Oliver Twist

Mr. Brownlow is a kindly old gentleman who first meets Oliver after he gets pickpocketed. The old man originally thinks that Oliver is the thief but when the young boy falls ill at the trial, Mr. Brownlow takes him home to care for him. Mr. Brownlow is friends with the late Edward Leeford and owns a portrait of Agnes Fleming. Mr. Brownlow would have married Leeford’s sister had she not passed away the day before the wedding. Mr. Brownlow recognizes something familiar in Oliver. When Oliver is stolen away again, the older gentleman goes to the West Indies to search for answers. When Mr. Brownlow returns, he does his best to aid the Maylies in helping Oliver. At the end of the novel, Mr. Brownlow adopts Oliver and loves him like his own son. 

Mrs. Bedwin is one of Mr. Brownlow’s servants. She is a kindly old woman with bad eyesight who cares for Oliver while he is ill. Mrs. Bedwin believes in Oliver’s goodness, despite the rumors that are spread by Mr. Bumble and Mr. Grimwig. She is delighted to see him again at the end of the novel.

Mr. Grimwig is Mr. Brownlow’s closest friend. He is a contrary gentleman who enjoys being disagreeable. Grimwig is extremely stubborn but he is secretly extremely fond of his friends and of Oliver. Grimwig frequently visits Mr. Brownlow, the Maylies, and Oliver at the end of the novel. 

Mrs. Maylie is a kind old widow who adopted Rose as a child. She is Harry’s mother and Mr. Losberne’s close friend. She is a strong-willed woman who does her best to do right by those that she cares for. Though Mrs. Maylie originally tries to discourage Harry from proposing to Rose, she supports their marriage and ends up moving in with Harry, Rose, and their children. 

Rose Maylie is often paralleled with Oliver. She is the epitome of grace, kindness, and feminine genteel. Rose is revealed to be Oliver’s aunt and she ends up marrying Harry Maylie. She initially refuses to marry Harry because she does not wish to sully his name. Rose also does her best to save Oliver and Nancy, though she does not succeed with the latter. Rose ends up marrying Harry and having many children. 

Harry is Mrs. Maylie’s son and was initially bound for a life in high society and politics. Harry ends up giving up his life in society to become a humble clergyman so that he can marry Rose. Harry frequently helps the Maylies, Losberne, and Brownlow discover the truth of Oliver’s identity. 

Mr. Giles is one of Mrs. Maylie’s servants. Mr. Giles shoots Oliver when the young boy is forced to break into the house. Giles is a taciturn old man but he takes a shining to Oliver and cares deeply for the Maylies. 

Mr. Losberne is a doctor and a close friend of Mrs. Maylie’s. Losberne is extremely rash and hot-tempered. He works with the Maylies to help Oliver and eventually moves to live closer to the Maylies, Oliver, and Mr. Brownlow.

Mr. Bumble is the parochial beadle at the beginning of the novel. He finds joy in being feared by paupers and those beneath him in status. Mr. Bumble does not care for any of the impoverished people and children in his care. Dickens frequently utilizes Mr. Bumble’s hypocrisy, greed, and corruption to display the injustice and cruelty prevalent in the system.

Mrs. Bumble is the matron at the workhouse. Mrs. Bumble takes control in their relationship and is entirely unafraid of Mr. Bumble. Mrs. Bumble takes control of their deal with Monks and tells the young man about the secret that old Sally shared on her deathbed. At the end of the novel, Mr. and Mrs. Bumble end up in the workhouse, with no money or prospects. 

Old Sally is an elderly pauper who helped with Oliver’s birth. Instead of helping Oliver, she steals Agnes Fleming’s gold jewelry. On her deathbed, old Sally confesses to Mrs. Bumble. 

Edward Leeford Senior was married to an older woman and they conceived Edward Leeford Junior. Mr. and Mrs. Leeford despise one another and are quickly separated after his birth. Edward Leeford falls in love with a friend’s young daughter. They get engaged and at the same time, a distant relative dies and leaves Edward with a lot of money. Edward gets ill and dies in Rome without a will and leaves the estate and the large sum of money to his wife and son. Edward means to escape the country with Agnes but he dies before he is able to do so.

Agnes Fleming is Oliver’s mother. Agnes is in love with Edward Leeford and is pregnant with his child. She runs away from her family after it is revealed that her child is a bastard. Agnes dies after giving birth to Oliver. It is often said that Oliver looks much like his mother. 

Monks’s real name is Edward Leeford. He is a sinister young man who promised his mother that he would find the bastard child and ensure that it is hanged. Monks employs Fagin to keep Oliver entrenched in life as a criminal. Oliver ends up giving Monks half of his inheritance but the man ends fleeing with his portion of the money, wastes it all, and ends up dying in a prison in America after embarking on “some fresh act of fraud and knavery” (637). 

Fagin is an old Jewish man who uses homeless children and makes them pickpockets for him. Fagin also runs an operation selling stolen goods and planning robberies with Bill Sikes. Fagin usually plans the operations, happy to get a cut of the money while not being at risk of getting arrested. He is later convicted and condemned to death.

Nancy is one of Fagin’s gang. It is implied that she is a pickpocket and a prostitute. Nancy is also Bill Sikes’s lover; she takes care of him while he is sick, despite his dreadful treatment of her. Nancy is a morally grey character; while she does try to save Oliver, she is also beholden and loyal to Fagin and Sikes. Nancy is undoubtedly one of the most complicated and well-developed characters in the novel. She dies after she is discovered helping Oliver and Rose Maylie.

Bill Sikes is a career criminal and robber. He is a part of Fagin’s gang and is Fagin’s enemy. Sikes has a dog named Bull’s-eye. Sikes is Nancy’s lover though he treats her horribly and ultimately, beats her to death. Sikes dies while fleeing from the police. 

Noah is a charity boy who worked for Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry. He bullied Oliver when they were both apprentices for the undertaker. Noah is cowardly and spineless, desperate to take advantage of his relationship with Charlotte, using her to earn money and steal. Noah ends up being a professional informer.

Charlotte also worked for Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry as a housekeeper. She is in love with Noah and eventually follows him when they leave their apprenticeship for London. 

The Dodger is the quickest and best pickpocket in Fagin’s gang. The Dodger dresses in large coats and hats; he speaks with a heavy accent and uses coded criminal terms. He is close friends with Charley Bates and ultimately ends up being deported to Australia, once he’s caught and sentenced for his crimes. 

Charley is one of Fagin’s many young pickpockets. Charley finds most situations hilarious but Nancy’s death forces him to confront reality. Charley ultimately stops pickpocketing and becomes a farmhand. 

Toby helps Bill Sikes on robberies and heists. He usually seduces the servants to find a way into the home. 

Tom Chitling is an 18-year-old who works for Fagin. He is in love with Betsy and was previously sent to jail. 

Betsy is one of Fagin’s pickpockets. The authorities apprehend Betsy on the same raid that captures Fagin.

Mrs. Mann is the head of the workhouse where Oliver and Dick worked. Mrs. Mann steals most of the stipend meant for the care of the children, resulting in many orphans starving to death in her care.

Mr. Fang is the ornery, rash, and rude magistrate who judges Oliver’s pickpocketing trial. 

Mr. Sowerberry is the undertaker who hires Oliver from the workhouse. Mr. Sowerberry has Oliver become a child mourner at his funerals.