Oliver Twist
(Charles Dickens)

Oliver Twist

The protagonist of the novel, Oliver Twist is a workhouse orphan with no knowledge of who his parents were. His mother died giving birth to him, and Oliver is small due to the low amounts of food he is forced to survive on. Despite his horrible situation, however, he has a kind and tender heart and a beautiful face. He refuses to participate in stealing and instead wants only to help people. Eventually, he is taken in by kindly upper-class folks and adopted. He also finds out he is the son of a wealthy man and has a large inheritance.

Mr. Bumble

The parochial beadle of the workhouse, Mr. Bumble is representative of the church during the Industrial Revolution. He is the one who takes Oliver from the orphanage and also attempts to apprentice him to an abusive chimney sweeper. Oliver is scared of Mr. Bumble as a child, but overcomes his fear of the man before he runs away. Mr. Bumble is obsessed with wealth and material possessions and marries his wife for money even though they make each other miserable. He signifies everything that is wrong with the middle-class and is eventually stripped of his position due to his cowardice and greed.

Mr. Sowerberry

Sowerberry is the undertaker for the workhouse and makes his profit selling coffins to them. He jokes all the time about how the new "poor laws" are good for his business since all the paupers starve in the workhouse. He takes Oliver in as an apprentice, and schemes to make money off the boy at funeral services because of his handsome face. Although Mr. Sowerberry has a soft spot for Oliver, he is forced to beat the boy to save face. It is this beating which leads Oliver to run away.

Noah Claypole

Noah is Mr. Sowerberry's other apprentice. Noah is a charity-boy, and so is made fun of in British society for being poor. When he discovers Oliver is a workhouse orphan, he antagonizes Oliver, for there is now someone in society lower than even he, a charity-boy. Noah has a cruel and vicious nature and is shown controlling the female house-maid, Charlotte, who does everything he tells her to do. Noah is also taken in by Fagin, who dislikes the boy, but uses him to eavesdrop on Nancy's conversation with Brownlow and Rose.

Dick

Oliver's friend from the orphanage he grew up in. Dick is a sickly, weak boy from being constantly starved, and knows he is going to die soon. Despite this, he has a noble nature. Oliver makes sure to say goodbye to Dick before he leaves town, and Dick gives Oliver his blessing. As the first kind words Oliver had ever received in his life, he never forgot them. When Oliver learns of his true identity, he goes back to rescue Dick from the orphanage, Dick has already succumbed to starvation. He symbolizes all the young, innocent orphans who are not as lucky as Oliver, and perish as a result of the mistreatment of the poor.

Jack Dawkins (The Artful Dodger)

The Dodger is a highly intelligent boy who works for Fagin. He is the one who finds Oliver collapsed outside of London, and offers him a place to stay, thereby getting Oliver involved with the disreputable gang of thieves. Although Jack is indeed a pickpocket, he has excellent intelligence and wit. The reader is meant to assume that, if born into different circumstances, the Dodger would have been a remarkably successful member of society. This reinforces Dickens’ theme that it is environment that plays the biggest role in determining a person's moral character.

Fagin (The Jew)

Fagin is the ringleader of the band of pick-pockets Oliver is recruited into. A master of lies and manipulation, Fagin is, arguably, the most villainous character in the entire novel. He is constantly on the lookout for situations where he can take advantage of others and further himself, the opposite of Oliver's helpful nature. He is always described as hideously ugly, and it is this outer reflection that reveals the depth of his villainy. Many young men and women were sent to the gallows for crimes committed at the behest of Fagin. When he is eventually caught and sentenced to the gallows himself, however, he goes insane.

Nancy

A young woman, most likely a prostitute, who was recruited by Fagin at a young age. She has lived a life of crime but exhibits a moral goodness of her own kind. She regrets helping to kidnap Oliver for Fagin and risks her life to bring Rose a message about the plot against Oliver. When Rose gives her a chance to start a new life, Nancy replies that it is too late. Even though it was miserable, she could not leave her life, or Bill Sikes, the man she is attached to. Her environment has shaped her so entirely that she cannot escape it; however, the good left in her even after such a life suggests that she would have been a wonderful person under better circumstances.

Mr. Brownlow

The elderly gentleman who first takes Oliver under his wing when he is ill. Although Oliver is a young orphan, Mr. Brownlow assumes the best in the boy and doesn't accuse him of pick-pocketing and instead helps him. Mr. Brownlow is the key in the book, the connection between Oliver and his heritage. He knew Oliver's father, and is the one who pieces together the puzzle and apprehends Monks. Brownlow is the representation of rightful justice, the kind of which is not possible in the legal system of the time. He is also portrayed as a man of learning and makes sure that Oliver is well-schooled. At the end of the novel, he adopts Oliver as his own son.

Bill Sikes (The Housebreaker)

Another villain of the novel, Bill Sikes is a robber by trade and is distinguishable by his white dog that follows him around everywhere. A cruel man, and quick to anger, Bill is nonetheless loved by Nancy, whom he eventually murders. Where Fagin is slow and manipulating, Bill is somewhat reckless. His dog serves as a reflection of his inner self and mirrors his movements and mental states throughout the novel.

