and the old gentleman looks at him The first of a series of "recognitions" that happen in the novel. Most
as this is being done; he swears he has seen something like involve Brownlow. Brownlow later figures out that the woman in the
Oliver's face before, but he does not know how or why, nor can portrait—Edward Leeford's intended—is Agnes, Oliver's
he place the face that resembles Oliver's. He is tapped on the mother—but he only does so after Oliver is recaptured by Nancy
shoulder and led by the guard into the office of Mr. Fang, the and sent back to Fagin.
district magistrate.

An angry and cruel man, Mr. Fang rules over his courtroom Fang is an exemplar of the "faceless" system of justice holding sway
with an iron fist. The old gentleman explains that his name is at this time in Victorian England. Fang is capable of dispensing
Brownlow, but before he is allowed to narrate the events of the verdicts from his bench without even hearing the substance of a
case—and to plead on Oliver's behalf, since he now thinks trial—this makes Fang, literally, "judge, jury, and executioner."
Oliver is innocent of the crime—Fang demands that the Dickens lampoons Fang's judicial powers and his inability to hear
policeman describe the theft. The policeman must admit, after anyone's side of the case.
repeating the sequence of events, that the handkerchief was
not found on Oliver, and no one actually witnessed Oliver
taking it from Brownlow.

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Brownlow tells Fang he is worried that Oliver has been injured It should be noted that Oliver's real name was given him by
by the crowd's beating after the "theft." Fang doesn't listen, and Bumble—in other words, Oliver's name is an assumed one (his
asks Oliver to describe the theft himself. A clerk standing father's last name, it will later be revealed, is Leeford). Thus "Tom
nearby attempts to hear Oliver's words, which are mumbled White" is simply another identity layered over Oliver's already
softly (as Oliver does appear quite ill); the clerk ventures that "artificial" identity. It is interesting to note that Oliver's last name,
the boy's name is Tom White (because he cannot hear Oliver Twist, is far more interesting than the name given him by the
speak), and guesses, correctly, that Oliver is an orphan with no guard—the generic "White."
permanent home. Fang, believing he has heard enough,
sentences Oliver "summarily" to three months' hard labor.

Just as Fang is delivering the sentence, however, a man rushes The bookseller emerges just in time. This is a common tactic in
into the courtroom: the book-stall's owner, who claims to have Dickens' fiction: a character appears to be in an impossible scrape,
seen the theft and to know that Oliver is not the culprit. The only to find out, at the very last second, that he has been rescued.
bookseller states that he saw two other boys with Oliver, the Indeed, this will happen to Oliver throughout the novel—most
Dodger and Bates, and that they conspired to steal the importantly, when he is taken in by the Maylies after the failed
handkerchief—Oliver had nothing to do with it. Fang points out robbery. Oliver's "good luck" in this regard seems to indicate not
that Brownlow is still carrying a book he took from the only that he is the novel's "hero," but that he is protected by some
bookseller's, during the commotion, and for which he did not sort of fated good luck.
pay. Fang tells Brownlow he is lucky not to be prosecuted for
his own "theft." Fang tells everyone to clear out; he will drop
charges against Oliver.

Brownlow is ushered outside by the guard, along with Oliver Another rescue. Brownlow has done a 180 degree turn on his
and the bookseller. Brownlow orders a carriage immediately, as appraisal of Oliver—he now wants only to help the young boy.
he fears Oliver truly is ill; the three get into the first cab that
arrives.

CHAPTER 12
Brownlow takes Oliver with him back to his house near The first of Oliver's spells in bed. Oliver will have another when he is
Pentonville, a nice neighborhood of London (the bookseller, no taken in by the Maylies, after the bungled robbery. In those who are
longer mentioned, is presumably dropped off). Oliver lies in bed good, Oliver seems to inspire even more goodness.
and is tended to by the servants at Brownlow's house; Oliver is
in bad condition, and lies "insensate" for many days with fever.

Oliver finally awakes, after several days, to find himself still in An important instance of foreshadowing. Oliver feels his mother's
Brownlow's house, being looked after by an old woman named presence in Brownlow's house—and it turns out that his mother's
Mrs. Bedwin. When Mrs. Bedwin exclaims to herself that Oliver presence is there. Brownlow was given a picture of Agnes by Edward
is a sweet young boy, and that his mother should see him lying Leeford, on that man's last trip from England to continental Europe.
as he is now, Oliver remarks that he feels his mother has been Thus, ironically, Oliver is correct in believing his mother is near.
watching over him as he has been ill in bed. This causes Mrs.
Bedwin to shed a few sympathetic tears.

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A doctor visits and corroborates the fact that Oliver is on the The second important recognition. Oliver is very much attracted to
mend. Oliver spends several ensuing nights lying quietly in bed, the picture of the woman he sees—a woman he does not know to be
and prays to God for his speedy recovery when he is alone, as his mother. He simply finds her radiant, beatific. It is perhaps hard to
he feels that death is "nearby." Oliver eventually feels strong imagine that Oliver wouldn't suspect a family resemblance between
enough to sit in an easy chair in a parlor of the house, and when himself and this woman, but that disbelief must be suspended in
he does so he spots a portrait on the wall of a young woman, order for the scene to have its intended emotional effect.
one he finds beautiful and mysterious. But Mrs. Bedwin fears
the picture is causing Oliver to grow agitated in his still-present
illness, so she turns his chair to face another direction.

Brownlow enters the parlor soon after to see Oliver; when he Oliver has been forced into a difficult position—the guard who
does so, he cannot help holding back a few tears, which he claimed Oliver's name was Tom was doing so because Oliver was
attributes, in front of Mrs. Bedwin, to some kind of cold. incapable of speech at that moment; but this seems, to Brownlow,
Brownlow refers to Oliver as Tom White, and when Oliver at first, like another possible lie from Oliver. Although Brownlow is
corrects Brownlow, telling him his real name, Brownlow inclined to believe the boy, Oliver is nevertheless, through bad luck,
wonders why Oliver told the magistrate differently—Oliver put into situations in which it appears he is lying.
explains that he never told the magistrate anything (because he
was too weak to speak), and Brownlow, though puzzled, takes
Oliver at his word.

Then Brownlow immediately notices the likeness between One would imagine that Brownlow, here, would put together that
Oliver and the woman in the picture, the one with which Oliver Agnes is Oliver's mother, but this full realization does not come until
was fascinated. As Brownlow points out this coincidence, after Oliver has been recaptured by Fagin's gang. This is perhaps
Oliver faints in his easy chair. The narrator takes advantage of hard to believe, but necessary for Dickens complex plot.
Oliver's faint to describe the whereabouts of the Dodger,
Bates, and Fagin.

The Dodger and Bates have slipped away from the scene of the The Dodger and Bates have differing attitudes regarding their
crime, and once they are clear of the crowd, Bates begins escape. Although both are happy to be free, Bates seems only to
laughing at Oliver's face when he was taken—Bates finds the enjoy the raucous fun of leaving Oliver to take the blame; the
incident only funny—while the Dodger worries what Fagin will Dodger, on the other hand, appears to have small pangs of remorse
say, now that Oliver has been nabbed by the police. Bates and for their deed, and the Dodger worries that Fagin will be upset with
the Dodger realize they cannot avoid Fagin much longer, so them, when they return to the flophouse.
they head back to the house, where Fagin recognizes at once
that only two of them have returned from the day's escapade.

CHAPTER 13
Fagin yells at the Dodger and Bates, asking what has become of The relationship between Fagin and Sikes is never fully explained. It
Oliver; the Dodger finally replies that Oliver has been taken by appears that Sikes is simply a partner-in-crime, but it is also possible
the police, and Fagin, enraged, attempts to throw a pot at the that Sikes was a young man "raised," in part, by Fagin. Nancy, of
two boys. But at this moment a burly man and his dog walk into course, was directly under Fagin's control when she was
the apartment, and Fagin nearly hits the man with the pot. The younger—just as the Dodger and Bates are now.
man, aged thirty-five years, demands an explanation from
Fagin, and says, contemptuously, that Fagin ought not to
mistreat the boys in this way.

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The burly man, who Fagin refers to as Bill Sikes, continues Fagin is terrified of Sikes' physical strength, but Fagin also appears
berating Fagin, saying that, if he were Fagin's apprentice, he willing, in later scenes, to use his cunning to defeat the burly
would have tried to kill Fagin a long time ago. Fagin appears housebreaker. Sikes and Fagin are yin and yang—two possibilities for
deferential to and fearful of Sikes, and gets him a drink while crime: brute force and sly calculation.
Sikes sits down in the apartment.

Fagin worries, aloud, to Sikes, that if Oliver has been caught, One of the gang's, and Fagin's, constant fears is "peaching," or the
and has given up information about Fagin to the police, then potential for members of the gang to rat out the group's activities to
Fagin and the boys could be in trouble. Fagin also insinuates to the police. Fagin does all he can to instill in the group the idea that
Sikes that if he (Fagin) is in trouble, then that same information one must never, ever talk to the authorities because then the law
would cause Sikes to be in even more trouble, for crimes Fagin would come for the "peacher" too.
does not mention or describe.

Just at this moment, Bet and Nancy return to the apartment. Bet and Nancy's occupation is never explicitly stated—it is possible
Sikes and Fagin have resolved that someone needs to go to the they are prostitutes, though Victorian mores would probably have
court to determine where Oliver is, and what he has said to the precluded Dickens from saying so outright in the novel. Both clearly
authorities. Fagin asks Bet to do this, but she declines; he asks have ties to the other criminal activities in which the group engages:
Nancy, and Sikes does also, but Nancy also declines. But Sikes thieving and pickpocketing chief among them.
eventually threatens Nancy sufficiently that she is forced to go,
and Fagin and Sikes makes sure she is dressed "respectably," so
as not to arouse attention at the court.

Nancy goes to the court to try to find Oliver, claiming that she Nancy is a very talented actress and liar; she manages to convince
is Oliver's sister, and she is looking for her beloved "Nolly." But everyone she sees that Oliver really is her brother. Of course, the
a guard tells her, finally, that Oliver has been taken by "the irony here is that Nancy does become attached to Oliver, later on,
gentleman" (Brownlow) into his home near Pentonville. Nancy and does what she can to save him from Monks. She becomes a kind
takes this information back to Fagin, who dispatches Sikes, of sister to him.
Nancy, the Dodger, and Bates to find Oliver and Brownlow,
before Oliver tells the gentleman any information about Fagin
and his crew.

CHAPTER 14
The narrator returns to Oliver, who has just awoken from his Just as Oliver's actual mother was "removed" from his life, so, here,
fainting fit at Brownlow's home, to discover that the picture of is the painterly representation of her also taken away from Oliver.
the unknown mysterious woman has been removed from the Only at the end of the novel will Oliver finally learn the truth of his
parlor, as Brownlow felt that the picture was too much a source mother, and be able to "live" with the knowledge of her—as a tomb is
of agitation to Oliver. reserved for Agnes in the country parsonage.

Oliver and Mrs. Bedwin then bond over the course of several Mrs. Bedwin, in the meantime, serves as a surrogate mother for
days: she teaches him cards, talks about her life with him, and Oliver. She is one of several in the novel: Rose and Mrs. Maylie are
generally contributes to an atmosphere of quiet and tranquility also important examples, and Nancy, for her part, protects Oliver in
that enables Oliver to recover fully from his fever and illness. several instances, after initially recapturing him for Fagin.
Brownlow orders a new suit of clothes for Oliver, who has
never had new clothes before.

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Brownlow calls upon Oliver, after a few more days, to talk to Oliver worries that, at Brownlow's, like at the workhouse, he will
him in his office. Oliver comes in to Brownlow, after being eventually be "sent away." In fact, the defining feature of Oliver's life
scrubbed by Mrs. Bedwin, and comments on all the books in so far is the fact that he will be sent off when he gets too old, or
Brownlow's study, which Oliver says he would like to read. behaves badly—or simply when the managers of a given place grow
Brownlow says this will be done one day. Oliver worries that tired of him. Brownlow promises this won't happen to Oliver in his
Brownlow is preparing to send him away, but Brownlow house.
promises, to Oliver's reassurance, that he would only send
Oliver away if Oliver gave him reason to do so.

Brownlow asks Oliver to narrate his life's story up till this point, Grimwig is a voice of skepticism in these early pages. It is not that he
which Oliver begins to do, until their conversation is has anything in particular against Oliver, but Grimwig does appear
interrupted by the arrival of Brownlow's friend, a gentleman to believe that all paupers, regardless of their origin, are, inherently,
named Mr. Grimwig. Brownlow asks Oliver to stay while liars and cheats. In this way, Grimwig can be seen as representing
Grimwig enters. Grimwig is a wizened, older gentleman, with a conventional Victorian upper class views of the poor. Oliver must
strange way of talking—he tends to end his sentences with the prove to Grimwig that this is not the case.
same oath of "I'll eat my head."

Grimwig begins complaining about an orange-peel he found on One realizes later that, if Oliver had told more of his life to
the steps, which he believes to be dangerous (for slipping), and Brownlow at this moment, Brownlow might have learned of Oliver's
which he decries repeatedly, as Brownlow laughs inwardly at provenance and linked it to the picture of Agnes in the parlor. This
his friend's strangeness. Brownlow eventually dismisses Oliver, could have avoided all sorts of difficulties in Oliver's life—but it also
asking him to return at ten the next morning, to the study, so would have made the novel a good deal shorter and less exciting.
that Oliver can inform Brownlow further of the circumstances
of his life.

Oliver leaves the study, and Grimwig tells his friend that he An important "test," for Oliver, one he is fated to fail—and not of his
believes Oliver is a faker, a young con-man, who is taking in own volition, but because of circumstances outside his control. This
Brownlow, and who means to deceive him in some way. is another example of Oliver's early bad luck—his inability to find
Grimwig convinces Brownlow to test Oliver, by asking Oliver to situations that allow him to explain, or to show, his fundamental
take back some books to the bookseller, and to pay the goodness. Later, at the Maylies', however, Oliver's true and virtuous
bookseller four pounds, ten shillings, owed him. Brownlow goes disposition will become clear.
through with the test, and Oliver promises to do as asked.
Grimwig believes that Oliver will run away with the book and
money.

Mrs. Bedwin states that it is hard to let Oliver out of her sight, Oliver is, in this final scene of the chapter, quite literally a "new boy":
but she does so; Oliver goes out to return the book and money he has new clothes, from Brownlow, and is holding more money
to the bookseller. Grimwig tells Brownlow that Oliver will not than he has ever held before in his life. Again, the stage is set for a
return, since he has on new clothes, some books, and five great disappointment, one that will motivate the action of the
pounds, given him by Brownlow for the four pound, ten shilling, remainder of the novel.
debt. Brownlow hopes and believes that Oliver will return. As
the chapter ends, Grimwig and Brownlow are sitting in
Brownlow's study, still waiting for Oliver's return.

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CHAPTER 15
The chapter opens with Sikes sitting with his dog in his filthy, This scene elaborates on the nature of the business relationship
dilapidated apartment building. Sikes mistreats his dog, beating between Sikes and Fagin. It seems that Fagin "contracts" Sikes to do
him and yelling at him, and though the dog fights back he particularly dangerous or "dirty" work for him. Fagin, as is again
remains loyal, for now, to his master. Fagin enters the insinuated here, is far too cowardly actually to put himself in
apartment and interrupts the battle between Sikes and his dog. danger; he merely coordinates crimes.
He hands over an amount of gold he has owed Sikes (Sikes
appears to get a cut of some of the robberies orchestrated by
Fagin and his boys).

Another Jewish man appears, this one named Barney: he Barney is the comedic foil to Fagin—also Jewish, but incapable of
speaks throughout the novel as though he has a serious head- organizing much of anything, and not especially bright. Barney's
cold. Barney tells Fagin that Nancy is nearby, and Fagin and cold, which causes him to pronounce words with extra Ds, is used
Sikes ask to speak with Nancy; they tell Nancy, once again, to be heavily by Dickens for humorous effect.
"on the scent" for Oliver, and Sikes and Nancy walk out
together—it appears that he and Nancy have some kind of
romantic relationship.

