Oliver Twist (character)

Oliver Twist
"Please, sir, I want some more." Illustration by George Cruikshank
Created by	Charles Dickens
Portrayed by	Jackie Coogan (1922) Dickie Moore (1933) John Howard Davies (1948) Mark Lester (1968) Joey Lawrence (voice, 1988) Jon Lee (1994) Tom Fletcher (1994) Steven Webb (1995) Joshua Close (2003) Justin Pereira (2003-2004) Barney Clark (2005) Joseph McManners (2005) William Miller (2007) Harry Stott Gwion Jones Laurence Jeffcoate (2009) Noah McCullough (2010) Dan Stock (2011)
Information
Gender	Male
Title	Mister Oliver Twist.
Family	Agnes Fleming (mother, deceased) Edwin Leeford (father, deceased) Edward "Monks" Leeford (half-brother, deceased)
Relatives	Rose Maylie (maternal aunt) Captain Fleming (maternal grandfather, deceased) Harry Maylie (maternal uncle by marriage) Mrs Leeford (step-mother, deceased)

Oliver Twist is the title character and protagonist of the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. He was the first child protagonist in an English novel.

Based in 1838, the orphan, young Oliver is born in a parish workhouse in an unnamed town, His unmarried mother dies during labour. Old Sally, who was present at the birth, takes from the dying woman a locket and ring. Mr Bumble, the Beadle, names the boy Oliver Twist. Oliver is sent to an orphanage, run by Mrs. Mann, until he is nine years old, until he escapes.

The orphans at the workhouse are starving because of their cruel treatment. They cast lots to decide who will ask for more gruel for them all, and Oliver is chosen. At evening supper, once the gruel is dished out and eaten, Oliver goes to the master and makes his famous request, "Please Sir. I want some more." He is then branded a troublemaker and offered as an apprentice to anyone willing to take him, and he is eventually apprenticed to Sowerberry, the undertaker. Oliver fights with Noah Claypole, an older boy at the undertakers, because Noah mocked Oliver's dead mother. Oliver is then beaten for the offence, but he manages to escape and runs away to London.

In London Oliver meets Jack Dawkins, the Artful Dodger, who offers him a place to stay, where he meets up with Fagin and his band of young thieves. Oliver innocently goes "to work" with Dawkins and Charley Bates, but sees the real nature of their "work" when Dawkins picks the pocket of a gentleman. When the gentleman, Mr. Brownlow, realises he is being robbed, Oliver is mistaken for the pickpocket. And he is then chased, captured, and taken to the police. Oliver, who was injured in the chase, is cleared by a witness to the crime and is taken in by Brownlow to his home where he is well treated. After recovering from his injuries, Oliver is sent on an errand by Brownlow to pay a local merchant £5 and to return some books. However, Oliver is caught by Nancy and Bill Sikes, who pretend to be his siblings, and is returned to Fagin's den. However, Nancy later betrays Fagin and Sikes, as well as herself, for doing so since they've stolen Oliver's chance to have a better life.