Oliver Twist Story Review

Charles Dickens’, Oliver Twist, recounts the tale of Oliver Twist, an orphan boy born in a workhouse. He spends the first nine years in a home and is then transferred to the workhouse where his mother gave birth to him and died soon after. At one point, Oliver is bullied into asking for more gruel at a meal and Mr. Bumble, the “officer” of the workhouse, offers five pounds to anyone that is willing to buy Oliver. He ends up apprenticed by Mr. Sowerberry, a chimney sweep.

After a boy named Noah Claypole talks badly about Oliver’s mother, Oliver attacks him and runs away to London. When reaching London, he meets Jack Dawkins, who takes him to the home of his contributor, Fagin, a career criminal. Oliver is sent on his first pick pocketing after several days of training with two other boys. Oliver is horrified when seeing the other two boys steal a handkerchief and runs away, ending up convicted of the theft. Mr. Brownlow, the man whose handkerchief was stolen, speaks for Oliver and bring him home, nursing him to health. Mr. Brownlow is shocked by the resemblance the young boy has with a portrait of a young woman in his home.

Some time passes, and two workers for Fagin, Bill Sikes and his lover Nancy, capture Oliver and send him back to Fagin. Oliver is sent robbery with Sikes, and is shot in his arm. He is taken to Mrs. Maylie and her adopted niece Rose, the residents off the home of the attempted heist, and is cared for. As he heals, Oliver grows fond of the two ladies and stays with them in the countryside during the summer. But a mysterious man named Monks and Fagin are set on recapturing Oliver. We learn that Oliver’s mother left a golden locket that was taken by Monks and destroyed after her death. The Maylies return to London and Rose meets with Nancy who gives details on a conversation between Fagin and Monks.

Once word of Nancy’s actions reach Sikes, he brutally murders her and flees London. Pursued by guilt, he inadvertently hangs himself while trying to escape. Mr. Brownlow confronts Monks on Oliver’s lineage, and it is revealed that Monks and Oliver are brothers. Their father, Mr. Leeford, was unhappily in an arranged marriage and had an affair with Oliver’s mother, Agnes Fleming. Monks has been pursuing Oliver in hopes of making Oliver unable to share the family inheritance. However, he is forced by Mr. Brownlow to sign over Oliver’s share. It is also discovered that Rose is Agnes’s sister, therefore, Oliver’s aunt. Fagin is caught by the police and sentenced to the death penalty. Mr. Brownlow adopts Oliver, and he and the Maylies retire to the countryside.