1.2 The Main Story of Oliver Twist

The hero of the novel, Oliver, is an orphan born in a workhouse suffering from humiliation and starvation. Because Oliver can not bear the hostess of the coffin shop and the parish beadle Bumble’s abuse, he runs away to London alone. Unfortunately, upon his arrival, Oliver falls into the thief cave. The thief gang leader, Fagin, tries every means to train Oliver into a pickpocket at his service. When Oliver follows the fellow thieves Dodger and Bates on the street, he is mistaken as the thief who has stolen a handkerchief of the old gentleman Brownlow (who happens to be a friend of his late father) and finally he is arrested by police. After the boss of the bookstall proves his innocence and indicates that the thief is someone else, he is released at last. Being seriously ill, Oliver is in a state of unconsciousness, so Brownlow takes him home for treatment. Oliver gets good care and concern of the old gentleman Brownlow and their housekeeper Mrs. Bedwin there. This is the first time that Oliver feels the earthly warmth. Since the thief gang is afraid that Oliver may disclose their secrets, Sikes and Nancy endeavors to make him fall back into the thief cave when Oliver goes out to return books for Brownlow. Just as Fagin decides to punish Oliver severely, Nancy comes forward to protect Oliver. Later, Fagin makes every effort to force Oliver to become a thief, his cash cow. One night, under Sikes’ coercion, Oliver prepares to seize the opportunity to crawl into the window to report to the owner, but the housekeeper finds him and then shoots him. Unfortunately Oliver is wounded and the fellow thief escapes in a panic, Oliver is abandoned into the roadside ditch. Injured Oliver crawls in the rain, however, Oliver unwittingly goes back to that house and faints at the door. Kind master Maylie and her foster daughter Miss Rose adopt and shelter Oliver. Coincidentally, Miss Rose is Oliver’s aunt, but they do not know each other at that time. In Mrs. Maylie’s house, Oliver really enjoys the warm and happiness of his life, but Fagin gang can’t stand letting Oliver off. One day Monks who is Oliver’s half-brother comes to Fagin. Because of Monk’s unscrupulous and vulgar behavior, his father leaves the whole estate to Oliver in his will. Unless Oliver is as well as Monks, his estate will be inherited by the Monks. Therefore, Monks colludes with Fagin and provides him with great benefits and prepare to make Oliver become incorrigible criminals, so that he can possess the whole estate of the Oliver and wreak his resentment for the death of his father. Monks complacently talks about how he and Mr. and Mrs. Bumble work together to destroy the only evidence that proves Oliver’s identity, which is heard by Nancy. Because Nancy sympathizes Oliver’s encounters, she bravely risks her life to find Miss Rose secretly and reports to her.

While Miss Rose is pondering over how to act, Oliver tells her that he finds Mr. Brownlow. Miss Rose and Mr. Brownlow discuss the solution. With the company of Mr. Brownlow, Rose makes an appointment to meet Nancy. Brownlow is informed from Nancy that Monks is his late friend Edwin Livermore’s futile son. But their conversation is heard by Fagin’s spy and then Sikes murders Nancy cruelly. However, Nancy’s death is a disaster of Fagin gang. Fagin is arrested and then is on the gallows. Sikes is strangled by his own rope when he is fleeing in disorder. At the same time, Monks is taken to Brownlow’s home and forced to confess the wrongdoings he has done. Oliver is adopted by Brownlow, which is the end of his miserable childhood. To give a chance of rehabilitation for Monks, Oliver gives half legacy to him. But Monks doesn’t change and still squanders lavishly the family property and continue to do evil. Eventually he dies in prison. Bumble is exiled to all his posts, penniless. He spends the rest of his life in the workhouse where they once are domineering.