Oliver, meanwhile, has been walking to the book-stall with Another instance of Oliver's terrible luck early in the novel. Of all
Brownlow's books. As he nears the stall, he is intercepted by the places Nancy and Sikes could have been, they chose to look at
Nancy (Sikes has gone his own way) who throws an arm around the book-stall the exact moment Oliver is there (Oliver has only
him, trapping him, and proclaiming aloud that she has found her been to this stall twice in his life, and both times some terrible fate
long lost brother. Sikes emerges, with his dog, from a nearby befalls him). Nancy demonstrates, once again, her skill in play-
beer-shop, and proclaims, too, that Nancy has found her acting, by pretending to be Oliver's sister.
brother; shopkeepers in the area chastise Oliver for running
away from his family.

Oliver cannot counteract the combined force of Nancy and A scene of great sadness. All Oliver wishes is to return to his new
Sikes, who begin dragging him back to Fagin's apartment. "family," in Mr. Brownlow, but he is prevented by another stroke of
Meanwhile, Grimwig and Brownlow continue sitting in the terrible luck.
parlor, wondering if Oliver will return.

CHAPTER 16
Oliver is dragged by Nancy and Sikes through the back-streets The nature of Sikes' and Nancy's relationship becomes more clear.
of London—Sikes tells Oliver that, if he lets go of either of their They are romantically involved, and Sikes wonders whether Nancy
hands, or yells out for help, Sikes will have his dog bite Oliver. has a special place in her heart for criminals about to be hanged.
Nancy hears the bells chime eight o'clock, and marvels that, at Sikes is a complex character—gruff and impossibly violent, on the
this moment, some young criminals are being hanged in London outside, but filled with dread and doubt on the inside.
(as this is the customary time for hanging); Sikes appears
jealous that Nancy cares about other men, and Nancy, sensing
this, teases Sikes as they head, with Oliver, back to Fagin's.

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Nancy and Sikes eventually lead Oliver to a new safehouse, A scene of interesting ironies. Oliver is "welcomed" back to his
where Fagin is now hiding with Bates, the Dodger, and the "home" by his new "family," Fagin and the gang. Of course, Oliver
other boys. The Dodger and Bates see Oliver from out the has another option for a new family which he prefers, that offered
window of the apartment, and let the three of them in. Bates, in by Brownlow, but he is not able to return to the old gentleman and
particular, finds Oliver's new "togs" (clothes), bought for him by Mrs. Bedwin.
Brownlow, to be incredibly funny.

Sikes demands that he and Nancy deserve the five-pound note, A demonstration of Oliver's naiveté. Oliver acts as though Fagin and
taken from Oliver; Fagin reluctantly allows the far more the boys might be concerned that Brownlow believes Oliver is a liar
powerful Sikes to keep the note, and Sikes allows Fagin to keep and a thief. In fact, Fagin wants Oliver to become a liar and a
Oliver's books. Oliver claims, desperately, to Fagin that the thief—thus the plan has worked out perfectly for him, and horribly
books belong to Brownlow, and that he will think Oliver has for Oliver.
stolen them if he, and the books, aren't returned. Fagin says
this is right, and that things could not have worked out better
for Fagin and the gang. Oliver is very upset.

Oliver leaps up and tries to escape the apartment. Fagin, the This is a new development for Oliver: a kind of power and courage
Dodger, and Bates run after him. Sikes tries to send his dog even more pronounced than his earlier efforts in the workhouse,
after them, but Nancy blocks the door, saying that Sikes shall when he asked for more gruel. Oliver is attempting to take his fate
not hurt Oliver in that way. Fagin and the two boys return with into his own hands.
Oliver; he had not gotten very far before being overtaken.

Fagin begins to berate and slap Oliver for trying to escape. A common Victorian trope is here demonstrated: the idea that
Nancy stomps her foot and demands that, Oliver having been women who experience emotional states of any kind are "crazy,"
returned to his "care," Fagin should at least treat Oliver well. "hysterical," or "about to faint." The fact that Nancy does faint here
But Fagin believes Nancy is acting "hysterically" in Oliver's does little to support her cause. But, of course, Nancy is completely
defense. Sikes tells Nancy not to interrupt Fagin's punishment rational in her desire to protect Oliver; she cares for him.
of Oliver, otherwise he (Sikes) will have to "shut Nancy up"
himself.

Nancy starts screaming at Fagin, expressing remorse for aiding Nancy gives the reader more information about the nature of
in the return of Oliver to the apartment, and realizing, aloud, Fagin's "mentorship." Although Fagin appears to take care of the
that she has participated in a capture of the young boy that boys and of Nancy, he actually keeps these young people from their
mirrors her own capture, by Fagin, when she was a child. Nancy families and forces them into terrible, immoral, dissipated lives.
bewails her own fate, and argues to Fagin that, although she Nancy is reminded of these as she sees Fagin attempting to corrupt
was corrupted by him at a young age, she does not wish for the Oliver.
same thing to happen to Oliver. Sikes attempts to control
Nancy, who is worked into a frenzy, and when he grabs her, she
faints.

Bates and the Dodger take Oliver's nice clothes and switch him Bet is an interesting foil to Nancy—someone who occupies the same
into shabbier ones. Bet arrives and ministers to Nancy, who is social position, but who never questions Fagin's authority, nor
not ill, only shaken up. Oliver quickly falls asleep, exhausted by attempts to change her life or consider the immoralities and crimes
the terrors of the day. she is forced to commit.

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CHAPTER 17
The narrator justifies, in the beginning of this chapter, the Occasionally, the narrator will break into the action to justify the
novel's tendency to move from "serious" or tragic to way in which he tells the story. Here, the narrator plays with the
"unserious" or comic stories, back and forth. The narrator reader's expectations for the tone of a Victorian novel; Dickens,
argues that these shifts in the story are indicative of the quick unlike some other writers of the time, believed that comedic and
shifts between tragedy and comedy that occur in real life. The tragic elements could be blended in a novel, without making the
narrator then moves on to describe Bumble, who is paying a novel wholly comic or tragic.
visit to Mrs. Mann at the workhouse.

Bumble has been charged with overseeing the transport of Another instance of Bumble's callousness. Bumble does not care at
some paupers to London, where there will be a "settlement," or all if the paupers he is to take to London die en route. He cares only
a return of these paupers to their originally registered location that he dispatches his job and gets paid for it. The paupers are
(since it was illegal in England, at this time, to travel if one was a nothing more than "objects" for him—something more akin to trash
pauper). Bumble then provides Mrs. Mann with her monthly than to human beings.
stipend from the Anglican parish, and Mrs. Mann brings in Dick,
Oliver's old friend from the workhouse, to speak with Bumble.

Dick, who fears that he is dying, tells Bumble that, when he Bumble begins to realize the effect that Oliver has had on others in
does die, he would like to leave his "love" for Oliver, since he the workhouse, largely from Oliver's efforts to stand up to the
has no other earthly possessions to bequeath anyone. Bumble kitchen staff and demand more gruel. Dick is an emblem of the love
sends Dick away, and becomes angry, in front of Mrs. Mann, for Oliver which still exists, quite strongly, in Oliver's home village.
that Oliver has encouraged this kind of "worship" among his
friends at the workhouse.

Bumble, still agitated, travels to London on a cart with the Another of the novel's coincidences. It is hard to imagine it would be
paupers, and having deposited them in their rightful likely that Bumble would open the newspaper exactly to a notice
jurisdiction, he enters a pub, only to read in the paper a notice regarding Oliver, the boy who has occupied his thoughts for some
regarding Oliver, placed by Brownlow, and offering a five- time—but Dickens needs these small coincidences to drive the plot
guinea reward for any information regarding his location or life of the novel.
history. Bumble, excited at this development, immediately
leaves the pub and seeks out Brownlow at his home.

Bumble is admitted to Brownlow's parlor, where Brownlow and Bumble seems poised only to do wrong—here, he arrives at exactly
Grimwig are sitting. Brownlow asks Bumble to tell what he the worst moment, for Oliver's sake, and tells a series of lies which,
knows of Oliver's past life, and Bumble unspools a slander when heard by Grimwig and Brownlow, seem to play into the pair's
about Oliver, claiming that the boy has always been a "bad worst fears: that Oliver was a liar and a cheat, and that he
seed" and a rabble-rouser. Grimwig feels he has been pretended to be good only to steal from Brownlow, when the
corroborated in his fears of Oliver's badness, and Brownlow, opportunity arose.
sadly, tells Mrs. Bedwin that Oliver was an "imposter."

Mrs. Bedwin refuses to believe that Oliver is bad, but Grimwig An important scene. Mrs. Bedwin, alone in Brownlow's house,
is convinced, and Brownlow, with heavy heart, says he never cannot accept that Oliver is bad, because she feels she has seen into
wishes to hear any more about Oliver for as long as he lives. his soul, and has appreciated the goodness of his heart. Mrs. Bedwin
Bumble leaves, and there are "sad hearts" at the Brownlow will, of course, be vindicated in her belief.
home that night.

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CHAPTER 18
Back at Fagin's safehouse, Fagin yells at Oliver, calling him Fagin has not threatened Oliver explicitly until this point in the
ungrateful, and to keep Oliver from running away again, Fagin novel. Fagin, essentially, implies that he has methods of framing
goes on at length about the horrors of being hanged, hinting Oliver, to send him to the gallows as a criminal—unless Oliver agrees
that, should Oliver betray Fagin and the boys, he will be to commit crimes. This paradox appears to trap and frighten Oliver.
executed. Oliver is terrified. Fagin has Oliver locked in a small
room for days, to punish him for his intransigence.

Slowly, the Dodger and Bates begin visiting Oliver in the locked Oliver is, after all, a young boy, and though the Dodger and Bates
room, and Oliver shines the Dodger boots and does other small are criminals, still Oliver longs for some company with boys his own
tasks for the boy; he is simply happy to have human company age. Oliver can never be friends with the Dodger and Bates, but as
once again. The Dodger admits to Oliver that he, the other the novel goes on, both boys—especially Bates—appear more
boys, Fagin, Nancy, Bet, and Sikes are all criminals and human, more morally complex and vulnerable.
thieves—Oliver seems to have known this is the case, but is still
horrified to hear the Dodger say it so blithely.

The Dodger and Bates ask Oliver why he doesn't simply Oliver questions, in this section, Bates' and the Dodger's ease with
apprentice in the trade of thievery with Fagin, but Oliver says which they blamed their own theft of Brownlow's property on
he doesn't want to do it, and wishes he were free to go. Charley Oliver. Oliver wonders if these boys can really be his friends, since
says that, of course, Fagin is inclined not to let Oliver go. Oliver they are willing, at the drop of a hat, to incriminate Oliver and send
subtly gibes the two boys, who speak so highly of their criminal him to prison. This is the attitude among the boys Fagin
life, for leaving him to take punishment for the theft of cultivates—a kind of competition preventing true comradeship.
Brownlow's kerchief, but Bates and the Dodger say it was
necessary to avoid getting the whole crew in trouble.

Bates and the Dodger sing the praises of the criminal lifestyle, Although Chitling is a good deal older than the other boys, he is not
and the Dodger tells Oliver that, if Oliver doesn't go around particularly bright, as evidenced later. It is implied that perhaps
picking people's pockets, someone else will, and will gain the Chitling went to prison in the first place because he was unable to
benefit thereof. At this point Fagin walks in with Bet and a new wrangle himself out of a dicey legal situation. Fagin likes Chitling
person, a man of eighteen named Tom Chitling, whom Oliver because he is dependable, as a thief; but Fagin depends more on the
has not yet met. Fagin and Chitling both hint that Chitling has street-smarts of the Dodger and Bates.
been in prison for over a month, but Oliver does not
understand their implications. After eating together, they all go
to sleep.

For the next several weeks, Fagin surrounds Oliver with Bates One of the great questions of the novel, then, is whether Oliver will
and the Dodger, hoping they can convince Oliver to give in to a be corrupted by the other boys. Although Fagin seems to think it's
life of thieving. Fagin has kept Oliver away from others, locked possible, readers of Dickens know that Oliver's virtue cannot be
in his room, in order to insure that Oliver "prefers any destroyed; Oliver would sooner die than lose his virtue.
company" to his solitude, hoping this will make Oliver more
amenable to living a life of crime with the other boys.

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CHAPTER 19
One night, Fagin leaves his apartment and the boys and travels In addition to the street-crimes perpetrated by the boys, Fagin is
to Sikes' small, squalid place, where Sikes lives with Nancy. also involved in more serious crimes, for which he needs the services
Fagin has come to talk about an upcoming robbery in the of Crackit and Sikes. Crackit seems the slyer of the two—he is willing
village of Chertsey, outside London. Sikes' advance scout, who to attempt to infiltrate the house (later revealed to be the Maylies'
has been checking into the feasibility of the job, is named Toby house) with spies. Sikes, however, advocates a brute-force method
Crackit, and Crackit has reported to Sikes that they cannot for the break-in.
"turn" a servant in the house, in order to have an easy "in" to
the house and to its valuables. Sikes says they need another
plan to break into the home.

Sikes asks Fagin if he will pay extra for Sikes' services in Another of the novel's coincidences. It just so happens that the
breaking into the home if the break-in occurs without a man on house-break requires a little boy, and Fagin just so happens to have
the inside—in other words, if it's a "clean" break-in. Fagin a boy he wishes to convert to a life of crime. As the novel goes on,
agrees. Sikes tells Fagin that he and Crackit can break into the these coincidences become more and more important, particularly
Chertsey house with a drill and a small boy capable of fitting as they drive the connection between Monks, the shadowy criminal,
through a tiny window. If Fagin can provide the boy, Sikes says, and Oliver.
Sikes can do the burglary.

Fagin volunteers that Oliver should be the boy for the job. Nancy, again showing her powerful abilities for dissembling, does
Fagin wonders for a moment if Nancy will defend Oliver again, not betray her desire to help Oliver. Nancy's motivations, here and
in front of Sikes, as she did previously, but Nancy appears elsewhere, are not always easy to understand, as she both desires to
amenable to the plan that Oliver should break into the help Oliver and refuses, on the other hand, to implicate Fagin and
house—or, at least, she doesn't betray her sympathy for Sikes in any way to the authorities. To do the latter, in her mind,
Oliver's cause (it is ambiguous what her true feelings are). would be to "sell out" those who have helped her attain the life she
Fagin believes that, if Oliver successfully completes this currently leads—even though it is a life that makes her miserable.
burglary with Sikes, Oliver will see what can be gained from a
life of crime, and will be "brought over" to Fagin's side. Sikes
believes he can keep Oliver in line, and that Oliver is the proper
size for the job.

Fagin says that Oliver's innate goodness—and his appearance This is the fundamental paradox of Fagin's desire to corrupt Oliver:
of goodness—would make him an unstoppable thief, since no because Oliver is so serene and gentle looking, Fagin believes he will
one would ever suspect him—if Oliver could be convinced that make the perfect criminal, as no one would suspect him of the
thieving was what he ought to do. Fagin agrees to have Nancy ability to commit a crime. But Oliver's goodness is not, as Fagin
bring Oliver to Sikes the next night. As Fagin is leaving, he supposes, merely superficial—it runs all the way to the core of his
remarks to himself that, although Nancy's feelings for Oliver being, and will not be easy to eliminate.
appeared strong a few weeks ago, she has passed out of this
feeling, "as all women do." Fagin resolves, when back at his
apartment, to tell Oliver of his mission the next morning.

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CHAPTER 20
Fagin gives Oliver new shoes, the next day, and says he is Oliver is worried that Sikes will now be "in charge" of him, but Fagin
sending Oliver over to Sikes for a short while, although Oliver assures him that this position is only temporary. Of course, Oliver
will not be living with Sikes forever. Fagin says, also, that Oliver knows better than to trust Fagin, and the book of scary crime stories
ought to watch himself around Sikes, since Sikes is a dangerous seems to give evidence to the idea that Fagin has terrible things in
man. Fagin gives Oliver a book of crime stories to read while he store for Oliver—a dangerous criminal plot.
waits for Sikes, and Oliver, terrified by the book, resolves
simply to wait by the fire without reading further.

Nancy comes and tells Oliver it is time to go to Sikes. Oliver Nancy's cleverness is underscored by the narrator. Nancy would like
considers begging Nancy for her compassion, but decides to to help Oliver, but Nancy also knows that she must help him in the
wait until later, since it is only eleven, and the streets are filled right way—subtly, without drawing the attention of Sikes or Fagin.
with witnesses who might see Oliver fleeing Fagin. Nancy, Thus Nancy tells Oliver that he must be patient if she is to help him.
sensing this in Oliver, tells him she is doing all she can for his
sake, but that, for right now, Oliver must follow her to
Sikes—Nancy will try to make sure that Oliver is not ill-used by
Sikes and Fagin, if she can.

