Oliver Twist

Character Guide

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Oliver Twist (Young Twist, Work'us)

A frail, innocent orphan born in a workhouse, whose gentle nature endures neglect, hunger, and cruelty from his earliest days.

Mr. Bumble (The Beadle)

The pompous, self-important parish beadle who oversees Oliver's early treatment with bureaucratic cruelty.

Mrs. Mann

The elderly woman who runs the baby farm where Oliver spends his first nine years, neglecting the children in her care.

Mr. Sowerberry

The undertaker to whom Oliver is apprenticed after leaving the workhouse.

Noah Claypole (Charity-boy)

A bullying charity-boy who works alongside Oliver at the undertaker's and torments him about his origins.

The Artful Dodger (Jack Dawkins)

A streetwise, swaggering young pickpocket who befriends Oliver on the road to London and introduces him to Fagin's gang.

Fagin (The old gentleman, The Jew)

An old man who runs a den of child pickpockets in London, teaching Oliver games that turn out to be lessons in theft.

Charley Bates (Master Bates)

Another young member of Fagin's gang, cheerful and mischievous, who accompanies Oliver on his first outing to 'work.'

Mr. Brownlow

A kind, dignified gentleman who is robbed by Oliver's companions but takes Oliver in and cares for him after suspecting his innocence.

Mr. Grimwig

Mr. Brownlow's irritable, contrarian friend who doubts Oliver's honesty and often threatens to 'eat his head' if proven wrong.

Mrs. Bedwin

Mr. Brownlow's kindly housekeeper who nurses Oliver back to health and treats him with warmth.

Rose Maylie

A gentle young woman who, with her adoptive family, later takes an interest in Oliver's welfare and character.

Mr. Fang

A harsh, hasty police magistrate who presides over Oliver's arrest on suspicion of theft.

Glossary

Workhouse

A government-run institution where the poor, orphaned, or destitute were housed and forced to labor in exchange for meager food and shelter.

Beadle

A minor parish official responsible for enforcing order and managing workhouse affairs, often depicted as petty and self-important.

Farming (of children)

The practice of paying a caretaker a small weekly sum to raise pauper infants, often resulting in neglect.

Fogle-hunter

Thieves' slang for a pickpocket who specializes in stealing handkerchiefs.

Beak

Slang term for a magistrate or judge.

Stone Jug

Slang for a prison, referenced in thieves' cant.

Bluchers

A style of sturdy ankle boots, named after a Prussian general, worn by working-class characters.

Charity-boy

A boy educated or supported by charitable institutions, often looked down upon despite not being a workhouse orphan.

Parish authorities/Board

Local officials responsible for administering poor relief under the English Poor Laws.

Bob and a magpie

Thieves' slang for a small amount of money (a shilling and a halfpenny).

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