Oliver Twist is one of the best of Charles Dickens' loved stories and one of the most endearing.
Dickens' inspiration for the story of Oliver Twist came from his own childhood experiences working in a blocking factory to support his parents (one of his workhouse workmates was called Bob Fagin).
Dickens' experience had a great effect on him. His stories of child exploitation and brutalising father figures (Bumble and Sikes) surfaced in the story of Oliver Twist which was Dickens' second novel.
We begin the story in the workhouse where Oliver dares to ask for more food. The thunderous guardian Mr. Bumble sell Oliver for five pounds to the undertaker Mr. Sowerberry. Here he also meets Mrs. Sowerberry, Charlotte and North. But Oliver, seeing his life here is no better than the workhouse, runs away.
He sets off to London where he meets The Artful Dodger, who tells Oliver of a place run by an elderly gentleman, where he can get lodgings and food. With no other choice, Oliver is taken to Fagin's and becomes a part of this lower-world of gin and petty larceny.
It is on Oliver's first robbing mission that he is caught, but, Mr. Brownlow, whose pocket is picked, rescues Oliver. He takes him home to Bloomsbury. For the first time Oliver experiences the love for which he has yearned. Bill Sikes, concerned that Oliver will tell Brownlow everything, arranges for Nancy to get him back. This she does but her guilt at taking Oliver away from his newly found happiness, to return him to the bleak world of the thieves kitchen, presses upon her to return him.
She secretly arranges with Brwonlow, to return Oliver at midnight on London Bridge. Sikes follows her, kills her and pursued by an angry mob, threatens to kill Oliver. Sikes is killed and Oliver is returned to his new found world of security and love.
Fagin? Well he is left on stage to review the situation.
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