Nancy brings Oliver to Sikes' apartment. Sikes, taking Oliver in, Much of the suspense in the novel appears to take place in these "in-
shows him a loaded gun, and threatens Oliver with it, in case between" moments: in the preparation for major events that occur
Oliver should try to escape. Nancy prepares dinner and they all in the wee hours of the night or morning. Oliver's anxiety keeps him
eat; Sikes tells Oliver that they will sleep for a time, then wake awake, but it should be noted that, despite his fears, Oliver is game
early in the morning to travel on their mission. Oliver lies awake for the attempt—he will go along with Sikes, and is courageous
all night, worried what will befall him the next day. As he is enough to test his mettle in whatever "adventure" Fagin has
leaving in the morning, after a small breakfast, he tries to lock planned. Oliver is, in fact, both courageous and virtuous, whereas
eyes with Nancy, as a sign that she is continuing to look out for Sikes is only the former.
him, but she turns away at the fire, while Oliver and Sikes head
out the door.

CHAPTER 21
Sikes and Oliver walk through London in the early morning, This journey through London mimics Oliver's journey by foot en
reaching the outskirts of the city by the time vendors are route from his home village to the big city. Oliver exists on the
setting out wares for the market-day. They get in a cab, with margins of Victorian society, and, similarly Sikes and Oliver do not
Sikes pretending to the driver that Oliver is his son, and keep "normal" business hours—instead, their schedule is that of the
continue traveling from village to village on the city's outskirts; thief—largely nocturnal, or night-bound.
they then stop at a public-house for dinner, and Oliver nods off
there, tired from the day's long journey.

Sikes wakes Oliver, and tells him they will be getting in another There are a series of flophouses present in the novel: Sikes', Fagin's,
coach; this one, to Sunbury, another village. After leaving the and this one, inhabited by the three before the robbery outside
coach early in the morning, after a full 24-hours of traveling, Chertsey. These houses, just like the band's nighttime activities,
they walk over a bridge to a dilapidated house; Oliver fears reinforce the thieves', and Oliver's, status as a cultural outsider. The
Sikes will throw Oliver in the water and kill him, but Sikes, house is so beaten down it is barely standing, and no one seems to
instead, walks with Oliver into the house, a safehouse being notice it from the road.
used by Crackit and Sikes to plan the robbery.

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CHAPTER 22
Sikes and Oliver enter the house, and find Crackit and Barney, Barney tends to appear in circumstances like this, where his
the younger Jewish man with the permanent head-cold. presence is not strictly necessary, but when there are small tasks
Crackit is relatively kind to Oliver, and asks him to drink a little needing to be done. Although Barney in some ways serves as Fagin's
liquor after his long journey. Oliver obliges, though he doesn't foil, here he is his opposite: whereas Fagin is at the center of the
wish to do so. After eating a small amount, the men sleep, and gang's criminal plans, Barney seems only to do what he is told.
tell Oliver to as well, until one in the morning, when they
prepare to go out and commit the burglary.

Crackit, Sikes, and Oliver make their way through the town of Only now does Oliver realize the nature of the robbery. Again,
Sunbury in the middle of the night—it is so dark and foggy, they Oliver's naiveté is obvious. Of course Oliver had a premonition that
do not fear that they will be seen. They arrive at a farmhouse in they trio was up to some sort of dangerous criminal behavior, but he
the neighboring village of Chertsey. Sikes and Crackit help does not know the exact form the robbery would take until the three
Oliver over the house's garden wall; Oliver realizes, at this reach Chertsey.
point, just what the robbery will entail, and becomes extremely
nervous, as he sees that Crackit and Sikes are prepared to use
the firearms they have brought along.

Sikes tells Oliver the plan: Oliver is going to be helped up to a Sikes is aware that Oliver is virtuous enough that he would be
very small window about five and a half-feet above the back- willing to risk his life rather than carry out the robbery. Nevertheless,
door frame; then Oliver will take a lantern with him, through the robbery is dependent on Oliver—he is the only one who can fit
the house, quietly so as not to startle those sleeping inside nor through the small window into the house. Thus Sikes must rely on
the dog there, and then to the front-door, which he will unlatch Oliver.
for the robbers. Sikes warns Oliver that he is within Sike's gun's
range the entire way, in case Oliver wants to do something not
in keeping with the plan.

Sikes helps Oliver into the house. Once inside, with a lantern, The low point in Oliver's young life. Oliver does not even get an
Oliver decides to run up the stairs to alert the family of the opportunity to inform the family—he is shot by the overzealous
robbers, but just as he is doing this, two men appear at the top Giles as he attempts to mount the stairs. Although Oliver almost
of the stairs above Oliver. Sikes tells Oliver to return to the dies in the ensuing night, this robbery marks a low point after which
window, but then a series of shot are fired by the men, and in Oliver's luck only increases: he is taken in by the Maylie family, he
the confusion, Sikes pulls Oliver back through the window and finds out the nature of his birth-family, and he is adopted,
begins to run, with Crackit, away from the house. Sikes fires ultimately, by Brownlow.
into the house but hits no one; as they are retreating, Sikes
notices that Oliver has been hit by a bullet, and Oliver,
frightened, faints in a dead swoon.

CHAPTER 23
The narrator shifts the scene back to the workhouse where Mrs. Corney seems to fill a position similar to that of Mrs. Mann, but
Oliver was born. A woman named Mrs. Corney, who is the Mrs. Mann works in the "farm-house" annex to the workhouse that
matron of the house (the director), is making herself a cup of is for children, where Mrs. Corney manages the fully-grown workers
tea, when she accidentally scalds herself with a small teapot, at the main house. Both Corney and Mann are, at best, moderately
and mourns her circumstances as the poor mistress of a immoral—Mrs. Corney cares only of her own material gain, and Mrs.
miserable workhouse. Mrs. Corney, it is revealed by the Mann was noted, earlier, taking some of the funds for the children
narrator, is a widow, Mr. Corney having died some years before. for her own use.
She hears a noise and realizes that Bumble has arrived.

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Bumble comes simply on a friendly visit. He begins a Mrs. Corney does not sense the irony in this scene: that she is
conversation with Mrs. Corney, complaining about the complaining about people she believes complain too much. In
behavior of the poor people of whom he is in charge—how they reality, of course, the workers in the poorhouse do very little
continue demanding food enough to feed their families, and complaining, as they are not permitted to voice their opinions with
how they complain about the terrible conditions of the Corney or with the managing board.
workhouses. Mrs. Corney asks Bumble to sit down for tea, and
he readily agrees.

Bumble, while drinking his tea, flirts with Mrs. Corney, who is It is not immediately clear what Mr. Bumble wants from Mrs.
unsure how to respond to his advances, in the small room of Corney; he appears simply to have a crush on her. The scene
her kitchen, with no other people present (Mrs. Corney seems ensuing will be an important deathbed conversation, the second in
to worry that the scene would appear improper to someone the novel. The first, tellingly, involved the short conversation Oliver's
stopping by). Suddenly, interrupting this scene, is an old woman mother had with the doctor and attending nurse, right after Oliver
from the workhouse, who informs Mrs. Corney that Old Sally, a was born; Oliver's mother died the next instant. Mrs. Corney seems
pauper living there, is very sick and about to die. The woman to sense that Sally possesses important information.
informs Mrs. Corney that Old Sally has asked for Mrs. Corney's
audience before she dies. Mrs. Corney goes to speak to Old
Sally, cursing her along the way, and leaving Bumble to his tea in
the kitchen, alone.

CHAPTER 24
The old woman leads Mrs. Corney up the stairs to a small The conditions of this part of the poorhouse are as squalid and
garret room, where Old Sally lies, dying, in bed. Old Sally is awful as the rest, including the parts in which Oliver lived. Dickens
attended by a young gentleman, an apothecary's apprentice, spares no description of the horror of Sally's death—and he all but
who makes himself a toothpick in the fire, complains about the says outright that the workhouse is responsible for her slow sickness
cold to Mrs. Corney, and leaves after a short while; another old and dissolution. Nevertheless, Sally is also a less-than-moral
woman, already in the garret, talks to Mrs. Corney and the first character, as is to be described in the ensuing parts of the
old woman about Old Sally's condition. The woman who went chapter—she seems almost to deserve these horrid surroundings.
to get Mrs. Corney learns from the other that Old Sally has
been raving in her bed, and is unable to take any liquids. She is
very near death.

Mrs. Corney, after learning that Sally is about to die, begins to Sally has therefore stolen a bit of material proving the link between
leave, but just at this moment Sally awakes from a stupor, and Oliver and his mother. This material will be an important part of the
begs Mrs. Corney to come near the bed; Sally has something to set of clues that, simultaneously, Brownlow hopes (later) to piece
say to her. Sally tells a brief story: she, Sally, nursed a woman together, and Monks hopes to destroy. Monks has a vested interest
about ten years ago, who was on her own death-bed; that in eradicating Olver's past; Brownlow hopes he can find out the true
woman, who was to give birth to a child, had a small bit of gold nature of it.
around her neck, in a pouch, and entrusted that gold to Sally,
who stole it; the woman asked Sally that, if her son was born
alive, he would be taken care of. Sally tells Mrs. Corney that this
boy is named Oliver.

Sally whispers that the gold is . . . and does not finish her Mrs. Corney—who is supposed to be helping the poor—is an
thought aloud—Mrs. Corney bends down and hears Sally finish immensely gifted liar. She would not be out of place among Fagin's
it, quietly, but the other woman in the room do not hear. Mrs. gang. She does not let on, to the other women, that Sally has said
Corney betrays no emotion as to what Sally has told her, and anything of value, in case these other women want to get their
leaves the room. Sally dies just after speaking with Mrs. Corney. hands on the valuable items Sally received from Oliver's mother.

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CHAPTER 25
Back at Fagin's apartment, Bates, the Dodger, and Chitling are It stands to reason that the Dodger, so good at tricking people on
playing hands of whist, a card game, with one another. The the street, would be a gifted cheater at cards. Chitling,
Dodger is a wonderful player (it's implies that he's also characteristically, is not intelligent enough to realize that the
cheating); Chitling remarks, aloud, that he cannot fathom how Dodger's trickery does not disappear at the gambling table.
the Dodger wins so much, and Bates finds Chitling's gullibility
to be quite funny.

The Dodger and Bates continue teasing Chitling about Bet, as This scene is another example of Dickens' manipulation of the
they believe Chitling has taken a liking to her. Chitling denies expectations of the audience. For several chapters, we have awaited
this heatedly. After a while, the boys and Fagin hear a bell word of what has become of Oliver, but Dickens does not give this
indicating that someone wishes to come up to the apartment. information outright. For readers of the serialized version of the
The Dodger returns leading up a very quiet, and haggard- novel, the wait for Oliver's fate cold be many weeks at a time.
looking, Toby Crackit, alone. Fagin is shocked at his solo
appearance, but offers Crackit food and drink before asking
him about the events of the robbery, which Fagin fears has
gone awry.

After eating, Crackit tells Fagin and the boys that the robbery Fagin's reaction here is an interesting one. Typically so cool and
failed, that he and Sikes escaped the property with Oliver, who collected a customer, Fagin here belies an especial interest in
was shot in the arm and wounded; and after worrying that they Oliver's fate. Fagin believes that Oliver can make him a great deal of
would all be caught, the two men abandoned Oliver in a ditch. money, as a thief; thus Fagin is upset not for Oliver's fate, per se, but
Crackit lost Sikes, too, and came back to London alone. Fagin, for the potential loss of income that Oliver's injury seems to
horrified at this news, runs yelling out of the apartment, promise.
horrified by the bungled robbery and the possibility of Oliver's
endangerment.

CHAPTER 26
Fagin begins slackening his pace, however, and regaining his The size of London becomes apparent when one considers that
cool as he enters a small market neighborhood not too far from there are entire streets and small neighborhoods given over to illegal
his apartment; he stops and talks to a trader of stolen activities—the police seem not to bother these neighborhoods, so
merchandise, who knows Fagin in a business capacity, named long as the criminality does not extend beyond certain prearranged
Lively. Fagin asks Lively if anyone is at the Three Cripples, a borders. The Cripples pub, too, is a seat for criminals, and it remains
nearby pub and hangout for local criminals; Lively says he mostly untouched in the novel until Brownlow prompts the
doesn't know, nor does he know (as Fagin follows up by asking) authorities to search it, for evidence of Fagin and his cronies.
if Sikes is present at that pub, in particular. Lively says he'll join
Fagin for a drink there, but Fagin waves him away, and
proceeds to the pub on his own.

Fagin walks into the smoky pub, filled as it is with criminals The first significant description of Monks in the novel. Of the book's
whom Fagin recognizes. Fagin speaks to a man the narrator three villains, Monks is at once the most human—he is, after all,
refers to as the chairmen, and asks him whether he (the Oliver's half-brother—and the most difficult to understand. Fagin is
chairman) has seen Barney or Sikes that night. He also asks the motivated by his greed, and Sikes by his lust for violence. Monks,
chairman, who is the landlord of the establishment, whether a however, seems only to want to blot Oliver out of the virtuous life to
man named Monks will be at the pub that evening. The protect his own legacy.
chairmen replies that none of the men are present. Fagin asks
the chairmen to tell Monks to visit Fagin the next day.

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Satisfied with this intelligence received at the Three Cripples, Nancy is beginning to fall into a spiral from which she will not
Fagin finds a hack-cab on the street and takes it to near escape. The mistreatment under which Oliver has been placed has
Nancy's and Sikes' apartment. He gets out of the cab and vows upset her a great deal, and her already pronounced desire for
to get more information out of Nancy, whom he believes to be alcohol has been exacerbated. Fagin, notably, does nothing to help
there. He knocks on the door and is let in by Nancy. Fagin sees her in this scene.
no evidence of Sikes in the apartment.

Fagin asks Nancy where Sikes and Oliver are; Nancy replies Fagin makes an important attempted bargain here. Of course it has
that she doesn't know, and she exclaims (coincidentally), that if been known that Fagin is an unscrupulous character, but here he
Oliver is lying dead in a ditch somewhere, he is better dead markedly goes behind the back of his associate, Sikes, in order to get
than under Fagin's and Sikes' control. Fagin tells Nancy to be him out of the picture—Fagin appears to believe that, because Sikes
quiet, since she is obviously inebriated and distraught. Fagin is no longer a dependable housebreaker, he might just be a violent
tells Nancy, further, that if Sikes comes back to the apartment nuisance, a man who must be eliminated. Nancy stands up for Sikes
without the boy, Nancy should kill Sikes, and Fagin will protect here, and she will do so again later, which makes Sikes eventual
her—the boy is worth a good deal to Fagin, and Fagin cannot murder of her all the more tragic.
allow Sikes to live after having taken so little care of Oliver
during the botched robbery. Nancy is shocked that Fagin would
turn on Sikes so quickly, and she defends Sikes. She does not
promise Fagin anything.

Fagin leaves Nancy, drunk, in the apartment, and is satisfied, Monks has a tendency to appear where he is least expected.
since he has informed Nancy that Sikes has left Oliver Although Fagin had asked to meet with him the following night,
(believing he can gain more control of Nancy if she knows that Monks was nevertheless able to hurry from wherever he was staying
Sikes cares nothing for the boy), and has confirmed that Sikes is to find Fagin. Monks' abode is never described in the novel, nor is his
not in the apartment. On his way back to his own abode, Fagin ability to travel so far so fast ever explained.
runs into a man who has been waiting for him on the street.

The man is Monks, whom Fagin had been seeking out. Fagin Monks reiterates his intentions here: he wishes that Oliver become a
takes him into a spare room on a lower floor of the tenement criminal, but not for his own direct personal gain (as Fagin does).
building. There the men converse in low voices (the narrator Monks, instead, wishes only to blot Oliver's name—to keep him from
does not describe their exact conversation), but then the living a virtuous life. The reader finds out, later, that Monks' desire
narrator reveals that Monks is chastising Fagin for placing dovetails with his hope to keep Oliver from learning of his true
Oliver so quickly into harm's way, and for not raising Oliver in parentage, and of his inheritance.
the craft of pickpocketing, which, after a while, would have paid
Fagin a good deal of money, and after which Fagin could have
simply sent Oliver far away.

