Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse. His mother died shortly after he was born. Oliver lived in an orphanage until the age of 9. At the age of 9 he is moved to a workhouse for adults. At the workhouse he is bullied. Because of this, Mr Bumble said that he would give £5 to the one who will take Oliver away. Noah Claypole makes some nasty remark about Oliver’s mother; Oliver hits him badly and runs away to London.
Oliver there meets Jack Dawkins (Artful Dodger) who is the same age as Oliver. Jack takes him to Fagin. Oliver discovers that Fagin trains little orphan boys to pick pockets for him. After some training, Oliver is sent on a mission to go and pick pocket. He sees Mr Brownlow’s handkerchief being stolen and gets scared and runs away. Oliver is nearly court and is saved by Mr Brownlow who takes him home. Mr Brownlow notices that Oliver’s features resemble a portrait he has. However Nancy and Bill Sikes recapture Oliver and take him back to Fagin.
Fagin sends Oliver on another mission. He and Bill Sikes have to do a burglary. During the burglary Oliver gets shot in the arm but Sikes escapes. Mrs Maylies and her adopted niece Rose to whom the house belongs take in Oliver and get his wounds treated. They like him and he enjoys staying with them for the summer. However Fagin and Monks are intending to recapture Oliver. It is discovered that Oliver’s mother left a gold locket before she died. Monks get the locket and destroys it. When the Maylie arrives in London they discover Fagin’s plans via Nancy who sees them in secret. However this conversation is overheard by one of Fagin’s gang members. When Sikes is told about the conversation, he murders Nancy and leaves London. He is chased by an angry mob and accidentally hangs himself whilst trying to escape.
Mr Brownlow discovers the truth about Oliver’s real parents. Monks admits to Mr Brownlow that he is Oliver’s half brother and the son of Mr Leeford. Mr Leeford had an affair with Oliver’s mother, Agnes Fleming whilst he was married to Monks mother who was a wealthy woman. Monks has been trying to make sure that Oliver does not get his share of the Family inheritance. Monks is forced to sign over Oliver share to Oliver by Brownlow. It’s also exposed that Rose is Oliver’s Aunt, as she was Oliver’s mum’s younger sister. Fagin is found guilty for the crimes he has committed and he is hung. Oliver is adopted by Mr Brownlow; he gets retired and moves to the countryside.
Characters:
Charles Dickens has used many Characters throughout the novel. He describes the characters in depth to make the reader aware of the motivation of the characters actions.
The characters can be been viewed as falling into 2 camps. The first camp is all good (saintly) Oliver, Rose and Brownlow. The second camp is all bad (evil), like Fagin, Sikes and Monks.
Good Characters:
Oliver Twist: Oliver Twist is the main character. His birth takes place in a workhouse and he is orphaned at birth. Those around him often treat him cruelly and make decisions for him apart from the one time when Noah Claypole makes some nasty remarks about his mother. He comes across as an innocent and pious child whose charms draw the attention of some wealthy benefactors. Charles Dickens uses his main character to criticize the public policy towards the poor in 1830’s England.
In the book Oliver Twist’s first impression of Nancy is that she is a nice young lady.
Mr Brownlow: is a wealthy gentleman who helps Oliver in the first instance. He has a portrait of Oliver’s mother, Agnes Fleming and was engaged to his father’s sister before she died. In the story he comes across as a man of passion, common sense and as a natural leader.
Rose: Oliver’s aunt (Agnes Fleming sister) is a beautiful compassionate and forgiving young woman. Mrs Maylies has brought her up since the death of Rose’s father. Rose is shown as a model of female virtue. She develops a loving relationship with Oliver.
Evil Characters:
Fagin: is depicted as a thoroughly disgusting character. He is a criminal who trains children to pick pockets for him. He prefers to employ others to commit crimes for him.
For instance: when he tells Sikes about Nancy and her seeing Brownlow. It is clear from the passage below that he does not want Nancy to be killed.
Bill Sikes: is a member of Fagin’s gang often working for him as a brutal professional burglar. He is in love with Nancy whom he treats with cruelty like his pet dog. He eventually murders Nancy later in the novel.
Noah Claypole: is an overgrown coward and bully who treats Oliver badly. He is an apprentice to Mr. Sowerberry. He also joins Fagin’s gang.
Nancy: is unique among the major characters in the novel, as she appears to understand both good and evil. Her character transforms through the novel and is used to good effect to test the case whether or not a bad environment can totally destroy someone’s character and soul.
Her character goes through a transformation from a prostitute to someone who is prepared to save Oliver at the cost of her own life, at the hands of her lover.
‘‘Keep back the dog, Bill!’’ cried Nancy, sprinting before the door, and closing it, as the Jew and his two pupils darted out in pursuit. ’’Keep back the dog; he’ll tear the boy to pieces.’’
’’Serve him right!’’ cried Sikes, struggling to disengage himself from the girl’s grasp. ’’Strand off from me, or I’ll split your head against the wall.’’
’’I don’t care for that, Bill, I don’t care for that,’’ screamed the girl struggling violently with the man: ’’the child shan’t be torn down by the dog, unless you kill me first’’.
The housebreaker flung the girl from him to the further end of the room, just as the Jew and the two boys returned, dragging Oliver among them.
Nancy’s moral complexity is unique among other major characters that are all good and can barely comprehend evil, such as Oliver, Rose and Brownlow, and characters that are all evil and can barely comprehend well, such as Fagin, Sikes, and Monks.
Only Nancy comprehends and is capable of both good and evil. Her ultimate choice to do good personal cost is a strong argument in favour of the incorruptibility of basic goodness, no matter how many environmental obstacles it may face.
Chapter 46 is when Nancy has premonitions of her death when she has her final meeting with Mr. Brownlow. At Nancy’s last meeting the setting also reminds us of the poor society of London and the conditions they were in,’’ London’s destitute population, as chanced to take their way over the bridge that night in search of some cold arch hovel wherein to lay their heads; they stood there in silence: neither speaking nor spoken to, by any one who passed. This shows us about the treatment of London’s poorer people and why they often resorted to crime such in Nancy’s case. The setting is described as a very dark and mysterious as this is supposed to be a secret meeting,’’ A mist hung over the river, deepening the red glare of the fires that burnt upon the small craft moored off the different wharfs, and rendering darker and more indistinct the buildings on the banks.’’ This helps set the scene for such a secretive meeting as no one would really be out at in these sorts of surroundings so it is perfect for a meeting of this kind it also adds suspense and tension to the whole situation. The issue of Victorian double standards is also talked about when Dickens write, ‘’Your haughty religious people would have held their heads up to see me as I am to-night, and preached of flames and vengeance," cried the girl. "Oh, dear lady, why aren’t those who claim to be God's own folks as gentle and as kind to us poor wretches as you, who, having youth, and beauty, and all that they have lost, might be a little proud instead of so much humbler?" This makes us understand how Victorian people used to double standards and how she is thankful for him not being like one of them.
Nancy’s love for Sikes reflects the moral ambiguity of her character. As she herself points out to Rose, devotion to a man can be ’’a comfort and a pride’’ under the right circumstances. But for Nancy, such devotion is ’’a new means of violence and suffering’’-indeed, her relationship with Sikes leads her to criminal acts for his sake and eventually to her relationship with Sikes leads her to criminal acts for his sake and eventually to her own demise.
CONCLUSION:
In my opinion Nancy is the most important character in Oliver Twist because she laid down her life for Oliver. She did not wanted Oliver to live the same life that she had lived. She paid the ultimate price by giving away her life to Oliver and that to by the hands of her own lover Sikes.
