Skip to main content

Where was Oliver taken in Oliver Twist?

Oliver was taken to Fagin’s den in London.


Oliver actually gets taken a lot of places throughout the book.  He is taken from the workhouse to the undertaker, where he is supposed to be apprenticed.  When he runs away, he is taken by Dodger to Fagin.  He is taken home by Brownlow, then taken back to Fagin, and then taken to Brownlow’s house to rob it by Sikes.


The most significant taking of Oliver is...

Oliver was taken to Fagin’s den in London.


Oliver actually gets taken a lot of places throughout the book.  He is taken from the workhouse to the undertaker, where he is supposed to be apprenticed.  When he runs away, he is taken by Dodger to Fagin.  He is taken home by Brownlow, then taken back to Fagin, and then taken to Brownlow’s house to rob it by Sikes.


The most significant taking of Oliver is when Dodger takes him to London.  Oliver has no idea what he is in for.  Dodger tells him that he has a friend who can take him in.



This unexpected offer of shelter was too tempting to be resisted; especially as it was immediately followed up, by the assurance that the old gentleman referred to, would doubtless provide Oliver with a comfortable place, without loss of time. (Ch. 8)



Fagin is not what Oliver expected.  It turns out he is not just a man who looks kindly after little boys.  He has plenty of little boys in his employ, but he uses them as pickpockets.  Oliver has no idea at first.   He thinks that the boys make their own handkerchiefs and pocketbooks.  The first time he is used to steal something, he gets caught.  Fortunately, Brownlow feels sorry for him and takes him home.


Oliver would have been in a great situation with Brownlow, but Fagin had other ideas.  Oliver’s half-brother Monks had asked Fagin to make a thief of Oliver.   This would make him unrespectable.  Monks is not thrilled that Fagin does not succeed.



"I tell you again, it was badly planned. Why not have kept him here among the rest, and made a sneaking, snivelling pickpocket of him at once?" (Ch. 26)



Oliver is innately good, and it seems that no matter what circumstances he ends up in, this will not change.  Fagin is unable to corrupt him.  Eventually, he goes back to Brownlow and the secret of his parentage, which Monks did not want anyone to know, is revealed.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more

Examine the boy’s “interior monologues,” the italicized parts of the story in "Barn Burning." What do these parts tell us about the boy,...

With the italicized sections of "Barn Burning," Faulkner is using a Modernist style of narration called perspectivism. In this style, the narrator is omniscient only in regard to one character, at least for a given part of the story where the technique is used. Thus the action of "Barn Burning" is experienced through the boy Sarty's perspective, and events are interpreted through the way he perceives them. The italicized portions of the story take us deep into Sarty's psyche and usually give words to either the conflicts he is experiencing or the hopes he has for resolving those conflicts. As the story opens and Abner Snopes appears before a Justice for burning a barn, Sarty's thoughts voice his loyalty to his father, but the intensity of their expression indicate that the loyalty requires effort on Sarty's part. As they ride away in their wagon, Sarty begins to hope: "Maybe he's done satisfied now, now that he has..." As yet he cannot
Post a Comment
Read more