It appears that Monks has a mysterious vested interest in Nevertheless, Monks stops short of asking that Oliver be
Oliver, and, especially, in Oliver being sent away, but he does killed—which would be the simplest and "cleanest" way to handle
not elaborate on what this interest might be. Monks claims, his problem. It is never explained why Monks is unwilling to kill his
further, that he does not want Oliver killed, as Oliver's death brother, unless it is simply a residue of family-feeling, a belief that it
would somehow get back to Monks, and Monks wishes to avoid is an especial moral wrong to kill a member of one's own family.
all penalty regarding Oliver's disappearance. Fagin explains to
Monks that Nancy has taken a liking to Oliver, but Fagin
appears to believe that, if Oliver survives the robbery and
becomes a hardened criminal, Nancy will no longer pity him.

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Monks, paranoid that someone has heard them speak, tells Both Monks and Fagin are notable for their abundance of caution,
Fagin they must search the dark abandoned rooms of the and the speed with which they can slink away in the dark.
tenement for intruders, but after this is done, and no one is Nevertheless, Nancy is able to spy on both of them later on in the
found, Monks take his leave of Fagin at around one in the novel.
morning, and Fagin returns to his own apartment.

CHAPTER 27
The narrator begins this chapter by jokingly "apologizing" to Bumble's trajectory in the novel is a notable one—it trends
the reader for having abandoned so estimable a personage as downward, just as Oliver's position in society, and his own good
the beadle Mr. Bumble for several chapters, while continuing fortune, rises. Bumble believes that, by serenading Mrs. Corney, he
with other parts of his "history." Bumble has been waiting in the will increase his social stature and his wealth, but it soon becomes
kitchen and living quarters of Mrs. Corney, while the latter has clear that the opposite is true, that his union with Corney is to be a
been upstairs speaking with Old Sally. Mrs. Corney returns, disastrous one.
and tells Bumble that Old Sally has upset her a great deal.
Bumble offers Mrs. Corney his sympathies and gives her a bit
of wine.

The two begin kissing, and Bumble continues his wooing of Another instance of Bumble's craven self-interest. It is not clear why
Mrs. Corney. Bumble also reveals, after their wooing has gone Bumble would care to woo Mrs. Corney if she were not in a position
on for a little while, that Mr. Slout, current master of the to offer Bumble the lead job at the workhouse, once they are
workhouse, is dying, and that a man will be needed to manage married. Bumble apparently believes that this position, as master of
the house of which Mrs. Corney is the head female official. This, the workhouse, would lead to even greater social recognition than
Bumble declares, is a "coincidence"—that he has "fallen in love" his current one as beadle, a relatively minor church official.
with Mrs. Corney at the same time this position is opened. The
narrator implies, however, that Bumble has arranged all this so
he might advance his professional position.

Bumble promises that he will marry Mrs. Corney, and he leaves Bumble's hypocrisy is on high display here. Bumble's sole purpose, in
her, after kissing her goodbye, to go to Sowerberry's to make the beginning of the novel up till its midpoint, is to correct the
arrangements for Old Sally's funeral. When he arrives at the behavior of others while continuing to behave immorally himself. In
coffin-maker's house, Bumble walks in on Noah Claypole and the second half of the novel, however, Bumble's behavior no longer
Charlotte flirting, kissing one another, and having a dinner of goes unnoticed or unpunished. Dickens clearly intends for the
oysters. Bumble yells at the two of them for carousing in an reader to loathe Bumble, and to appreciate the extent to which
unchaste manner, as they are not married, and the narrator Bumble is willing to lie and manipulate others for his personal gain.
subtly points out the hypocrisy of Bumble here, who only
moments before was doing the same with Mrs. Corney. Bumble
then leaves the young lovers and goes downstairs to arrange
Sally's funeral with Sowerberry.

CHAPTER 28
The narrator returns to the scene just after Oliver, Sikes, and The narrative cuts back, finally, to the scene outside Chertsey. Oliver
Crackit escaped from the Chertsey farmhouse. Crackit is appears in dire straits, and Crackit and Sikes, who seemed so
already running away from the three men pursuing them. Sikes, courageous when committing a crime, are revealed as too cowardly
carrying Oliver, calls back to Crackit, telling him to return and or uncaring to do anything for Oliver but run away. One wonders
help with the boy. Crackit turns back for a moment, but seeing what Fagin would do in this situation—whether he would be willing
the three men and their two dogs, turns on his heels and runs. to risk his physical safety to protect his "investment" in Oliver.
Sikes leaves Oliver in the ditch and escapes himself.

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A comic scene ensues, as the three pursuing men, seeing that The difference in this chapter between serious drama and high
the criminals are fleeing, decide to pursue no farther—the comedy is one of the notable features of the novel and Dickens'
three admit to one another that they are tired, out of breath, work more generally. Oliver's struggle is a dire one, but the three
and afraid of the criminals. The fattest of the gang is the head men pursuing the robbers know nothing of it—and their behavior is
butler of the farmhouse, and is named Giles; the smaller is therefore free to be interpreted, by the reader, as buffoonery.
Brittles, a jack-of-all-trades also employed by the house; and Dickens believes, rightly, that these sorts of combination of the
the third is a tinker living in a nearby house. The men do not see serious and the comic make literature seem more real, as real life
Oliver lying in the ditch, and decide to return to their homes, itself functions in this way.
content that the criminals have at least run away.

The next morning, Oliver awakes, discovering a terrible pain The novel's only dream sequence, and it's not a very long leap from
where he has been shot in the arm, but nonetheless alive this "dream" to the reality in which Oliver has recently been living.
(though very weak). Oliver begins walking straight in front of At first, it seems that Oliver's approach to the very same house they
him, not knowing where he is going, and hallucinates that attempted to rob is another instance of bad luck, but as Dickens will
Crackit and Sikes are beside him, firing weapons, though by go on to show, the Maylies wish only to help Oliver, and his retreat
that morning they have long since fled. Oliver approaches a to this house is a blessing in disguise.
garden wall and sees that he has been heading toward exactly
the house he had been forced to rob the night before. But he is
too weak to go to any other home.

Inside the house, Giles, Brittles, and the tinker are recounting Giles' buffoonery is of a sort Dickens likes, often, to highlight—that
(and embellishing) the previous night, and telling it to the cook of an overconfident oaf, whose actions are not nearly so grand or
of the house and a housemaid, who are rapt with attention. helpful as he envisions. Bumble behaves in this same manner, and
Giles brags that he, bravely, was the one to shoot one of the both Giles and Bumble are chastened for their impetuous
intruders. As he continues to brag, he and Brittles hear a knock behavior—Bumble, later, by winding up in the poorhouse, and Giles
on the door, and though they are afraid to see who it is, they by becoming the object of Lorsborne's scorn.
cannot make the maids of the house do it. Giles resolves that
Brittles, the younger man and his subordinate, will open the
door, and he, Giles, will stand back to defend the house and
greet the visitor.

Brittles opens the door and Giles recognizes Oliver as the boy It's important to note here that the Maylie women (Rose and her
he has shot—the thief, as he claims. He yells into the house that aunt, Mrs. Maylie) do not see that Oliver is a young boy. Rose is
a thief has returned, and when it is revealed that the "robber" is willing to take in a robber who, for all she knows, could be a
hurt, the young woman at the top of the stairs (one of the dangerous man more resembling Sikes, or Crackit. Rose, as a
women of the house), asks that the robber be taken in and character, is so virtuous as to be nearly unrealistic—she is the only
cared for. This young woman and her aunt ask that the robber character who approaches Oliver's mixture of courage, confidence,
(whom they do not know to be a boy) be brought upstairs and and innate goodness.
tended to by the other, female servants. Oliver is carried up the
stairs by Giles; Giles continues bragging that this boy, whom he
has shot, has been captured (though of course Oliver merely
walked back, in a daze, to the house).

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CHAPTER 29
The narrator introduces the people living in the Chertsey The broad outline of Oliver's new "family" is sketched. If Brownlow,
house: along with Giles, the butler and head servant, and back when he was in charge of Oliver, was something like Oliver's
Brittles, the younger servant, there are Mrs. Maylie, an older stepfather, then Losborne is a kind, well-meaning, if quick-to-anger
and distinguished woman, and her seventeen-year-old niece uncle; Mrs. Maylie is a grandmother (like Mrs. Bedwin), and Rose is
Miss Rose Maylie. A doctor arrives, breathless, having been an aunt. As it turns out, of course, Rose really is Oliver's biological
shocked by the news of the robbery—the narrator points out, aunt—a coincidence that seems almost too perfect to be believed.
jokingly, that the doctor (Dr. Losborne) seems particularly
upset that the robbery occurred by surprise and at night, as
though those weren't usual characteristics of a robbery.

The doctor talks to Giles, asking if Giles shot the Losborne is an intelligent man, and he quickly realizes that Oliver, a
intruder—Giles says, proudly, that he did. Losborne then checks young boy with goodness writ in his face, would not be capable of
on Oliver, saying that he is all right and stable, considering his planning and executing a robbery, without being forced into it.
wound. Losborne asks if Rose would like to see Oliver—Rose Losborne, in later scenes, will also be the engine that drives away
had asked previously to do so, but her aunt would not allow it the investigators, and that ensures Oliver a safe haven at the
(the two women have not seen Oliver since he came into the Maylies' home near Chertsey.
house; only the servants and the doctor have seen him). The
doctor believes that Rose would very much be happy to see
Oliver, and so insists upon their meeting. Mrs. Maylie also
decides to see the "robber."

CHAPTER 30
The doctor leads both Rose and Mrs. Maylie upstairs to see Again, Losborne realizes, and encourages the Maylies also to
Oliver. On revealing that Oliver is only a young boy, Losborne believe, that Oliver is simply a young boy who has lost his way.
sees Rose and her aunt's looks of total shock—they had Losborne and the Maylies are the first characters to see Oliver and
expected a more "hardened" criminal. When Rose asks assume he is good, other than Brownlow—Bumble, the members of
Losborne whether he believes that Oliver, though so young, is the board, and Mr. Fang the judge all presumed Oliver to be a
actually a thief, Losborne says no—his inclination is, at this criminal, just because he was poor, and poorly-clothed.
point, that Oliver had been somehow forced to participate in
the robbery. Losborne appears to have gleaned this from the
sweetness of Oliver's temperament while injured.

Lorsborne swears that he will get the truth out of Giles and Unlike the previous scene in Brownlow's study, where Oliver is not
Brittles, but before doing so, he waits, with Rose and her aunt, permitted to tell the full story of his life (as he knows it; of course,
for Oliver to wake and tell of his life, and how he came to Oliver is missing a good deal of detail), Oliver here is able to finish
associate with criminals. Oliver does so, pausing in between to his story, thus convincing the Maylies and Losborne, further, that he
take breaks (because he is still in a great deal of pain), and after really is a good boy, far away from his home, and on the run from
the conversation is concluded, Rose, Mrs. Maylie, and Losborne evil forces who hope to control him.
are convinced that Oliver is a good boy who has been taken in
by scoundrels. Losborne goes downstairs to hear how Giles
came to shoot Oliver.

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When Losborne goes downstairs, he sees that the village Giles and Brittles are not too bright, and Losborne seems
constable has joined Giles and Brittles. Losborne, attempting to acquainted with a small bit of police psychology—that eye-witness
protect Oliver, cunningly persuades Giles and Brittles into testimony can easily be manipulated, so long as a different idea is
thinking that, perhaps, Oliver is not the same "robber" they planted in the "eyewitness's" head. Giles, here, is convinced quickly
shot just that morning, although Giles at first seemed that he is not certain the boy he shot was Oliver—this is all the
convinced that Oliver was the very same. Just before Losborne doubt Losborne needs.
is able fully to convince them that Oliver is a different boy from
the robber, two investigators arrive at the house from London.

CHAPTER 31
The two investigators, named Blathers and Duff, enter gruffly Blathers and Duff are named perfectly, as a means of expressing not
and ask to speak with those in charge in the house. They ask only their bumbling qualities (a la Bumble), but their total
whether "a boy" it was who robbed the home; Losborne says inefficiency and idiocy as regards police investigation. Losborne is
that this isn't true, that Giles and Brittles only believes the able to dispatch them quickly in this chapter.
person they shot was a boy; Blathers and Duff say that they'll
check it out for themselves.

Losborne is worried that, if Oliver tells the true story of his life Dickens seems to think this "white lie" of Losborne's is OK,
to Blathers and Duff, they won't take pity on him the way he considering the circumstances. Losborne is lying to protect a greater
and the Maylies have. Rose does not understand how anyone good—the health and safety of the young boy placed in his charge.
couldn't pity Oliver, and Losborne tells her that, for this, she is a And Blathers and Duff do not appear to have Oliver's best interests
lovely woman; but he insists that Blathers and Duff must be at heart—they would be all too happy to arrest a child.
misled into thinking that Oliver was not the person who
entered the house the previous night. Otherwise, Oliver could
be arrested for vagrancy, as it is illegal for paupers to travel
outside of their home district.

After telling a long, strange, complex story about a robber he Giles seems almost to give up the lie, as he attempts, poorly, to make
once caught named Conkey Chickweed—a story that neither up a story that gibes with Losborne's. But, luckily, Blathers and Duff
Losborne nor the Maylies can follow—Blathers, with Duff, goes are too perplexed by this seeming coincidence to notice, and they
upstairs to talk to Oliver. Losborne and Giles go along as well. eventually allow that it is possible Oliver was shot in an unrelated
Introducing Oliver to the two investigators, Losborne lies and incident. This is another bit of good fortune in Oliver's favor—his
says that Oliver was injured by accident with a spring-gun luck is truly turning around.
earlier that day; Giles, at first confused as how to pull off this
ruse, eventually agrees with Losborne, and though Blathers
and Duff still suspect that a boy, with two larger men, arranged
the robbery, they believe Losborne, and do not believe
anymore that Oliver is that boy.

Before this interview with Oliver, the doctor also pulled apart a An exaggeration of the white lie. Another coincidence also buoys
section of Giles' gun, rendering it useless; thus Blathers and Losborne's lie, and of course Losborne had nothing to do with it.
Duff, on examining the broken gun, saw that, whomever Giles This series of good breaks in the Maylie home seem to indicate that
believed to have injured could "not" have been injured at all. Oliver will be safe there, that his life has changed for the better.
This additional lie increases the appearance that Oliver is not Dickens' characters fates seem always to be either on slow upward
the boy Blathers and Duff are looking for; they leave the next or slow downward trajectories, with very few interruptions once one
morning, and a rumor goes up in London that another two men is on a given path. Oliver's clearly trends upward from this point on.
and boy have been caught, meaning that Oliver is officially free
of suspicion (these three others' being caught is simply a
coincidence).

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Oliver is now safe at the Maylies' home, where he begins to This scene recalls the previous scene at Brownlow's, wherein Oliver
grow stronger, despite his injury. He is looked after by Rose, was cared for by the servants of the house and by Mrs. Bedwin.
Rose's aunt, and Dr. Losborne.

CHAPTER 32
Oliver, not only injured by the gunshot wound, also suffers It is typical of Oliver that, even as he is on the brink of serious illness
from another fever, which causes him to lie in bed for many again, he is only worried about what he might contribute to the
days. However the Maylies care for him with great interest, and Maylie household. It later becomes clear that Oliver's presence is a
soon he begins to regain his strength. Oliver asks Rose whether gift enough—the Maylies are overjoyed to have a young boy in their
there is anything he can do to help the family, and Rose replies midst.
that, once Oliver's strength has returned, the family could use
him around the house in "a hundred ways."

Once Oliver is hardy enough to make the journey, he takes a It does seem hard to imagine that this flop-house, which was more
wagon with Losborne back to London, in order to meet with or less hidden when Oliver and Sikes approached it earlier, should
Brownlow and Mrs. Bedwin, and to explain why he never be visible in broad daylight from the street—but the scene ensuing is
returned from his trip to the bookseller's, so many weeks ago. powerful, and strange, enough to make this recognition worthwhile.
As Losborne and Oliver are leaving Chertsey, however, Oliver
spots the flop-house in Sudbury where he stayed, with Sikes
and Crackit, the night before the robbery.

