Chapter Summaries of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

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Chapter 1
2. In this chapter Oliver Twist is born into a workhouse. His mother, being almost as sickly as Oliver, passed soon after his birth. The surgeon overseeing the birth notices that Oliver’s mother was not wearing a marriage ring, meaning the Oliver was now an orphan.
3a. “Oliver cried lustily. If he could have known that he was an orphan, left to the tender mercies of churchwardens and overseers, perhaps he would have cried the louder.” (p. 3)
5. This quote serves as a precursor to the arduous life that Oliver will have as a workhouse orphan, which is comparable to the time Dickens worked at a shoe blacking factory.
Chapter 2
2. Infant Oliver was sent to the juvenile workhouse division, which was viewed as the more “humane” setting for Oliver by his overseers. This workhouse was ran by a woman named Mr. Mann, who was known to pocket money intended for the children’s nourishment and allowed them to starve to death. At the age of nine, Oliver is sent to the main work house. During dinner, Oliver makes the grave mistake of asking for more food.
3a. “Please, sir, I want some more.” said Oliver (p. 13)
5. This is yet another testament to the abuse that these children encountered while working in factories/workhouses. Most of these children were progressing to the point of starvation for almost three months, yet asking for more of the gruel provided by Mr. Bumble, the parish beadle, constituted severe punishment.
Chapter 3
2. After asking for more food, Oliver has been looked in a dark solitary room and publicly flogged to set an example to the other children. A man named Mr. Garfield, a brutal chimney sweep, is offered to take Oliver, but Oliver pleads not to go. The Magistrate (chief overseer) then refuses to approve the appre...

... middle of paper ...

...onks plans to pay Fagin to recapture Oliver.
3a. “Pity us, lady—pity us for having only one feeling of the women left and for having that turned, by a heavy judgement, from comfort and a pride into a new means of violence and suffering.” (Nancy) (p. 309)
5. This chapter is pivotal in the novel because we learn the motivation of this mysterious man named Monks. There is a maternal compassion evident in both Miss Ross and Nancy, who actually wanted to aid Oliver. This is the opposite of what Dickens experienced when his mother actually wanted him to remain in the shoe-blacking factory.
Chapter 42
2. Noah Claypole and Charlotte, the apprentice and servant to Mr. Sowerberry respectively, actually rob Mr. Sowerberry and flee to London. They stop at “Three Cripples” inn, and meet Fagin and Barney. Subsequently, they join Fagin’s gang and are assigned to rob children.
3a.

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