Chapter 5 Summary

In Chapter 5, Oliver spends his first sad night among the coffins, and is awakened in the morning, by Noah Claypole, his supervisor, of sorts. Noah is a bit of a charity case himself, though he is proud of the fact that he is not an orphan. He immediately begins to derive pleasure from belittling Oliver, particularly about his mother. Mr. Sowerberry has taken somewhat of a liking to Oliver, and decides that he should pose as a mute, to be dressed up and paraded at funerals. Oliver pays his first visit to a grieving family, and to the burial where the mother has died. He is most uncomfortable, but Mr. Sowerberry assures him that he will get used to it.

Chapter 5 Analysis

This chapter gives particular note to how quickly Oliver has to grow up. He is suddenly put into the adult world...