Losborne, by nature an impetuous man, goes into the house to Dickens appears to be scrambling the readers' expectations in this
berate whomever is there, and finds a humpbacked old man, scene. One would imagine that the house would have some kind of
who claims to live there alone. Losborne says that the old man link to Crackit, or perhaps to Barney, but instead one finds an old
has been harboring criminals among him, but the old man hermit who has been living there several decades. This weird
replies that he has lived alone in the house for twenty-five blip—either Oliver's mistake or a strange confusion of another
years, and that Losborne is mistaken. Losborne, cowed by this kind—is never ironed out or explained in the novel.
embarrassing episode, returns to the carriage and to Oliver,
convinced that Oliver simply got the house mixed up with
another.

Losborne and Oliver head to Brownlow's house, where they This seems like a hitch in Oliver's plans, an instance of bad luck no
ring and find a servant. This servant, however, tells the pair that longer in keeping with his positive state of affairs. But Brownlow will
Brownlow and all his house have decamped to the West Indies return to the narrative quickly. The West Indies, like Australia in
six weeks prior, and that they shall remain there for some time. "Great Expectations," is a place so far away as to seem almost
Oliver is crestfallen at this, and though Oliver suggests they mythical—as though Brownlow had travelled all the way to the
talk to the bookseller, Losborne says that is "enough moon.
disappointment for one day," and the two head back to
Chertsey.

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In Chertsey, over the next several weeks, the weather grows This scene is one of the first of Oliver's encounters with the beautiful
warm, and Oliver has a wonderful time recuperating and living natural surroundings near the Maylies' home. Oliver was raised in a
with the Maylies. Oliver begins studying with an old man, a village in the countryside, but his life was mostly spent in
tutor, since he has never had any formal education, and on institutions, thus he was not able, nor did he have the time, to run
Sundays he begins going to church with the Maylies, and sees about and see grass, trees, sunlight. Then Oliver was taken in by
his inherent virtue joined to traditional religious observance. Fagin and the boys in London, and those squalid city conditions,
Oliver often walks through the beautiful fields of Chertsey, a too, did not allow for much recreation. The depiction of the country
place prettier than any he has known, and spends three months is paradisiacal compared to Dickens squalid depictions of much of
of bliss with the Maylies and Losborne, who visits often from the city.
his home nearby.

CHAPTER 33
One evening that summer, Rose sits down to play the piano for Dickens does not elaborate on what might be the cause of Rose's
her aunt, when suddenly her aunt, noticing that something is illness, nor does he explain why Rose suddenly feels better. What's
wrong with Rose, asks her what is the matter. Rose replies that, more important, in this scene, is the destabilizing effect Rose's
although for some time she has been trying to hide it, she does illness has on the Maylie family.
not feel well—she believes that she is growing ill.

Oliver asks Mrs. Maylie, when Rose has been safely placed in The novel has so far moved along without a romantic interest, but
bed, whether Rose will get better, but Mrs. Maylie fears instead now Dickens supplies one (perhaps to satisfy those reading the
that Rose will only grow sicker, and eventually pass away. novel in serialized form). Harry and Rose's romance does not occupy
Oliver is surprised by Mrs. Maylie's negative outlook. The next too much of the novel's remaining pages, but it contains enough
morning, however, Mrs. Maylie seems poised to help her niece, interest to create a genuine romantic spark in a book that otherwise
and to fight off melancholy. She dispatches Oliver to charts the ups and downs of the life of a ten-year-old—a boy too
Losborne's, with a note informing him of Rose's fever. Oliver young for this kind of romantic attachment.
notices another letter for a man named Harry Maylie, but when
he inquires of Mrs. Maylie whether he ought to deliver that
one, too, she says no, that it should wait for the next day.

Oliver runs all the way to the market, four miles off, with the Another coincidence, although this one is later "explained" by the
letter for Losborne (it will be taken from the market to fact that Monks knew Oliver was being rehabilitated in the small
Losborne by coach). While running back home from dropping farmhouse outside Chertsey. Nevertheless, Monks does not
off the letter, however, Oliver nearly crashes into a strange introduce himself to Oliver, and of course Oliver has never seen
gentleman, who curses at Oliver in a manner far outstripping Monks before. It should be noted that Oliver resembles his mother,
the small, accidental offense Oliver caused; the strange man meaning he does not look at all—it can be inferred—like his half-
says, among other things, "He'd start up from a marble coffin, brother, Monks, who shares only a father with Oliver.
to come in my way!" Oliver is perturbed by this man's behavior,
but continues running along.

When Oliver returns home, Rose's fever has grown The dramatic compression in this chapter is notable. At first, Rose is
worse—Losborne, who arrives later, fears that Rose might not well; then she is sick; then she is violently sick, almost on the verge of
survive it. After a few days, in which neither Oliver nor Mrs. death; and when it appears there is no longer hope, she recovers
Maylie sleep hardly at all, Losborne emerges from the sick quickly. Again, it is not clear why Dickens inserted this small
room, after another visit, to declare that, finally and against all character arc in the novel, over than to emphasize the importance
hope, Rose appears to be on the mend. Mrs. Maylie can barely of Rose's goodwill on the structure of the Maylie family.
believe the news—she feared that her niece was lost. And
Oliver is overjoyed to hear Losborne's new prognosis.

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CHAPTER 34
Oliver, relieved to hear that Rose will recover from her fever, Harry comes flying at full speed into the narrative. A dashing young
takes a walk outside to clear his head. On his return to the man, whose "brilliant future" is sketched only in the broadest of
Maylies' house, he runs into Giles, in a post-chaise (a kind of terms by Dickens, Harry is more or less the archetype of the
carriage), with an unnamed gentleman. Giles is still in his romantic hero: he is handsome, intelligent, and so devoted to his
nightcap, as they have come to the Maylies' home very quickly. female love interest that he is willing to forgo all his life's advantages
The gentleman asks Oliver whether Rose has gotten in order to win her.
better—Oliver says she has, and the man, also quite relieved,
introduces himself as Harry Maylie, Mrs. Maylie's son, and
Rose's cousin.

Harry runs inside and finds his mother, whom he upbraids, Rose's "tainted" family history is not elaborated in this scene, but it
gently, for not telling him sooner of Rose's illness. Mrs. Maylie is described later in the novel, when Dickens (via the narrator)
counters that it would not have mattered—if Rose got worse, explains that, because Rose is the far younger daughter of Agnes,
she would have died before Harry had had a chance to arrive. who gave birth while unwed, Rose has been "afflicted" with the
Mrs. Maylie and Harry have a conversation, in general and scourge of Agnes' sin. Victorian audiences would not have found
abstract terms, which seems to indicate that Harry has a that sort of "scourge" to be altogether surprising, although modern
genuine romantic love for Rose, and that some secret of Rose's, readers often have difficulty understanding the gravity of Agnes'
which causes her to have a "tainted" family history, keeps Harry "crime" or how it could be seen as affecting her sister.
and Rose from being happily married.

Harry and his mother leave off the subject for the time being; Again, Harry is a figure everyone in the family adores, not just Rose;
Mrs. Maylie goes back to tend to Rose, and Harry entertains Giles and Losborne, in particular, seem taken with him. Harry's
Oliver, Losborne, and Giles with stories into the night. Over the relationship with Oliver is not developed very much in the novel, but
next several days, Harry stays at the home, and collects flowers one infers that Oliver looks up to Harry a great deal.
with Oliver to arrange for Rose.

One late afternoon, as the sun is setting and Oliver is seated in Another "appearance" of Monks. Again, at first this seems
his room, reading and studying, he wakes up, slowly, to spot improbable, but then one learns, later on, that Monks and Fagin
Fagin and the man he saw on the street (the "strange man," have been in cahoots; it would have been easy for Monks to tell
after Oliver had dropped off a letter for Losborne in the nearby Fagin that Oliver is living at the very house he robbed; and therefore
market-town) outside the window. In a daze, Oliver cannot do the two could easily have found an opportunity to visit Oliver there.
anything, and he watches them disappear; once he wakes up
fully, however, he runs out of the room and calls the rest of the
family, asking for their help.

CHAPTER 35
Oliver alerts the house that "the Jew" (Fagin) and another man Again, it is hard to imagine that Fagin and Monks could disappear
were there. Harry, Giles, and Losborne attempt to find them so quickly, until one considers the fact that the two are
outside, but cannot—the two seem to have vanished without a accomplished criminals, people who are exceedingly good at making
trace. Harry wonders aloud if Oliver didn't possibly dream their quick and thorough getaways. Also, were Harry to find the two near
arrival, but Oliver insists that they were there, outside his the Maylies' property, the novel would have come to its conclusion a
window. Losborne and Harry continue to listen, in the coming great deal sooner.
days, for rumors of the two men in town, but hear nothing.

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A few days later, when Rose is feeling better, Harry comes up to Rose's goodness continues even to the realm of self-
her in the house, and asks to speak with her. Rose, though she abnegation—she feels that, because of the accident of her family's
likes Harry very much, seems upset, and remarks that she "blight," she should not stain the perfect reputation of Harry and his
wishes Harry had left sooner—since his professional life is "so branch of the family by marrying him. One should also note, here,
high and noble," and Rose feels that she is only keeping Harry that it was legal and socially acceptable in Victorian England for
from these pursuits, and from the fame they will win him (Harry cousins to marry.
works as a lawyer, and has an eye toward political office).

Rose then listens as Harry reiterates his love for her. After Harry, for his part, is dead set on Rose; he believes he can love no
hearing him, she asks if she might say something to Harry: she other woman, and he will stop at nothing to win Rose. But the
asks that Harry forget her, and when Harry asks why, Rose "winning" here occurs in a curious fashion; Harry must purposefully
explains. She is a woman with no name, no prospects, and with a "lower" his social station in order to "deserve" Rose. This is the
"blight" on her family (still undescribed); she could not bear the inverse of the typical sense of romantic striving, wherein the male
idea, she tells Harry, of feeling that she had caused Harry to hero "wins" the woman.
lose the brilliant future he is planning for himself.

Harry does not agree with what Rose is saying, but seeing that An important part of the novel. Although Harry will largely
her resolution is firm on the matter—that this "blight" on her disappear for the next ten or so chapters, Rose will keep her
family would prevent them from the otherwise happy union promise, and Harry his; he will ask her, again, if she will accept him,
they both desire—he asks her only one thing: that he might and this allows for the establishment of a nuclear family, in which
bring the question of their marriage to her once again, in a Oliver might live comfortably, at the novel's end. Dickens seems to
year's time, and if she says "no" again, at that moment, then desire this kind of closure for Harry, Rose, and Oliver.
Harry will give up all hope of their union. To this, Rose agrees,
and Harry parts with some small hope that they might live
together happily.

CHAPTER 36
After breakfast, as Harry is preparing to leave with Losborne, This is an interesting case in the novel—a plot point that appears to
Harry pulls Oliver aside and asks him a favor: that Oliver might have been placed by Dickens, but which seems not to be followed
write to Harry every day, reporting on how things go in the up on in the remainder of the text. Harry does need to receive
house, and on how Mrs. Maylie and Rose are doing. Oliver information about the Maylie family, as he is far away during most
agrees to do so. As Harry and Losborne depart, Rose sees that of the events that occur in the last quarter of the novel, but it seems
Harry is happy (because Oliver has agreed to write to him with that Dickens probably intended to make more of this
news of Rose); Rose interprets this happiness as relief that correspondence with Oliver than he in fact ended up doing. These
Harry does not have to marry Rose after all, and Rose, quietly, sorts of blips in continuity are common in novels written serially, in
is sad at the prospect of perhaps not marrying Harry after all, which the writer was writing just slightly ahead of the publication of
although, of course, in the chapter before she said no to this each chapter.
proposal of marriage.

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CHAPTER 37
The narrator turns to the story of Bumble and Mrs. Corney Here, Dickens turns to a bit of domestic comedy, showing that, once
(now Mrs. Bumble); they have been married two months, and they are married, Bumble and his wife turn into a textbook unhappy
Bumble is in a melancholic state. Although he is master of the couple. Mrs. Bumble now bosses her husband around, and the great
workhouse, he has resigned as beadle, and so has given up a irony is, that Bumble, in his attempt to become master of the
certain amount of his social stature—he felt that the promotion workhouse, is not even master of the marriage he so desperately
to workhouse master would be greater than it ended up being desired.
in fact.

Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Bumble fight about Bumble's laziness, and There could be no greater shame, for Bumble, than being insulted in
Mrs. Bumble ends up pushing him out of his chair to take a turn front of the paupers, who he does not consider to be fully human,
of the workhouse; Bumble begins having sympathy for those and yet whose opinion does seem to matter to him. Mrs. Bumble,
men who escape their families in order to be "rid of their wives." sensing this, makes sure to highlight Bumble's flaw and failures for
Bumble finds his way into a room where a group of women are the joy of those paupers observing.
doing laundry, and as he observes them at his work, Mrs.
Bumble comes in and insults him in front of them.

Bumble becomes upset, and walks out of the room in a huff. He Another coincidence, this one necessary to bring Bumble, Monks,
winds up in a pub and begins drinking, to calm himself down. and Mrs. Bumble together. As Monks will find out, Mrs. Bumble has
While at the pub he comes upon a strange man, seated near a package that was given by Oliver's dying mother to Old Sally, her
him, and begins talking to him—the man buys Bumble another nurse in the workhouse. Mrs. Bumble, believing this package might
pint, and even appears to have been waiting to talk to him. The have some value, has kept it, but it turns out that the package is
strange man indicates that he knows about Oliver Twist, and more valuable as a piece of information that can be leveraged, from
more particularly, about the woman Old Sally who nursed Monks, for financial gain.
Twist's mother before she died, and who had information and a
package from Oliver's mother.

The strange man goes on to imply that he knows, further, that Bumble is not particularly adept at this kind of discreet plan-
Mrs. Bumble now has that package, taken from Old Sally (and making, but his wife appears more comfortable dealing with Monks
originally possessed by Oliver's mother). The strange man and his special brand of underworld wheeling and dealing. Bumble,
wishes to arrange a meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Bumble for the for the remainder of the novel, is out of his depth, and this scene
following night—to all this Bumble, confused, agrees. The man, marks the total dominance of Mrs. Bumble, in their strange,
as he is leaving, gives his name to Bumble—Monks, the same unhappy marriage.
man who was seen with Fagin outside Oliver's window, by the
Maylies' house.

CHAPTER 38
Bumble and his wife go to meet Monks, in a shabby old building Here, Mrs. Bumble puts into practice her street-smarts, demanding
down by the river Thames. They find him outside and, ducking payment for the package before Monks even sees it. Monks,
out of the thunder and rain outside, head with him up a ladder therefore, must know that the package is valuable for him,
to small room. Monks indicates, to Mrs. Bumble, that he knows otherwise he would not be so willing to offer cash for it up-front,
she possesses something of value taken from Old Sally; Mrs. without even examining it first.
Bumble demands that Monks pay her twenty-five pounds for
this package. Bumble remains silent and nervous during this
exchange.

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Monks produces twenty-five gold coins and gives them to Mrs. Dickens qualifies the exact manner by which Mrs. Bumble received
Bumble, who begins her story of how she received the package the package. This is probably done simply for practical reasons: it
from Sally. Mrs. Bumble describes Old Sally's death, and states would be much more difficult for Old Sally to have clutched the
that, though Sally died without saying anything of interest package to her person during the final throes of her illness. A slip for
regarding the package she had mentioned to Mrs. Bumble, she a pawnbroker is much easier to conceal in one's fist, and much
did possess, in her hand, a pawnbroker's slip for this easier, too, to hang onto during one's final moments.
package—and Mrs. Bumble took this slip and redeemed it,
finding the objects in a small bag, once belonging to Oliver's
mother, which she gives, at this point, to Monks.

In the bag are: a locket engraved with the name Agnes (and a The first announcement of the name of Oliver's mother. This is
blank for the last name), a wedding-ring, and two locks of hair. important for the plot, and also for symbolic reasons. For up till this
At this, Mrs. Bumble completes her story, and asks Monks point, Oliver's mother was a character only inasmuch as she was
whether this is what he wanted, and whether he can use this the woman who gave birth to the novel's hero. But Agnes is a
package or this information to ruin Mrs. Bumble. Monks replies character of her own—one with a family, and a history. It is this
that this information will ruin no one, and at that, he opens a history that is to be revealed as the text progresses.
trap door, which leads all the way down to the river rushing
beneath (as the building juts over part of the Thames River).
Monks then drops the package into the river, and claims it is
gone forever.

Monks then tells Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Bumble that this is all, The entire conversation is quite short, and Bumble, notably, has
and tells them, too, that they must keep the meeting secret. The played almost no part in the proceedings.
Bumbles leave the house, and Monks stays behind, with an
unnamed servant-boy.

