What upsets Rose the most is the dread that she is illegitimate and
therefore stained by the sin of her unknown mother. Later, when she
finds out she is Agnes Fleming's sister and Oliver's aunt, she thinks
she is tainted by her sister's sin. In these ways, Rose illustrates
the great importance her society attached to purity and innocence.
Dickens makes clear that she is a pure flower of womanhood.
OLIVER TWIST: SALLY THINGUMMY
Sally Thingummy, a pauper, nurses Oliver's mother and steals the
locket and ring that holds the key to the orphan's identity.
OLIVER TWIST: AGNES FLEMING
Agnes Fleming is Oliver's mother. She left home in shame and died
when her illegitimate child was born.
OLIVER TWIST: MR. SOWERBERRY
An undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry accepts Oliver as an apprentice
mourner. He is forced by his wife's cruelty to abuse the boy until
Oliver runs away.
OLIVER TWIST: NOAH CLAYPOLE
A charity boy, Noah Claypole torments Oliver. He is employed by
Fagin, under the alias of Bolter, and spies on Nancy. He ends up as
a police informer.
OLIVER TWIST: CHARLEY BATES
Charley Bates belongs to Fagin's gang. He is so disgusted by Sikes'
evil ways that he gives up crime and becomes a farmer.
OLIVER TWIST: BET (BETSY)
Bet is a whore like Nancy. She loses her sanity when she is required
to identify Nancy's corpse.
OLIVER TWIST: FANG
Fang is a police magistrate and represents the worst abuses of
judicial power. Dickens modeled him on a real-life magistrate named
Laing who was removed from office in 1838.
OLIVER TWIST: MRS. BEDWIN
Mrs. Bedwin, Brownlow's housekeeper, cares for Oliver and provides
