Characterizations of Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist
A loving, innocent orphan child; the son of Edwin Leeford and Agnes Fleming. He is
generally quiet and shy rather than aggressive. Olivers affectionate nature, along with his
weakness and innocence, earn him the pity and love of the good people he meets. Dickens
choice of Olivers name is very revealing, because the boys story is full of twists and
turns. Dickens uses his skills at creating character to make Oliver particularly appealing.

Mr. Bumble

The parish beadle; a rat man and a choleric with a great idea of his oratorical powers and his
importance. He has a decided propensity for bullying. He derived no inconsiderable pressure
from the exercise of petty cruelty and consequently was a coward. Halfway through the
book, Bumble changes. When he marries Mrs. Corney, he loses authority. She makes all the
decisions.

The Artful Dodger

A talented pickpocket, recruiter, cheat and wit. Jack Dawkins, known as the artful dodger, is
a charming rogue. Fagins most esteemed pupil. A dirty snub-nosed, flat-browed, common-
faced boy (short for his age). Dickens makes Dodger look more appealing by describing his
outrageous clothes and uninhibited manners.

Fagin

A master criminal, whose specialty is fenang (selling stolen property). He employs a gang of
thieves and is always looking for new recruits. He is a man of considerable intelligence,
though corrupted by his self-interest. His conscience bothers him after he is condemned to
hang. He does have a wry sense of humor and an uncanny ability to understand people. Hes
a very old shriveled Jew, whose villainous looking repulsive face was obscured by a quantity
of matted red hair.

Mr. Brownlow

A generous man, concerned for other people. A very respectable looking person with a heart
large enough for any six ordinary old gentleman of humane disposition.
Bill Sikes

A bully, a robber and a murderer. He is an ally of Fagin. Fagin plans the crimes and Sikes
carries them out. Sikes evil is so frightening because it is so physical. He is compares to a
beast. A stoutly built fellow with legs that always look like they are in an unfinished and
incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them.

Monks

Also known as Edward Leeford (son of Edwin Leeford and his legal wife). Olivers half-
brother. He wants to destroy Olivers chance of inheriting their fathers estate. Monks is a
stock villain, lurking in shadows and uttering curses with a sneer. He lacks family love and
moral upbringing. He is a tall, dark blackguard, subject to fits of cowardice and epilepsy.

Nancy

She is the hapless product of the slums, the pupil of Fagin, and the abused mistress of Sikes.
Although she is a prostitute and an accomplice of crooks, she has the instincts of a good
person. She is part of a few of the most memorable scenes (when she visits Fagins Den,
when she waits for Bill to come home or when she meets with Rose Maylie and Brownlow to
help save Oliver). She is untidy and free in manner, but there was something of the womans
original nature left in her still.

Rose Maylie

On the surface, Rose is very different from Nancy. Both were orphans, but Rose grew up
secure and protected. She is compassionate to Oliver, but unlike Nancy, rose is innocent of
the evils of the world. Dickens makes clear that she is a pure flower. Agnes Flemings
younger sister, thus Olivers aunt. Accepted as Mrs. Maylies niece: later becomes her
daughter-in-law.

Sally Thingummy A pauper, nurses Olivers mother. She steals the locket and ring that
holds the key to the oprhans identity.

Agnes Flemming Olivers mother; daughter of a retired naval officer. She left home in
shame and died when her illegitimate son was born.
Mr. Sowerberry An undertaker; He accepts Oliver as an apprentice mourner. He is forced
by his wifes cruelty to abuse the boy until Oliver runs away.

Noah Claypolea Charity boy. He torments Oliver. He is employed by Fagin, under the
alias of Bolter, and spies on Nancy. He ends up as a police informer.

Charley Bates He belongs to Fagins gang. He is so disgusted by Sikes evil ways that he
gives up crime and becomes a farmer.

Bet Her full name is Betsy. She is required to identify Nancys corpse.

Fang A police magistrate and represents the worst abuses of judicial power. A lean long-
backed, stiff-necked, middle-sized man, with no great quantity of hair.

Mrs. Bedwin She is Brownlows housekeeper. She cares for Oliver and provides his first
real mothering, when Brownlow rescues him from Fang.

Mr. Grimwig He is Brownlows friend. He has a tender heart under his gruff exterior and
joins the effort to secure Olivers inheritance after initially doubting the boy.

Toby Crackit A house breaker who works with Sikes.

Mrs. Corney (later Mrs. Bumble) She runs the workhouse where Oliver was born. A
greedy person, she retrieves Agnes Flemings treasures from Old Sally and sells them to
Monks.

Dr. Losberne The Mayliess physician. He is part of the group that insures Olivers future.
He has grown fat, more from good humor than from good living.

Henry (Harry) Maylie He loves Rose and wants to marry her, but she refuses because she
believes she is illegitimate and therefore might hurt his chances to win elections. To win
Rose, Henry gives ups a political career and becomes a clergyman.