CHAPTER 39
The chapter opens in Sikes' flophouse, where he is still staying Sikes and Nancy appear to have been abandoned, or at the very
with Nancy. They are both in terrible condition, having very least held at arm's length, following the botched robbery. There are
little money, and appear weak and starved. They get into a fight, many possible explanations for this, but it is most likely that Fagin is
for which neither is strong enough, and Nancy faints just as avoiding police scrutiny by not associating with Sikes for a period of
Fagin, Bates, and the Dodger enter—they help Nancy and get time.
her water, while Sikes inquires as to what has brought Fagin to
him, all of a sudden.

As Fagin begins his explanation, Bates and the Dodger empty The nature of the dependence between Fagin and Sikes is here more
food for Sikes and Nancy out of their sacks. Sikes is angry that or less reversed. In earlier chapter, Sikes could simply take money
Fagin has not visited him, nor brought him any food and (for example, the money Oliver was holding on his way to the book-
nourishment for several weeks, and demands to know why. stall) and tell Fagin that the money is Sikes', not Fagin's. But here,
Fagin and the boys reply that they were "out of London," and Sikes is reduced to begging for whatever small amount Fagin can
that they have brought food for them now. Sikes tells Fagin he provide him.
is sending Nancy back to Fagin's apartment, with the boys, for
some money, which she will then deliver to Sikes—Sikes
complains he is dying for want of money.

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Nancy goes, with Fagin and the boys, back to Fagin's Fagin and Monks do not seem to worry that Nancy will eavesdrop
apartment. There, after clearing out Toby and Chitling and the on them. Either Fagin believes Nancy is too weak, and too much of a
boys from the common area, Fagin gets Nancy the money and drunk at this point, to care very much what Fagin has to say, or
seems about to speak to her about something important, when Fagin and Monks are beginning to get sloppy in their planning. It is
Monks enters the apartment, brusquely. Monks and Fagin go this kind of sloppiness that will, eventually, get both Monks and
off to the second floor to have a private conversation, but Fagin arrested—the former by Brownlow, the latter by the
Nancy secretly follows them up there, and hears all that they authorities.
say (although the narrator does not report this dialogue to the
reader). Before the two descend, Nancy returns and pretends
as though she has not been eavesdropping.

Nancy looks pale, and, after quickly taking the money from Nancy has, quite clearly, heard something that truly upsets her. In
Fagin that he has promised for Sikes, she returns to Sikes, and fact, she is so agitated she is willing to dose Sikes with a drug. Nancy,
gives him the money. The next morning, Nancy still appears we are led to believe, has not taken such desperate measures
pale and agitated, and Sikes notices this throughout he day. previously; but now, things are different, and she feels compelled to
That evening, Nancy slips laudanum, a sleeping drug, into Sikes' act.
beer, and he falls into a deep slumber. At this, Nancy leaves the
apartment on some kind of mission.

Nancy walks with great speed through the streets, and ends up Another one of the novel's necessary coincidences. Dickens never
at a nice hotel in a genteel neighborhood. Acting on information elaborates why the Maylies are in London, but they happen to be
she has gleaned from the conversation between Fagin and there, with Oliver, exactly when Nancy overhears Monks'
Monks the previous night, she asks after Miss Maylie, to a involvement in the life of Oliver Twist.
footman in the hotel, hoping to have a conversation with Rose.
Rose, hearing that someone is there to see her, allows Nancy to
come upstairs for a discussion.

CHAPTER 40
Nancy enters Rose's room at the hotel, where Rose apologizes The relationship between Rose and Nancy is an intriguing and
for Nancy's difficulty in coming to see her. Nancy, for her part, complex one. One can imagine that Nancy might have turned out a
apologizes for her low social status, remarking that, "if there bit more like Rose, had she simply been raised in more pleasant
were more like you [Rose], there would be fewer like me." circumstances. This is one of Dickens' subtle jabs at the
Nancy admits that it was she who dragged Oliver back to impermeability of classes in England at the time—it was very
Fagin's, when he was carrying books to the bookseller. difficult for someone like Nancy to receive a good education, or a
Although Rose is shocked by this information, Nancy says she good job, without the social connections possessed by someone like
only did it because of her circumstances—she feels loyal to Rose.
Fagin and Sikes because they helped to raise her, even if they
initiated her into a life of crime. Rose seems to understand this,
and says she pities Nancy.

Nancy reveals to Rose information she has heard from Nancy hears a large amount of Monks' motivation, but not all of it.
conversations between Fagin and Monks (whom Rose does not She knows that Monks and Oliver are half-brothers, and she
know). Nancy says that Monks has his own reasons for wanting perceives that Monks has a vested interest in keeping Oliver from
to find Oliver, which he has not revealed to Fagin; Monks saw discovering that very fact. But Nancy does not seem to know, or to
Oliver on the street on the day when the Dodger and Bates have heard, the extent to which Oliver stands to benefit from this
robbed Brownlow (by coincidence), and from this time on connection with Monks, via the inheritance Oliver is to receive from
Monks promised Fagin money if Fagin could get Oliver back, his deceased father Edwin.
alive, and if Fagin could then make Oliver a criminal. Monks,
again, had his reasons for wanting these things, but did not
share them with Fagin.

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Nancy reveals the content of tonight's conversation between Bumble and his wife might have thought that their actions took
Monks and Fagin to Rose: Monks said that the only proof of place under the cover of darkness, but once Nancy overhears
Oliver's family ties lies at the bottom of the river Thames, and Monks discussing the purchase of the package, Bumble and Mrs.
that the woman who once had this proof (Sally) is "in her Bumble are irrevocably part of the narrative. And when Monks is
coffin." Further, Monks reveals that Oliver is of high birth, and captured, the Bumbles will also suffer.
that if he finds out about this high birth, he might be able to use
it against Monks. Monks, lastly, told Fagin that Monks and
Oliver are brothers.

This last piece of information is most shocking to Rose. Monks Another instance of Nancy's loyalty. Dickens seems to be of two
also told Fagin that the Maylies would die to know their minds regarding this loyalty. On the one hand, Nancy's courage is
relationship to Oliver, but that they would never learn the notable, and she is far stronger, as it turns out, than the male
nature of this relationship. Rose begs, on hearing this, that criminals Fagin and Sikes, in her determination and moral fortitude.
Nancy remain with them, in the hotel, and be spirited away to But Dickens also clearly believes that Nancy has cast her lot with
safety. But Nancy insists that she will go back to Fagin, Sikes, the wrong side—that of the criminals.
and the boys. Rose says that she believes the truth of what
Nancy says, because Nancy has risked her life to tell it to her.

Rose begs, again, that Nancy stay with them, but Nancy repeats An important use of coffin symbolism. The coffin, later in the novel,
that she is loyal to the scoundrels she lives with, that it is too will come to symbolize also Agnes Fleming, Oliver's mother, who
late for her, that she cannot be redeemed. Nancy tells Rose, was similarly good-natured, like Nancy, but who succumbed, like
further, that she can be met on London bridge every Sunday Nancy, to moral temptation in agreeing to have a liaison with Edwin
night between eleven and twelve to talk with Rose and before marriage. Nancy has also made decisions that push her into
whomever Rose brings along. Nancy refuses money from Rose a life of crime from which she cannot escape.
but takes her blessings, and saying that she (Nancy) has "no
roof but a coffin-lid," heads out again into the night, leaving
Rose shocked by the evening's revelations.

CHAPTER 41
Rose is not sure what to do with Nancy's information. Rose has This is the second time that a letter, intended to be sent to Harry, is
promised to keep Nancy's information secret, but Rose knows, not even written—the first was to be written by Mrs. Maylie, when
also, that she must ask someone's advice in order to untangle she had found out that Rose had taken ill with fever. It seems that,
the secret of Oliver's birth, and to protect Oliver. As Rose is as regards important family decisions, Harry is often the last to
sitting down to write to her cousin Harry regarding his know.
assistance in the matter, Oliver comes into Rose's room, greatly
agitated.

Oliver tells Rose that he has spotted Mr. Brownlow in the Another coincidence. It is not noted whether the hotel in which the
street. Oliver wishes desperately to be reunited with the man Maylies, and Oliver, stay is close to the neighborhood in which
who had given him so much, and who still believes him to be a Brownlow used to live, but in any event, Oliver sees him, and the
thief and a rotten boy. Rose hires a cab and she and Oliver drive plot of the novel begins approaching its grand finale.
to the Brownlow residence. Rose enters and is let in to
Brownlow's parlor, where he is seated, once again, with Mr.
Grimwig.

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Rose claims that she has knowledge of Oliver Twist, can prove Oliver finally makes his way back to the parlor, where Grimwig and
that he is in fact a good boy. Grimwig does not believe that this Brownlow were waiting so many months previous. It will take little,
is possible, but Brownlow is clearly excited by the prospect that this time, to convince Brownlow that Oliver was virtuous all along,
Oliver was, after all, telling the truth, and that his leaving and was merely the victim of terrible circumstances.
Brownlow was not of Oliver's choosing. At this point, Rose asks
Oliver to enter the parlor (he has been waiting outside the
door).

Brownlow is overjoyed to see Oliver again, as is Mrs. Bedwin, Mrs. Bedwin has stayed steadfastly in Oliver's corner since his stay
who states, once more, that she never believed that Oliver was at Brownlow's the first time. Bedwin knew, all along, that Oliver
a bad boy in the first place. Rose goes out of the parlor with possessed a fundamental goodness that could not be taken away.
Brownlow to tell him all the information Rose has relayed to This goodness was also seen, in Oliver, by Rose and Mrs. Maylie,
her. Brownlow, hearing all, pledges to tell Losborne all that had when first they laid eyes on him.
taken place, while Rose returns to the hotel to inform Mrs.
Maylie. Rose and Brownlow part, and Oliver leaves with Nancy.

Losborne is furious with Nancy when he hears that she is Losborne's characteristic impetuosity is on display in this scene;
responsible for dragging Oliver back to Fagin, when Oliver was though Losborne is a kind man, and one with a generous spirit, he
en route to the bookseller. Brownlow asks him, politely, to be has a hard time understanding how someone in Nancy's position
calm, since only by proceeding calmly will they be able to solve could endanger, willfully, the life of a poor child, by leading him back
the true mystery: that of Oliver's parentage, and of his to Fagin.
inheritance, of which Brownlow feels Oliver has been
defrauded.

Brownlow and Losborne go to the hotel to meet with Rose and Brownlow's interactions with, and plans about, Oliver might best be
Mrs. Maylie. Brownlow has a plan for how to proceed, although characterized as paternal. He withholds certain information from
the plan galls Losborne, who is impetuous and wants to act that Oliver that he feels would hurt or frighten the small boy, and he
night: they will wait until the next Sunday (it is Tuesday), and hopes that by hiding this information from Oliver he might bring
send Rose to speak again with Nancy on London Bridge, with about a plan which ultimately protects the boy. This is a far cry from
the aim of getting more information about Monks. Brownlow the kind of information-withholding practices practiced by those in
says that all these developments should be kept from Oliver the workhouse, such as Bumble, who wished merely to make money
(who has overheard nothing, yet, of their plans), and he agrees off the "sale" of Oliver as an apprentice.
that Grimwig and Harry should be brought in to help. With this
plan made, the meeting breaks up till morning.

CHAPTER 42
On the same night that Nancy dosed Sikes with laudanum and Noah Claypole might have been believed to have been out of the
visited Rose, Noah Claypole and his now-partner Charlotte (it narrative for good, but here he is introduced again, as a young
is unclear if they are legally married) are walking to London, aspiring criminal on his way to London. In this way, Noah's journey,
with only a small bit of clothing tied to sticks they are carrying. with Charlotte, to London on foot mirrors Oliver's journey so many
Both have escaped Sowerberry, and are coming to London to months before. And, like Oliver, Noah will soon come into contact
seek their fortune. They stumble upon a pub called the Three with Fagin.
Cripples, where they stop for refreshment, as they have
traveled a long distance and eaten and drunk very little.

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Noah requests of Barney, who is working at the Cripples that Dickens here makes reference to a common theory among
night, some beef and ale, and he and Noah sit in a small room, Victorians, the idea that one's "looks," or "physiognomy," could tell
eating and drinking. Barney then goes in the back of the pub an observer important information about that person's personality,
and meets with Fagin; both of them are able to observe Noah or even moral outlook. Fagin believes he sees, in Noah, the shadow
and Charlotte through a small and out-of-sight window into the of a criminal temperament, and so he pursues Noah to that end.
room in which the pair is eating. Fagin, not knowing of Noah's
connection to Oliver, simply likes the man's "looks," and the fact
that Noah seems capable of "controlling" his wife. Fagin vows
that he can "use" Noah.

Fagin comes in just as Noah was discussing how he intended to Fagin is nothing if not observant. Although he does not know exactly
make money in London through petty thievery—pickpocketing from where Noah and Charlotte come, he does know that they have
and the like. Fagin notices that the two are from the country come from the country; Fagin is too sly to say, however, what he
based on the dust on their shoes—Noah is impressed by this really means, which is not that the dust tipped him off to their
detection. Fagin indicates that he overheard Noah and country origins, but rather their behavior did—Noah and Charlotte
Charlotte talking about illegal activities, but he says the two are are terrified of the city, and it is obvious.
lucky, as he, Fagin, is also "in that line of work" himself. Noah
and Charlotte are stunned and listen attentively to Fagin.

Fagin says he has "a friend" who does some criminal work; Once again, Fagin leverages his information and places himself in a
Noah realizes that he more or less has to help Fagin, now, in his position of power by claiming that he could turn Noah in to the
this criminal enterprise, since Fagin has overheard him police for Noah's desire to become a criminal, should Noah find it
discussing his desire for illegal employment, and Fagin could necessary to go his own way and disregard Fagin's orders. Fagin is a
take this information immediately to the police. Noah asks for master at manipulating people without having to resort to the
some "light" work to begin with, as he does not have much threat of physical violence—in other words, unlike people like Sikes.
experience with crime in the big city of London. Fagin says he
has just the thing for Noah—Noah will steal small amounts of
money from children, given them by their mothers, in certain
parts of the city. He will be a robber of little boys and girls.
Noah agrees to this, and introduces himself to Fagin as Mr.
Bolter, here with his wife Mrs. Bolter.

CHAPTER 43
The next day at Fagin's apartment, when Noah comes to meet An incredibly important scene in the novel, and one that has
Fagin's "friend," with whom he is to work, he finds Fagin become, understandably, quite famous. Fagin inverts the
instead. Noah is surprised that Fagin is the "friend" he commonplace idea that one should look out for "Number One"
mentioned, but Fagin answers that every man is his own best (oneself), by arguing that he, Fagin, is also always Number One, and
friend—every man is his own "number one." Fagin explains to so everyone should also look out for Fagin's interests.
Noah that he must look out for two number ones, in order to be
successful as a criminal: Noah himself (number one), and Fagin
(the absolute number one of all).

Fagin says that the more Noah values the first, the more he will As with Oliver, Fagin threatens Noah, again, with the prospect of
have to value the second, and vice versa; Fagin also threatens hanging, should Noah find it necessary to "peach," or rat out the
Noah with hanging, at the hands of justice, if he disobeys. Fagin remainder of the group. This is how fear keeps the band of criminals
explains to Noah how one of his best hands, the Artful Dodger, together. But that fear is all that keeps the gang forever, in contrast
was taken by police just the previous day, for stealing a snuff to the bonds of love that Oliver seems able to forge between people.
box.

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Charley Bates comes to Fagin to inform him that the police The Dodger's crime has come off-stage, and only his punishment
have additional evidence against the Dodger linking him to will be narrated to the reader. Again, one gets the sense that,
other thefts—this means he will be sent away for a long time, perhaps, Dickens had more he wanted to show of the Dodger, but he
possibly to a penal colony. Bates is upset—not his usual ran out of space or time to do it. It should be noted, also, that the
laughing self—and cries to Fagin that no one will know of all the Dodger, despite his fame in the novel, has relatively few
Dodger's wonderful thefts and deeds. Fagin replies, however, appearances—but the character is so vividly drawn, he remains a
that the trial is a matter of public record, and perhaps the touchstone of the novel and of Dickens' work in general.
Dodger will announce some of his greater criminal
achievements aloud to the assembled crowds when he is
judged. This, Fagin says, will increase the Dodger's fame, and
deservedly so.

