Summary:
A plot overview of Charles Dickens' novel Oliver Twist.
Oliver Twist was written during 1825. The character Oliver was born in a poverty stricken workhouse. Shortly after giving birth to her only son Oliver's mother died and he was sent to live with the remainder of his family. Six years later, at 12 years of age, young Oliver is in a new workhouse.
The event that sparks the start of Oliver's adventure happens in the workhouse when he is chosen to ask for more porridge. In the cafeteria Oliver pulls the short straw and is dared to ask the "warden" for more porridge. Because of this, he was kicked out of the workhouse for being "unthankful." Late that night he sneaked back in to still his mother's locket back then hitchhiked to London. In London Oliver met a guy named Jack Dockings a.k.a. Dodger. Dodger was the leader of a pick-pocket street gang and offered Oliver a place to stay where he would receive shelter and food.
Once in the new orphanage Oliver met Fagin. Fagin is the guy that owns the orphanage and takes care of the children. After Oliver is welcomed into the new orphanage family Sikes and Nancy visit Fagin and Dodger, Oliver and the gang go out pick-pocketing. During the pick-pocketing mission Dodger talks to Oliver about each others parents before heading back to the orphanage. All of the children including Fagin have a little celebration however Fagin keeps all of the stolen goods. Later that night Oliver sees Fagin going through his lock box of treasures, and when he is discovered Fagin threatens Oliver not to still from him and sends him to bed. After this Fagin takes his locket and puts it in his lock box and saves, "That's the safest place for it. We are surrounded by thieves."
The next day Oliver stumbles upon Nancy flirting with Fagin and when Fagin leaves Nancy sits Oliver down for tea in order to "ask" him some questions. When near the end of the conversation Oliver compliments Nancy's looks and Fagin returns with some money for Nancy. After Nancy leaves Fagin teaches Oliver how to pick pocket, this is where he first learns how to become a thief. After learning how to pick-pocket successfully, he is rewarded a shilling to what ever he pleases with it. From that point Fagin explains the boys' line of work to Oliver depicting it as the classic Robin Hood story, "We still from the rich to give to the poor." Then Fagin sent him off to join the rest of the boys. When Oliver meets up with the rest of the bunch he observes them picking the pockets of a crowd as they sing. From there Jack and Oliver imagine their future in the likes of thievery.
Three months later Oliver wakes up to the day when he finally gets to pick his first pocket. He recites the three rules of pick-pocketing to Fagin and is the O.K.'d to go to "work." His closest friend, Dodger looks after him as they prowl the streets for victims. Oliver moves into place and reaches for the pocket watch but is caught. Just then Dodger swoops by and snatched the watch and takes off running. Oliver made a break for a hiding spot, but he comes out to early and gets caught. The next day in court Oliver is about to receive his sentencing, however, a lady, which whom Oliver is unfamiliar with, saved him from six months of jail time. Her name was Rose Maylie. She offered Oliver a place to live in Grover land Square and he accepts. Jack meets up with Oliver on the street once again and asks about Oliver's whereabouts, pick-pocketing him in the process. That same evening Oliver is eating Dinner with his new family and the conversation arises where Rose Maylie discovers she could be related to Oliver because of his locket.
Sikes has heard about the information by the next day and is worried that Oliver might leak a bit of information about the organized crime set up that Fagin and he has going on. At that moment Sikes, Fagin, and Nancy formulate a plot that would get Oliver back. Back at his new home Oliver is entrusted to return books to the library and 10 shillings to but anything he wants. On the way to the store Oliver is being tailed by Dodger and the rest of the gang, one of the boys goes back to tip off Sikes and Nancy. Sikes and Nancy kid nap Oliver and take him to Fagin where Fagin throws the books into the fire and takes Oliver's money. Oliver swears up and down that he did not tell Mr. Brownlow or Rose Maylie anything about the orphanage. Finally, he is let go and must return to Mr. Brownlow. Despite Oliver's explanations and pleas Mr. Brownlow stands firm on the belief that Oliver lied to him, once was and will always be a thief. The next day Sikes and Fagin talk over a plan that would force Oliver to help them infiltrate Mr. Brownlow's home. After forcing him, the three of them make it inside and begin and rob Mr. Brownlow.
Later that week Nancy and Oliver have another talk and after connecting with him she wants to help Oliver make it back to being on good terms Mr. Brownlow. While walking Oliver to Mr. Brownlow's home Nancy is stopped by Sikes who grabs her by the wrist and demands answers to his questions. Oliver steps in to save her from Sikes by asking him to teach him how to pick a lock. That very same night Sikes takes Oliver back to Mr. Brownlow's home but to break in and steal, not to return him. Once inside Sikes goes to Rose Maylie's room and steals another silver piece, however, they wake him and Mr. Brownlow shoots Sikes in the chest but the bullet is stopped by the silver piece that he had stolen. The next day Fagin looks over the silver piece and infers that Sikes had been working with Oliver behind his back. Oliver talks to Dodger who tells him to go back to Mr. Brownlow and stay there if he ever gets a chance.
Sikes pays Nancy to follow Oliver to Mr. Brownlow's home and when she gets there she argues Oliver's case of innocence. Rose Maylie then agrees to meet up with Nancy in order to get Oliver back. Jack, Dodger, Dockings goes to the orphanage to retrieve Oliver's locket and on the way to meet them Sikes finds Dodger and scares him into telling him Nancy's plan to give Oliver back to Mr. Brownlow. So, Dodger has no choice but to Sikes to the meeting place himself. Sikes finds Nancy.
This is the complete article, containing 1,119 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page).