Old Sally

The nurse-maid who helped Oliver's mother gives birth. Although she only makes a brief appearance in the novel, she is the key to Oliver's family. Oliver's mother, on her deathbed, gave the nurse a golden locket and a wedding ring with her name engraved on it, saying that it could help lead Oliver to people who would care for him. Instead of helping the boy, she sold the locket to a pawn-shop, where it was later tracked down and thrown into the river by Monks.

Mrs. Maylie

An older wealthy woman, Mrs. Maylie has a generous spirit. She rescued Rose as an orphan, despite the stain on her name circulated by Mrs. Leeford, and raises her as her own daughter. Although she is generous, she is also highly aware of society's views and is practical about how to navigate socially. When her son wishes to marry Rose, Mrs. Maylie discourages him, saying that her uncertain birth will lead to his political ruin. She is also the one to help Oliver when he is shot, first as Rose's wish and then on her own.

Rose Maylie

Rose is a young, beautiful girl adopted by Mrs. Maylie. She always assumes the best in people, and is the first person in the novel to guess correctly that Oliver's unfortunate situation in life led him down a path he didn't want to follow. She has an almost saintly virtue and pureness about her and is often described as having the beauty of an angel.

Harry Maylie

Mrs. Maylie's handsome son, Harry is madly in love for Rose and proposes to her. However, he is also running for a powerful position in parliament and is advised against marrying Rose because of her uncertain history. In the ultimate statement about marrying for love versus monetary gain, Harry gives up his political influence and buys a small house in a village. Rose accepts his proposal, and they lead a simple, happy life in the country.

Monks (Edward Leeford)

First appearing as a tall, mysterious stranger in a cloak, Monks has a strange obsession with Oliver. He is a villain in league with Fagin and Sikes and portrayed as disfigured and manipulative. The end of the novel reveals that Monks' real name is Edward Leeford, and he is Oliver older half-brother. He tried to get rid of Oliver so that his father's entire fortune passed directly to him. Mr. Brownlow tries to give Monks another chance by halving the inheritance, but Monks squanders the money and ends up dying in prison.

Quick Character Guide (in order of appearance)

Oliver - protagonist of the novel, orphan boy with a mysterious past

Mrs. Mann - headmistress of the orphanage Oliver grew up in. She starves the children at the orphanage to save money

Mr. Bumble - the beadle of the workhouse, obsessed with wealth and status

Mr. Gamfield - an abusive chimney-sweeper who attempts to apprentice Oliver

Mr. Sowerberry - the undertaker for the workhouse, he makes a living selling coffins. He takes on Oliver as an apprentice

Mrs. Sowerberry - the undertaker's wife. Dislikes Oliver because Mr. Sowerberry favors him

Noah Claypole - charity-boy, apprentice to Mr. Sowerberry. Makes fun of Oliver because he is a workhouse orphan

Charlotte - maid to the Sowerberry's. Is obedient in every way to Noah Claypole

Dick - Oliver's sickly young friend from the orphanage

Jack Dawkins (The Artful Dodger) - pupil of Fagin, highly intelligent

Charley Bates - pupil of Fagin, has a good sense of humor

Fagin (The Jew) - ringleader of the band of thieves Oliver falls into, a master of manipulation

Betsy - a young girl who works for Fagin

Nancy - a young girl who works for Fagin, helps Oliver and is killed for it

Mr. Fang - arrogant courtroom judge who presides over Oliver's case

Mr. Brownlow - the elderly gentleman who first takes pity on Oliver, eventually helps solve the mystery of his identity and adopts him

Mrs. Bedwin - Brownlow's housekeeper, very fond of Oliver

Bill Sikes (The Housebreaker) - a professional robber, kills Nancy

Bulls-eye - Bill's white dog, as vicious as he is

Mr. Grimwig - Brownlow's friend, never says what he actually means

Tim Chitling - a member the gang of thieves

Barney - a member of the gang of thieves

Toby Crackit - a member of the gang of thieves, does house robberies with Bill Sikes

Mr. Corney (later - Mrs. Bumble) - matron of the workhouse, listens to Old Sally's last words

Old Sally - the nurse who helped birth Oliver, and was given his mother's last possessions

Mrs. Maylie - a wealthy, elderly woman who adopts Rose, and later takes in Oliver

Rose Maylie - a beautiful orphan girl taken in by Mrs. Maylie, in reality, is Oliver's aunt by blood

Mr. Losberne (The surgeon) - local doctor, highly impulsive, friends of the Maylie's

Mr. Giles - Mrs. Maylie's servant, shoots Oliver in the arm

Brittles - Mrs. Maylie's servant, always referred to as a boy even though he is 30

Blather and Duff - London police officers who examine the scene of the robbery

Harry Maylie - Mrs. Maylie's son who is running for political office, in love with Rose

Monks (Edward Leeford) - tall man who always wears a cloak and plot to turn Oliver into a thief, in reality Oliver's greedy older brother

Mr. Leeford - Oliver's father, forced to marry for money when he was young, later falls for Oliver's mother

Agnes - Oliver's mother and Rose's sister, Agnes runs away from home when Mr. Leeford dies