Fagin's description of the Dodger's fame seems to assuage Noah is not in a very strong bargaining position—he has just agreed,
Charley a bit, and they realize they need someone to witness more or less, to do whatever Fagin demands of him. And it is true
the Dodger's trial. No one can go except for Noah, since all that no one in London recognizes Noah, although, understandably,
others have faces that could be recognized by the authorities. Noah still hesitates to go near the authorities who have the power
At first, Noah hesitates to go near a hall of justice, since he, too, to put him in prison.
is illegal (having left his assigned village, as a pauper), but Fagin
convinces Noah to do it.

Noah is dressed in different clothes and given directions to the It seems that the police have had a "file" on the Dodger for some
court. Once there he picks out the Artful Dodger right away, by time, but have been unable to nab him. The Dodger, far from trying
his flamboyant style of dress and characteristically swaggering to avoid detection, wishes rather to be famous among London
manner. The Dodger has his charges read against him by the criminals.
judge, and a policeman corroborates the story and argues that
the Dodger has committed many more thefts as well.

The judge sentences the Dodger to time in a penal colony, and Fagin believes that the Dodger's court performance will "go down in
the Dodger, rather than fighting this sentence, merely tells the history," but it is not clear that anyone in the court will remember
whole court they'll regret sentencing him. He is taken away by the Dodger's words beyond the day of his court proceeding. But
guards in cuffs, and Noah returns, meeting up with Bates Fagin needs to create this air of myth and legend in order to keep
halfway, to Fagin's, to tell of the Dodger's glorious rebuke to the group from disbanding, for fear of getting caught.
the courts.

CHAPTER 44
Nancy, back at Sikes' apartment, worries that she must attempt Nancy is being torn apart by her loyalties, as are many "informants"
to protect Oliver while hiding her exertions from both Sikes placed in Nancy's, or similar, positions. But Nancy is steadfast in her
and Fagin. She does not know how much longer she can do this, unwillingness to send Fagin and Sikes to jail—she alone among all
and despite her belief that both men are "vile," she still feels a the criminals seems to feel loyalty and love for them, even though
certain loyalty to them, and does not want simply to give them she knows of their essentially evil or corrupt natures.
up to the authorities.

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Fagin comes over that night, a Sunday, to join Nancy and Sikes. Fagin, on the other hand, is all-too-happy to turn on his "friend"
Nancy is eager to meet Rose on the London Bridge, and asks Sikes, if it means that Fagin stands to gain from the arrangement.
Sikes if she can go out (although of course not saying she is to Nancy does not seem interested in Fagin's proposal, perhaps
meet Rose); Sikes says no, and when Nancy protests, Sikes yells because she understands that Fagin is not to be trusted. Indeed,
at her, angrily, and says she will go nowhere. Nancy gets even although Sikes is physically dangerous and imposing, Nancy
more upset and begins to weep, but Sikes insists she will not appears, at least in these scenes, able to control him; far more
leave the apartment. As Fagin is leaving, however, he pulls terrifying is the untrammeled cunning of Fagin.
Nancy aside, out of Sikes' hearing, and tells Nancy that if she
ever needs help against Sikes, he is happy to provide it. Nancy
does not understand what Fagin's motive is in helping her, but
says "thank you" to Fagin regardless. Fagin leaves.

Fagin believes, as he is walking home, that Nancy was eager to Fagin's assumption, funnily enough, dovetails with the standard
see a new lover, and that Nancy knows that, if she were to leave assumption of any kind of romantic tragedy—that one party is
Sikes for another man, Sikes would become murderous with seeing another person, and that the relationship is falling apart.
rage. Fagin wonders whether he can convince Nancy to poison Little does Fagin know, however, that Nancy has no lover, only a
Sikes—Fagin himself has grown tired of Sikes' raging, and feels friend, in Rose.
he can gain a larger share from the crimes they commit if Sikes
is no longer living.

To this end, Fagin vows to send someone along to follow Nancy Fagin has figured out a gambit which will not result in very much
the next time she goes out to meet the person Fagin believes to gain for him, but will wind up killing Nancy, and forcing Sikes to flee
be a lover; Fagin can then use this information to blackmail for his life, to the countryside, and to another flophouse in London.
Nancy into killing Sikes. Happy with this plan, Fagin walks
briskly back to his apartment building, happy at his own
cunning.

CHAPTER 45
Noah comes to Fagin's the next morning for breakfast. Fagin Noah is happy to perform any task that does not seem to offer him
congratulates Noah on the trinkets he stole from children the the possibility of physical harm. Spying, then, is a perfect activity for
previous day, after checking on the Dodger at the court. Fagin Noah—one that allows him to be of use for Fagin, and which keeps
says he has a new proposition for Noah: that he act as a spy on him, or so he thinks, significantly out of harm's way.
a "young woman." Noah readily agrees to this. Fagin himself
spies on Nancy for six days, and realizes that, on Sunday, she
intends again to go out to see her "lover."

Fagin takes Noah to the Cripples pub that Sunday evening, and, A motif is then developed in the novel: of conversations being
through the trick pane of glass in the secret room (from which overheard, or partially overheard, by other characters. Noah is spied
Fagin once observed Noah), Noah observes Nancy. He says he on by Fagin, earlier, and Fagin blackmails Noah with that
would recognize her anywhere, and will follow her the whole information; then Noah is tasked with doing the same thing to
night. Fagin wishes him good speed, and after Nancy has left Nancy.
the Cripples for her meeting, Noah heads out after her,
directed initially by Barney (holding open the tavern door), and
into the night.

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CHAPTER 46
Nancy keeps arrives at the bridge, and Rose and Brownlow Brownlow tends to make moral decision quickly. When he first met
arrive just after her. Noah sneaks along the bridge and hides Oliver, after he believed Oliver had taken his "wipe," Brownlow
himself in an alcove just below the three; he is in a position to looked closely at the boy and realized, all of a sudden, that Oliver
hear all, and escapes detection. Although Brownlow at first was incapable of theft. Here, after hearing very little from Nancy,
questions Nancy's truthfulness, after Nancy begins to speak, Brownlow is convinced that she is telling the truth, and that he can
and tells of how Sikes would not allow her to leave the trust her. Of course, Brownlow was deeply shaken when he believed
apartment last week, and how she again had to drug him with in Oliver and then Oliver ran away—which was, perhaps, why
laudanum this week to escape, Brownlow seems convinced of Brownlow then tried so hard to find out more information about
her earnestness. Brownlow tells Nancy that they need to Oliver's life.
formulate a plan to get information about Oliver from the
mysterious man Monks.

Brownlow says that, if they cannot secure Monks, then Nancy Nancy repeats, for the third time, her wish that neither Fagin nor
will have to hand over Fagin to them. Nancy becomes upset at Sikes get in trouble because of the information she (Nancy) will
this, however, saying that, though Fagin and Sikes are vile men, provide to Brownlow. Just as Rose knits together her family, Nancy
she cannot betray them; she has no relationship with Monks, offers the possibility of a social bond among the criminals—but her
and therefore does not feel the same loyalty to him. Brownlow awful fate will highlight how impossible such bonds of love are to
and Rose promise that, if they get the information about Oliver maintain among criminals.
they need, no harm will come to Fagin or Sikes without Nancy's
consent. Nancy is relieved to hear this.

Nancy describes Monks to Rose and Brownlow, and tells how Once again, Brownlow appears to recognize someone, in the same
he might be found at the pub the Three Cripples. Brownlow way that he recognized Oliver and Oliver's similarity to the picture
gives a start at the description of a scar on Monks' face—he of his mother Brownlow hangs in his parlor. It is perhaps hard to
believes he might have seen Monks before. Brownlow thanks believe that Brownlow's interactions with Oliver's father were so
Nancy for her information, and Brownlow and Rose attempt to distant in the past that he does not immediately figure out the
convince Nancy to come with them, and not to go home to the novel's central mystery, but of course, without that there would be
dangerous Sikes. But Nancy says she cannot leave him, nor the no novel.
rest of her criminal "friends."

Rose is deeply upset that Nancy will not go with them, and that Rose tries, for the second time to convince Nancy that she can be
Nancy will take no money from them. Nancy tells Rose and helped by Rose and the Maylie family if she leaves Sikes. But Nancy
Brownlow that, one day soon, she (Nancy) will die and become denies Rose's help for the last time, and when she heads back to
another forgotten soul in London. Rose is shocked to hear this, Sikes' apartment, she will not leave there alive. Nancy seems to
but Brownlow tells her they must depart, and they do so; foresee her fate.
Nancy departs in a different direction just after. After all three
leaves, Noah sneaks back to tell Fagin what he has heard.

CHAPTER 47
The chapter opens with Noah asleep on the floor of Fagin's Fagin thought he would have a different situation for blackmail—he
apartment. Fagin is plotting based on the information Noah has thought he could use Nancy's lover for this purpose—but he realizes,
overheard. Fagin is partially upset that Nancy is not seeing a quickly, that he can cause Sikes to kill Nancy, and thus cause Sikes
lover, and that therefore Fagin cannot blackmail her; but Fagin to be chased by police for a crime unrelated to Fagin.
recognizes, in this turn of events, that he might be able to spin
circumstances to his advantage. While Fagin is thus stewing,
Sikes enters the apartment.

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Fagin reveals to Sikes, slowly, that Nancy has spoken to "a The die has been cast—after this point, Nancy will no longer walk
gentleman and a lady" on London Bridge; he insinuates to Sikes free. It is ironic and horrifying to consider that this is how Nancy is
that Nancy has "peached," or told of Sikes' and Fagin's illegal repaid for her loyalty—she is killed, in an instant, by the man who is
activities. Fagin wakes up Noah, who also tells Sikes that Nancy supposed to love her, and to protect her. But such is the nature of
has been drugging him at night in order to get him asleep and the social "bonds" connecting those in Fagin's gang.
allow herself out of their shared apartment. Sikes is infuriated
by this information and vows to retaliate against Nancy.

Fagin has therefore spun the turn of events, lying to Sikes that There is little Nancy can say to stop Sikes at this point. It is out of
Nancy has sold out Fagin and Sikes, when in reality Nancy has the question that Sikes would stop to consider whether Fagin had a
avoided doing just that. Sikes returns to his apartment in a fury, vested interest in lying to him about Nancy's involvement—Sikes
and screams at Nancy that she is an ingrate and a liar. Nancy does not go in for those types of psychological games. He merely
attempts to defend herself by telling the truth—that she did not resorts to violence.
betray Sikes and Fagin—but Sikes strikes her twice, on the
head, with his pistol, knocking a deep gash in her skull. He then
beats her with a club until she dies.

CHAPTER 48
The next morning, Sikes is sitting in his apartment, staring at Nancy's death is accomplished in an instant, but Sikes regrets it
Nancy's body, which he has tried to cover with a rug, but to no almost as quickly. Silks regret seems to be in part selfish—that he
avail—there is too much blood in the apartment, and it is driving knows there is nothing he can do to protect himself. Yet at the same
Sikes mad. Sikes attempts to clean his shoes and leaves the time, Sikes also seems truly distraught that he has killed Nancy, as if
apartment, Nancy's body still inside, with his dog; he does not he senses that she felt a real kind of love for him—a love now forever
know where he is going, but he no longer can stay alone with beyond him—and he repaid her with death. Sikes' desperation in this
the body. and the following chapters is truly something to behold; Dickens is a
powerful writer of this kind of abjection.

Sikes wanders all day, and ends up in a town where he meets a Another coincidence, and instance of dramatic irony: the audience,
hawker selling a product that can "get stains out of or reader, knows that Sikes has just killed someone and that the
anything—any kind of stains." The hawker sees a spot of blood stain the man attempts to rinse can never be rinsed. But the man
on Sikes' clothes, and attempts to get it out with this product. selling his wares does not know this, nor does he understand why
Sikes is aghast and moves on. He walks by two guards, who are Sikes seems so upset.
talking of a murder in London, and it seems, from this
information, that they are speaking specifically of Nancy's
murder. Sikes is alarmed and continues his aimless journey.

Sikes attempts to sleep in a barn but is tormented by thoughts This conflagration is an apt metaphor for Sikes state of mind. Try as
of his deed, and as he walks, later that night, he comes upon a he might to put out the flames of guilt even as he helps to put out
farm-building that has gone up in flames. To distract himself the fire, he can only contain them—he cannot stop the fire
from his own mind, Sikes takes up water-pails and helps the completely. This bit of physical activity helps Sikes to "lose himself"
villagers to put out the fire. That next morning, the fire having for a moment, but soon he will have to come to terms, once more, of
been put out, Sikes hears some of the firemen talking of the the fact that he has killed his lover, and will be brought to justice for
murder, and saying that they heard the murderer has fled to it, as all London is discussing the murder.
Birmingham. Sikes walks away, now even more conscious of his
need to escape detection, and more paranoid that he will be
caught.

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Sikes realizes that his dog could be used to identify him. He Sikes wants to kill the dog out of his instinct for self-
resolves to kill the dog, but as he calls it over—the two are preservation—the same instinct that made him kill Nancy. The dog
hiding in a culvert near the road, to pass part of the day—the seems to sense this, though, leaving Sikes truly and totally alone,
dog runs off, as if knowing that Sikes wishes to kill it. Sikes is with nothing left to live for—no love, no home, not even his dog.
now left alone, with his thoughts, and with no plan for where to
live, or how to return to London, if at all.

CHAPTER 49
Between chapters, Brownlow has found Monks at the Cripples Brownlow has captured Monk "off-stage," that is, this action is not
and has brought him, with help from servants, in a carriage narrated by the narrator. Perhaps, at this point, Dickens felt it was
back to his (Brownlow's) house. Brownlow says that, if Monks necessary simply to move the plot along, and to resolve certain
yells or tries to get away, Brownlow will call immediately for the aspects of Monks' and Oliver's fates.
police. Monks appears calm but defeated.

It is revealed by Monks, when the servants have gone, that Another, and perhaps the crowning, coincidence of the novel.
Monks is Brownlow's "father's oldest friend." This is, naturally, a Brownlow is not just a disinterested party—he has a relationship
shock to the reader but not to the two men in the scene. with Oliver's father, and in becoming Oliver's stepfather, at the
Brownlow also explains (aloud, and for the reader's benefit), novel's end, Brownlow is fulfilling a duty to a long-lost friend of his,
that Monks' real name is Edward Leeford, and that a woman one that that friend, Leeford, could never have anticipated being
whose maiden name was Leeford, and was related to Monks' necessary.
father, was Brownlow's wife, who now is dead. Brownlow says
he is glad that Monks no longer goes by Leeford, since Monks
has sullied that name.

Brownlow tells Monks that he has a brother—Monks does not Though Monks might be a fairly accomplished criminal, he is not
at first admit that this is true. But Brownlow continues: nearly so good at lying as is Fagin. Brownlow then goes in for a great
Brownlow knows, he says, that Monks' father and mother were deal of explanation that is, of course, not necessary for Monks to
brought together in marriage by Monks' grandfather, that hear, but is absolutely necessary for the reader to hear. Monks'
Monks' father never wanted the marriage, and that Monks is denials allow Brownlow to outline the facts of the case in extreme
the only child of that union. When Monks was a boy of about detail.
ten, however, his parents separated, and his mother went to
live in Europe, while Monks' father stayed in England. Monks
denies that he knows this, too, but it seems clear that he does
know.

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Meanwhile, in England, Monks' father became friends with a It is, of course convenient and necessary that the younger daughter
naval officer with two daughters—one nineteen, and the other of the naval officer be significantly younger than the other daughter,
only two or three. Monks' father becomes engaged to the elder Agnes, as that younger daughter ends up being Rose, who is closer
of these daughters. But Monks' father learned that he had to Oliver's age than she is to Oliver's mother's age. Later it is
inherited, from a relation in Europe, a good deal of money, and revealed that in fact there was a will, which Monk's mother
so Monks' father went to Europe to get it—but in Rome Monks' destroyed, and so Monks received his inheritance through a crime.
father became ill, and Monks' mother, along with Monks, went There is then a suggestion that through this original crime Monk's
to join him there. In Europe Monks' father died of this illness became ensnared in a life of crime—that committing a crime
and left no will, nor did he have a chance to marry the elder morally tainted him in such a way that he could never stop
daughter of the naval officer. All Monks' father's money went to committing crime. This puts Oliver's goodness in a new light, that he
his wife and to Monks. always refused to commit any crime even as a 10-year-old boy is
what saves him. Dickens portrays criminality as a kind of
trap—where a single act of criminality forces most people into an
inescapable life of crime.

