On the other side, the criminals from the underworld (Fagin and Bill) wanted to kidnap Oliver and bring him back to their headquarter, because they think that he might tell on them. Fagin and Bill wanted Nancy to go and get Oliver due to the fact that Oliver liked Nancy, but Nancy did not want to kidnap him and bring him back, because she knows the difference between right and wrong. “No, she wont, Fagin” is what she said when Bill told Fagin that she will go to get Oliver. This quotation shows that she is spirited; she doesn’t want to bring Oliver back to this hellhole. She is immoral yet she knows the difference between right and wrong, but by dint of alternate threats, beats and bribes Nancy was ultimately prevailed upon to undertake the commission.
When Oliver was brought back to the ‘hell hole’ the Jew – Fagin – started hitting him, but Nancy could not stand all this. So when, Fagin “inflicted a smart blow on Oliver’s shoulders with the club, and was raising it for the second when the girl, rushing forward wrestled it from her hand.” This shows that Nancy can do anything to protect Oliver; she will even go against the people she grew up with. She was so angry that when she got the club of the Jew's hand she “flung it into the fire, with a force that brought some of the glowing coals whirling out into the room.” This shows the anger that she had with in her, “I won’t stand by and see it done, Fagin, you’ve got the boy, and what more would you have? … or I shall put that mark on some of you that will bring me to the gallows before my time.” This quotation shows that Nancy is ready to die for Oliver; she does not want Oliver’s life to be ruined like hers.
Later on in the same chapter Nancy tells us why she is on Oliver’s side and not the others, “Civil words, you villain! Yes, you deserve'em from me. I thieved for you when I was a child not half as old as this!" pointing to Oliver. "I have been in the same trade, and in the same service, for twelve years since. Don't you know it? Speak out! Don't you know it?" This is what Nancy said when Fagin asked bill to stay calm and have civil words with Nancy. "It is my living; and the cold, wet, dirty streets are my home; and you're the wretch that drove me to them long ago, and that'll keep me there, day and night, day and night, till I die!” These quotations tell us why and how Nancy got involved with the under ground world. It tells us that Nancy was also forced into this gang; she was a little kid when she was forced into the business of thieving and hooking by Fagin. This quotation also gives us the hint that Nancy will die soon.
Later on in the novel Nancy tries to get Mr Brownlow and Rose (Oliver’s aunt but they don’t know that yet) to help Oliver by getting Fagin caught. She goes to have a meeting with Rose, because Nancy is not like normal characters and is a two dimensional character she feels ashamed of what she is as she goes to talk to Rose, ‘she felt burdened with the sense of her own deep shame, and shrunk as though she could scarcely bear the presence of her with whom she had sought this interview.’ This quotation shows that Nancy knows the difference between right and wrong,
Even though Nancy did not look like a good person when she went to talk to Rose, but still, Rose did not treat badly. She treated her with respect, talked to her in nice tone, ‘The kind tone of this answer, the sweet voice, the gentle manner, the absence of any accent of haughtiness or displeasure, took the girl completely by surprise, and she burst into tears.’ This quotation shows that Nancy is quite emotional and shows how good and kind Rose is even to strangers. This quotation also shows that Nancy is not treated nicely, that is why she was taken by a complete surprise.
Nancy told Rose that she was the one who kidnapped Oliver and took him back, she tells her why she did it, she also tells her all about Fagin and Monks, but she doesn’t tell her anything about Bill Sikes. Rose asks Nancy to stay with her and not go back to the other, but Nancy tells her that she has to go. "I wish to go back," said the girl. "I must go back, because -- how can I tell such things to an innocent lady like you? -- Because among the men I have told you of, there is one: the most desperate among them all: that I can't leave; no, not even to be saved from the life I am leading now.” In this quotation Nancy tells us that she can’t leave Bill for she loves him. She has a tragic flaw, she loves bill and doesn’t want to leave him.
Dickens also tries to get sympathy for Nancy from the audience, “When ladies as young, and good, and beautiful as you are," replied the girl steadily, "give away your hearts, love will carry you all length -- even such as you, who have home, friends, other admirers, everything to fill them. When such as I, who have no certain roof but the coffin-lid, and no friend in sickness or death but the hospital nurse, set our rotten hearts on any man, and let him fill the place that has been a blank through all our wretched lives, who can hope to cure us? Pity us, lady -- pity us for having only one feeling of the woman left, and for having that turned, by a heavy judgment, from a comfort and a pride, into a new means of violence and suffering.” Dickens wants the audience to feel sorry for Nancy. She has had nothing in her life, she has been treated very badly.
Nancy did not except anything from Rose, not even any money and went back.
Next time Nancy meets Mr Brownlow at London Bridge, to tell him about the same thing as what she met Rose for. As Nancy goes to the bridge, Dickens describes the surrounding as, “It was a very dark night. The day had been unfavourable, and at that hour and place there were few people stirring. Such as there were, hurried quickly past: very possibly without seeing,” This quotation shows that there are a lot more people like Nancy around in London,
While describing the surroundings Dickens uses dark and gloomy quotes like, ‘mist hung over the river’, ‘deepening the red glare of the fires’ to create suspense. The surroundings are also quite prefigurative, they give us a clue as to what might happen next.
When Mr Brownlow came Nancy took him to a different location, to keep out of the public’s eye, she didn’t want any one to see her with Mr Brownlow because that would influence his reputation as well.
Nancy tells Mr Brownlow all about Fagin and Monks, but nothing about Bill Sikes. Mr Brownlow also tells her that he will keep her and help her live a better life, but she said that she has to go back for some one. Again we find out about the tragic flaw that she has for Bill, she really loves him.
