| “ | And consider, ma’am, oh! consider how young and good she is, and what pleasure and comfort she gives to all about her. I am sure—certain—quite certain—that for your sake, who are so good yourself; and for her own; and for the sake of all she makes so happy; she will not die. Heaven will never let her die so young. | „ |
| ~ Oliver Twist |
Oliver Twist is the titular character and main protagonist of the 1838 novel of the same name by Charles Dickens. He was the first child protagonist of an English novel.
Biography[]
Oliver, an orphan since birth, spends much of his childhood at a “child farm” (orphanage) with too many children and too little food. The farm is located roughly 70 miles outside London. However, on the day of his 9th birthday he was inducted into the harsh conditions of the workhouse under the authority of the Poor Law. There, he suffered through unjust treatment and near-starvation as all that the boys in the workhouse were served was one portion of gruel per mealtime. For 6 months this became their routine until one night, after being served his portion, Oliver asks for a second helping. This is unacceptable, and Oliver is sent to work as an apprentice to an undertaker called Mr. Sowerberry. Eventually, after suffering repeated mistreatment from his fellow apprentice, Noah Claypole, he finally snaps after Noah badmouths his mother, attacking him frantically. This leads to him getting beaten by Mr. Sowerberry as punishment, causing Oliver to decide to run away and head for London. He soon finds himself in the presence of Jack Dawkins (the Artful Dodger), who tells him he can stay at the house of an “old gentleman” named Fagin with a number of other boys. Oliver, however, is oblivious to the fact that the boys are trained pickpockets in a gang run by Fagin. On an outing, Oliver witnesses the boys steal a handkerchief from Mr. Brownlow, an elderly gentleman, which prompts Oliver to run away in fear and confusion. Mr. Brownlow mistakes Oliver’s behavior for guilt and has him arrested. However, after a last-minute testimony from a bookseller, Mr. Brownlow realizes his mistake and offers to take care of Oliver at his home.
Oliver assumes that he is now rid of Fagin and the pickpockets, but his knowledge of their crimes causes them to seek Oliver out. On an occasion of Mr. Brownlow testing Oliver’s loyalty, he sends him on an errand to return some books and make a payment. Nancy, a prostitute and mistress of one of Fagin’s men, Bill Sikes, is sent with Sikes to take Oliver from Mr. Brownlow back to Fagin. She does so successfully by convincing onlookers that she is simply retrieving a runaway younger brother. When back with the gang, Fagin attempts to threaten and manipulate Oliver into becoming a willing member of the gang. However, he soon finds that he underestimated his inner goodness, making him impossible to corrupt. This comes in full view when Oliver is sent on a burglary mission with Bill Sikes to the countryside around London. On this errand, Oliver's unwillingness to cooperate with the burglary leads to him getting shot in the arm and then being taken in by the family (the Maylies) that Sikes attempted to rob. While he is there, Fagin and an associate called Monks plot to get him back. Rose Maylie, while on a trip to London with her family, meets with Mr. Brownlow to talk with Nancy, who has slipped away from Sikes to explain the plans made by Monks and Fagin to get Oliver back. She describes Monks and tells them when he might most easily be apprehended. Unfortunately for Nancy, Noah Claypole (now a member of Fagin's gang) was eavesdropping and reports the conversion to Fagin. News of her betrayal reaches Sikes, who beats her to death with his pistol. Sikes is then chased by a mob for the murder and accidentally hangs himself in the pursuit. Soon after, Fagin and Monks are apprehended by the authorities while attempting to flee. The Maylies reunite Oliver with Mr. Brownlow, who forces Monks to explain himself. The reader and Oliver are then informed that Monks is Oliver’s half-brother, and that Oliver is entitled to a large fortune. He receives his share of the money (giving half of it to Monks as a second chance). Fagin is hung for his crimes, and the Maylies, Oliver, and Mr. Brownlow move to the countryside where they spend the rest of their days together. It is stated that in Oliver's adult life, he grows into a respectable gentleman, much like Mr. Brownlow.