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Oliver Twist, like most of Dickens's novels, has the hardship faced by the impoverished and dispossessed as its core theme. In the story, Oliver Twist is treated cruelly as a child, spending the first nine years of his life in a poorly run orphanage. Oliver runs away to London where he joins a criminal gang belonging to Fagin. A career criminal, Fagin trains orphan boys to pick pockets for him. Fagin's gang includes the vicious Bill Sikes, the 'Artful Dodger', and his whore Nancy. Oliver is rescued by Mr. Brownlow, but the gang kidnaps him again. Fagin then sends Oliver to assist Sikes in a burglary. Oliver is shot by a servant, but is taken in by the women who live there, Mrs. Maylie and her adopted niece Rose. Fagin and a enigmatic man named Monks are set on recapturing Oliver. Nancy meets secretly with Rose and informs he of the plot. Sikes finds out about Nancy's betrayal and murders her, but while trying to escape he inadvertantly hangs himself. The Maylies reunite Oliver with Mr. Brownlow, and Mr. Brownlow discovers that Monks is indeed Oliver's half brother, and has been trying to deprive Oliver of his share of his inheritance. Mr. Brownlow forces Monks to sign over Oliver's share to Oliver. Rose turns out to be Oliver's aunt. Fagin is hung for his crimes. Mr. Brownlow adopts Oliver, and they and the Maylies mocve to the country. |