Oliver Twist was born in Victorian England to a sick mother who dies immediately after giving birth to him in a street. Poor Oliver was left to the kindness of the strangers in a workhouse which was not at all a congenial place for an orphan to grow up.
Oliver was raised under the care of Mrs. Mann and the beadle Mr. Bumble in the workhouse. After spending nine years in a horrifying orphanage, Oliver was trashed and punished for asking second serving to all the hungry boys of the orphanage. His punishment was to be apprenticed to the local undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry. Oliver attacks another apprentice of Mr. Rowanberry’s, after which he was severely punished and runs away to London. There he was befriended by Jack Dawkins, also called “Artful Dodger” and his master, Fagin. Fagin’s gang of boys was trained to be pickpockets and he makes innocent Oliver a part of his Criminal group.
Oliver was caught in his first pick pocketing attempt while the other two boys managed to run away. Mr. Brownlow, who was the victim of this theft, was an old kind gentleman who rescues Oliver from the arrest realizing his innocence. He was also struck, by the ragged and unhealthy appearance of Oliver so rather than charging him with theft, he takes him home. Oliver sees happiness for the first time in his life when the housekeeper, Mrs. Bedwin nurses him back to life.
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However, Fagin manages to kidnap Oliver with the help of a prostitute Nancy and a brutal murderer, Bill Sikes on the orders of mysterious Mr. Monks. He involves him in another burglary expedition which lands him in Mrs. Maylie’s house who lives with her adopted niece, Rose. Oliver is shot and wounded whereas the other thieves escape. Oliver gets mercy from Rose and Mrs. Maylie and continues to live with them. Nancy gets to know that Fagin and Monks are plotting against Oliver to corrupt his innocence. Nancy is murdered by Sikes by Noah, a member of Fagin’s gang after she informs Rose’s adviser about the connection between Rose and Oliver on the steps of London Bridge. Fagin and gang are arrested after Sikes dramatically hangs himself on his frantic flight. Fagin is executed while Dodger manages to defend himself in the court by his eloquence.
Monks’ plot against Oliver is disclosed by Mr. Brownlow. Monks is Oliver’s half brother looking after inheriting the property which he inherited from his father. Oliver didn’t know about his father but it seemed that he was born as a product of an adulterous affair between wealthy Mr. Leeford and a woman named Agnes Fleming. His father had died and had left money to Oliver on the condition that he has a good reputation. Rose is actually the sister of Oliver’s mother and thus his aunt. Monks receives his share of the inheritance and goes away to America. He dies in prison there, and Oliver is adopted by Mr. Brownlow and lives happily ever after