Brownlow knows this because Monks' father stopped to see Finally, the mystery of the portrait can be explained—the woman
Brownlow on his way to Europe to collect his inheritance. At resembles Oliver so much because Oliver is her own flesh-and-
this time Monks' father gave Brownlow the portrait of his love blood. What is less clear is: why would Brownlow hang this portrait
that hangs in the parlor—the picture of which Oliver was so on his wall? Because it was important to a friend of his? Because
enamored—and on Monks' father's death, Brownlow traveled Brownlow simply thought the image was a beautiful one? It's not
to see this woman, only to find out that, before their marriage, explained, but the picture had to be on the wall so that Oliver could
the woman of nineteen and Monks' father had had a liaison, see it, and react to it.
and the woman was pregnant. The woman's family abandoned
her, because they were ashamed of her pregnancy before
marriage.

Brownlow tells Monks that it was he, Brownlow, who took This, too, explains Brownlow's trip to the West Indies—which, again,
Oliver in off the street, and Fagin purposely withheld from may as well be a symbolic stand-in for a place so far away as to be
Monks the name Brownlow, lest Monks should make the almost like another planet. Thus Brownlow didn't go to the West
connection between the two. After Oliver was taken away by Indies to escape Oliver, but rather to find out more information
Nancy, back to Fagin's, Brownlow realized who Oliver was, and about Oliver's predicament.
vowed to find him. Brownlow went to the West Indies because
he believed Monks could be found there, but he did not find
Monks, and so returned to London.

Monks hears all this but still refuses to admit to his plans for Brownlow never produces this will, but it's enough when Monks
Oliver. Monks tells Brownlow he cannot prove that Oliver is admit to it, to know that the will exists—presumably this is also
the child of Monks' father and this woman. But Brownlow says enough to satisfy the authorities, who choose to allow Brownlow to
he can—he has found out that Monks' mother destroyed a will administer this will, Brownlow then chooses to disburse half the will
that did make mention to a possible child of his union with his to Monks and half to Oliver, meaning that Brownlow is in a position
fiancée. Brownlow has also heard that Monks destroyed bits of of executoriship—which is of course possible, since Brownlow
evidence he gained from Mrs. Bumble, "the only proof of becomes Oliver's adoptive father.
Oliver's parentage." This knowledge is enough to link Oliver to
Monks' father.

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Brownlow also declares, to Monks, that murder has been done The final straw. One notes that, far earlier, Monks was reluctant to
on account of this secret—as Sikes, after all, killed Nancy kill Oliver, as he felt this would inevitably drag the authorities into
because he feared that Nancy had given away the group (Fagin, the affair. When Monks realizes that a woman has been killed, he
Sikes, Monks, and the boys) to the authorities. The knows there is nothing more he can do—the authorities will soon
accumulation of all this information stuns Monks, who agrees, discover his plot, and he might as well surrender to a man more
finally, that Brownlow's story of the events is true, and Monks inclined to help him, namely Brownlow.
says he will swear to it in a signed affidavit.

Brownlow tells Monks he will protect him if he swears to this The novel approaches, briskly, its conclusion, after having wrapped
version of events. Losborne then enters and says that they up this lengthy expository conversation between Brownlow and
have found Sikes' dog and have used it to locate the murderer; Monks. The other characters will be filled in on these details later.
Losborne, Brownlow, and Harry Maylie make haste to find
Sikes and capture him. Losborne also says that the authorities
are on the lookout for Fagin.

CHAPTER 50
The chapter opens in a dilapidated safehouse on the Thames The last of the novel's criminal safehouses, and, of course, this one is
river, in a poor section of London. Toby Crackit is hiding out none too safe for anyone inside. We begin learning, very quickly,
there with Chitling and another, old thief named Kags, trying to what has happened to the other characters—Fagin, like other people
avoid detection by the police, who are after all of Fagin's group, of some importance in the novel, is captured "off-stage" by
after having been alerted to them by Brownlow. Chitling tells authorities, although the reader does get to see him one more time
Crackit what he knows: that Fagin was taken just that day, that before he is taken off to be hanged.
the management of the Cripples have also been arrested (along
with Noah and Charlotte), and that Bates, still free for now, is
on his way to the safehouse.

Sikes' dog comes bounding into the safehouse, followed some This marks a turning-point in Bates' character. Bates believed that
hours later by Sikes, who now resembles a "ghost." Bates, who all the activities of the gang were funny, but once Nancy has died, he
has arrived at the safehouse in the interim (between the dog realizes that the group's "fun and games" have real consequences; at
and Sikes), will not speak to Sikes, and finds him abhorrent. this point, he turns against Sikes. Bates is the only criminal in the
Sikes thought his friends would support him, but in general the novel who escapes criminality.
robbers are now simply afraid of him, nor do they wish to
associate with him.

Bates attempts to grapple with Sikes and turn him over to the Crowds tends to assemble quickly in Dickens—as when Oliver is
authorities himself. He cannot subdue Sikes, but Bates yells so captured "stealing" from Brownlow, and a crowd quickly forms in
much that a crowd begins assembling outside the house, the street outside. Here, Dickens seems to be playing on the
hearing that perhaps the murderer is inside. Sikes refuses to incredibly packed urban density of London, which would have
give in, however, and wresting himself free from Bates and the allowed information to travel quite fast from tenement to tenement
others, he takes a rope and goes up onto the roof of the building.
house—he believes that the tide of the Thames is high enough
that he can swing out from the house over the river and escape
that way. The crowd outside is now over a hundred people.

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In an effort to escape, Sikes ties one end of the rope around a Both Sikes and his dog die gruesome deaths—the most gruesome in
chimney, and is beginning to loop another around the middle of the novel. Although Sikes is not hanged by the authorities, he is
his body, so that he can attempt his escape by lowering himself hanged by the only person he has ever cared about—himself.
to the river. But just as he is looping the rope over his neck, he Though in seeing the eyes of Nancy before he dies gives her a sort of
turns and believes he sees "the eyes" of Nancy, which have revenge and implies that it is guilt that kills him, or even that his
been following him these many days and preventing him from death is a kind of half-suicide, as if his subconscious kills him. Sikes's
sleeping. He stumbles and falls; the rope, lodged around his dog dies out of loyalty to Sikes, just as Nancy did.
neck, hangs him; and Sikes accidentally kills himself above the
crowd. His dog runs and jumps after him, and falls to its death.

CHAPTER 51
Two days later, Oliver travels by carriage with Rose, Mrs. Oliver is finally informed of everything having to do with his own
Maylie, Mrs. Bedwin, and Brownlow. Oliver has been told the history, and with the plot Monks has been organizing against him.
nature of his connection to Monks, but Oliver still does not This, like other important activities at the end of the novel, also
understand the full nature of his backstory, and he is anxious to takes place outside the frame of the narrated story, as the reader is
discover this truth. Brownlow and Losborne have also kept the already acquainted with what Oliver has yet to learn.
details of Nancy's murder and Sikes' death from the ladies, until
such a time when he can tell them properly.

Oliver tells Rose he looks forward to seeing Dick, and promises Dick, perhaps forgotten by the readers after his two short
that, this time, Oliver will say "God bless you" to Dick. The town appearances in the novel to this point, has nevertheless remained
of his birth looks very small to Oliver now, and the party meets an important touchstone for Oliver: the first person who was ever
Grimwig, who came out before them, at the main hotel of the kind to him. Oliver's memory of Dick here sets the stage for the
town, where they are to stay for the night. They have dinner novel to reveal Dick's fate just a little later on.
together.

After dinner, Brownlow brings Monks before Oliver, and Brownlow is oppositional to the last, even though he knows that
declares that Monks and Oliver are half brothers, that their Oliver will, at this point, receive his inheritance. But the nature of
father is Edwin Leeford, and that Oliver's mother is a woman Monks' anger against Oliver is much deeper-seated than was
named Agnes Fleming. Monks says aloud that Oliver is his originally shown. It is not just that Monks wanted Oliver's share of
"bastard" brother, but Brownlow immediately corrects this, the money Edwin left behind; Monks hates the very idea that so
saying it is no fault of Oliver's. Brownlow declares, aloud, so virtuous a child can spring from a union that society has determined
that Oliver might hear, what Monks knew from Leeford's will: "improper," the one between Agnes and Edwin. There is also a sense
that Oliver and his mother were given equal parts of Leeford's that Monks despairs at his own inability to escape his criminality—a
fortune, with Monks and Monks' mother receiving a moderate criminality that he sank into because of a crime he and his mother
annuity. Monks also declares that this will, though valid, he would not have had to commit if Oliver never existed—and so he
destroyed, in order to prevent Oliver from gaining his wants to drag Oliver down to the same moral hell where he must
inheritance. reside.

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Monks also says that the father of Agnes Fleming, and the rest It seems that Monks has always had a penchant for misbehaving, as
of the family (including a much younger daughter), fled to though his criminal nature is inborn in him, and not just a product of
Wales and took on another name. Monks learned all these the society around him. Though, again, its also possible to trace
secrets from his own mother, who died of illness when Monks Monk's criminality back to his and his mother's first
was a young man. Before this, Monks had stolen a good deal of crime—destroying the will that would have given Leeford's wealth to
money from his own mother, thus beginning his criminal career Oliver..
in London. Brownlow believes this to be the start of Monks'
shameful behavior.

Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Bumble are then brought into the hotel The Bumbles, finally, are called to account for what they have done.
room, where they admit that Mrs. Bumble took the pouch from Bumble is exposed as a mediocrity and a terrible judge of character,
Sally, given by Agnes, which contains another link between and his wife is shown to be the mastermind of a very small plot to
Oliver and his mother—this they gave to Monks in the enrich herself by 25 pounds. But soon the Bumbles will be suffering,
aforementioned chapter, and Monks threw these items in the stripped of their positions, in the workhouse.
Thames, in hopes of destroying Oliver's link to his past. But this
was, of course, not successful. Bumble and Mrs. Bumble are
humbled in front of Brownlow and Oliver.

One final revelation is in order: Rose is brought forward, and it This coincidence is almost too much for the structure of the book to
is declared that Rose is the younger daughter of the naval bear; it does seem to strain credulity. But Dickens was not interested
captain—the sister of Agnes Fleming, Oliver's mother. This in writing "realistic" fiction so much as he cared to write fiction that
means that Rose is Oliver's aunt. Rose is thrilled to know this, generated a series of emotional states with which the reader could
as is Oliver—the bond of kinship had already been strong sympathize. Here, the reader is happy to know that Rose could be
between them. At this point, Harry Maylie comes in, to reunited with part of her family, and that Oliver, also a good boy,
reiterate his proposal to Rose. He says that his circumstances should have so noble and virtuous an aunt.
have now changed—he is a country parson, having forgone the
"brilliant promotions" he was to have in London—and he would
like to marry Rose now, since his future will not be impeded by
the union.

Rose agrees to the marriage, and the party appears happy, The novel began with an extended attack on the Poor Laws and the
until, at the end of the chapter, Oliver receives word that, in the state of the poor in England. As Oliver's adventure begins and his
workhouse, poor Dick has died. This bit of sadness mars the background is revealed, that attack recedes. But the story of Dick's
proceedings, as Oliver had hoped to bless Dick in return for the fate brings that attack back. Dick was as kind as Oliver, as good as
blessings Dick had given him. Oliver, but unlike Oliver his poverty killed him. In this way Dickens is
able to once more show the brutal unfairness and immorality of the
Poor Laws.

CHAPTER 52
The chapter opens with Fagin in court, ready to hear the Fagin's sentence has been decided upon quickly, and will be carried
sentence promulgated against him. Though he hopes against out without delay. The British justice system at this time did not
hope that he might be saved, he looks at the faces in the gallery, have provisions for appeal, nor the legal protections of "due
and at others in the courtroom, and sees he will be convicted. process," meaning that Fagin will die within days of his trial.
The verdict is read out, and he is indeed guilty. He is to be
sentenced to death within several days. He is led to a stone cell,
where he is to wait out the remainder of his life.

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Unrepentant and scared, Fagin can barely sleep. He begins These final scenes with Fagin seem designed to show how Fagin's
hallucinating that he is still commanding the group of boys, power is broken, how his guile and cunning are gone.
Bates and Oliver included. Then Brownlow arrives with Oliver,
and Fagin wonders why they have come to see him.

Brownlow says they have come about some papers Fagin has, In addition, Fagin's cruelty and manipulation is here shown to be no
the location of which Fagin tells them—hidden in a chimney in match for Oliver's goodness. Oliver has created an enduring
his apartment. Fagin has gone mad in his cell, and Oliver, not community of love while all of Fagin's manipulation to scare his
afraid of him, prays aloud for Fagin's forgiveness. They leave "boys" into protecting "Number One" has led him only to the
Fagin, and as Brownlow and Oliver walk out of the prison, they gallows, to death.
see the gallows looming—about to dispatch the man who once
controlled Oliver's life.

CHAPTER 53
The narrator closes out the novel by detailing the fortunes of It is now the job of the narrator to tie in a bow the story of Oliver
the characters. Rose and Harry marry, and they move to the and his friends and former enemies. Monks, in keeping with his
country parsonage where Harry works; Mrs. Maylie comes as "biological" predilection to crime, does not become good but rather
well. Oliver's inheritance is meted out, by Brownlow, half to wastes the rest of his inheritance on criminal behavior; he is no
Oliver and half to Monks, since Brownlow believes this money better than when he started, before Oliver came into his life.
might allow Monks to start a new life as a virtuous man. But
Monks spends this money in the New World and remains a
knave until his death.

Brownlow officially adopts Oliver as his son. He and Oliver Oliver has found, finally, the family that cares for him, that can
move to within a mile of the parsonage where Harry and Rose support him through times of strife. It is a bonus element that there
live. And Losborne, inventing an excuse to be close to the group are those in the family, like Rose, who are related to Oliver by
he loves so much, also moves near the parsonage "because the blood—but this is not necessary, Dickens shows, for a strong family
air agrees with him"; he is very content to be near the family. to develop. The bond between father and adopted son here is a
Grimwig and Losborne have become good friends, and secure one, and a bond of love. And such bonds, such family, are
Grimwig often jokes about the time when he did not believe held up as the most powerful and important forces in the novel.
Oliver to be a good boy.

Noah and Charlotte receive pardons for their small role in the One of the novel's more satisfying ironies—the Bumbles are forced
crimes of Fagin, but they become a con-man team, faking illness to become the paupers they have always despised, showing them
and taking money from people on the streets of London. The firsthand that poverty is not necessarily a "natural" condition, but
Bumbles, removed of their positions by the law, eventually rather something into which people can fall. Dickens has given them
become paupers and must live in the workhouse they once their comeuppance. Bates meanwhile, has escaped the criminal life,
managed. Giles and Brittles stay on to help in the Maylies' new but he too seems to be partially punished for the life he used to
home, and Bates, having repented for a life of crime, takes on a lead—it is as if he has escaped hell but can only get so far as
series of difficult jobs, mostly involving physical labor. purgatory.

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The narrator ends the novel by describing Oliver's happiness This is perhaps a strange note on which to end the novel, but
with his aunt Rose, his adopted father Brownlow, who educates Dickens wants to make clear to Victorian audiences that Agnes does
him in the books he once promised Oliver would read, all in the not "get a pass" for behavior that no one in England, at the time, felt
beautiful country village. The final paragraph of the novel comfortable excusing. Agnes gave birth to a virtuous boy, but she
reveals that an empty tomb, one without a coffin, has been kept herself was not virtuous, an "imperfect vessel" from which a great
for Agnes in the local church—though she was a loving woman, deal of good did come.
she was, according to the narrator, "weak and erring," for
having succumbed to her liaison before marriage. The novel
ends.

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To cite any of the quotes from Oliver Twist covered in the Quotes
HOW T
TO
O CITE section of this LitChart:
To cite this LitChart: MLA
MLA Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. Dover Publications. 2002.
Schlegel, Chris. "Oliver Twist." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 5 Jan 2014. CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
Web. 21 Apr 2020.
Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. New York: Dover Publications.
CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL 2002.
Schlegel, Chris. "Oliver Twist." LitCharts LLC, January 5, 2014.
Retrieved April 21, 2020. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/oliver-
twist.

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