The orphan Oliver is a loving, innocent child. In his rags-to-riches
career he finally finds happiness with his aunt, Rose Maylie, and his
mentor, Mr. Brownlow. But at birth, his prospects aren't very
bright. His mother dies, leaving him in a public workhouse deprived
of affection, education, and adequate food.
Most readers agree that Oliver is generally quiet and shy rather than
aggressive. But when he is nine years old, he does two bold things
that change his life. At the workhouse, he asks for more food
(Chapter II) and when he's an apprentice he beats up Noah Claypole
and runs away (Chapters VI and VII). After that, most of the things
that happen to him are out of his control. They are the result of
luck--either good or bad--or the active intervention of someone else.
When he arrives in London, he finds himself in the clutches of Fagin
and his gang of thieves. Twice he is rescued by the very people that
Fagin's gang is trying to rob, first Mr. Brownlow, and later Mrs.
Maylie. Both times Oliver is ill and must be nursed back to health.
Then his half-brother plots to destroy him. Oliver's affectionate
nature, along with his weakness and innocence, earn him the pity and
love of the good people he meets. At the same time, his goodness
makes him the victim of Fagin, Sikes, and Monks because they
persistently scheme to turn him into a thief like themselves.
Because Oliver discovers that good people are successful and evil
ones are punished, he turns out to be a happy, secure, honest person.
Dickens choice of Oliver's name is very revealing, because the boy's
story is full of "twists" and turns. These twists are eventually
unraveled, and the truth about his family is discovered. The web of
crime that he gets entangled in when he lives with Fagin's gang is
straightened out--"untwisted"--by the truth Brownlow uncovers. Some
readers feel that Oliver receives less attention as the novel
develops than he does in the beginning. These readers suggest that
Oliver's personality doesn't change much, and they point out that
he's always honest, trusting, and affectionate despite the conditions
he lives in. For these readers, the adventures of Nancy, Sikes, and
Fagin overshadow Oliver's story even though he is the novel's hero.
To some other readers, Oliver is a powerful character because he
symbolizes all abandoned and mistreated children who can be rescued
by love. They point out that Dickens uses his skills at creating
character to make Oliver particularly appealing. While the subject
of an orphan rescued by a generous benefactor was extremely popular
in English fiction, Dickens' Oliver Twist is the one best remembered.
Everyone agrees that Oliver's moment of greatest glory comes when he
announces to the master of the workhouse: "Please, sir, I want some
more."
OLIVER TWIST: MR. BUMBLE
