Oliver Twist

An orphan who endures hunger and cruel discipline in the workhouse and later navigates London’s criminal underworld with surprising moral resilience. He seeks belonging and kindness while remaining defined by honesty amid temptation. His true identity becomes central to the inheritance plot and his ultimate future.

A brutal housebreaker whose violence drives much of the plot’s danger. He clashes with Nancy and Oliver, and his ruthless choices precipitate key tragedies. He embodies the criminal underworld that threatens the vulnerable.

A veteran thief who mentors a gang of child criminals and manipulates Oliver’s fate for a contract with Monks. He navigates loyalty and betrayal, facing pressure from Brownlow and the law. His scheming highlights the corrupting power of crime.

A prostitute and Sikes’s lover who secretly sympathizes with Oliver. She tries to protect him and warn Brownlow, ending tragically when Sikes murders her. Her loyalty exposes the conflict between criminal life and moral compassion.

Edward Leeford, Oliver’s half-brother, schemes to disinherit Oliver by allying with Fagin. He hides behind a persona but is driven by greed and resentment. His actions influence the will and Oliver’s fate.

Edwin Leeford’s fiancée who becomes pregnant; she dies in childbirth after Edwin’s murder, leaving Oliver as the orphaned heir. Her life and death set the stage for the inheritance plot and Oliver’s uncertain fate.

A kindly gentleman who welcomes Oliver into his home and provides a moral compass. His care helps reveal Oliver’s true nature and secures his early safety.

An undertaker who apprentices Oliver; his wife and servants abuse Oliver, exposing the cruel conditions faced by poor children, though he is not wholly villainous.

Brownlow’s warm housekeeper who protects and cares for Oliver, offering him kindness and stability amid upheaval.

A street-smart youth who befriends Oliver and leads him toward Fagin’s gang, showcasing a natural aptitude for pickpocketing and deception.

One of Fagin’s adult accomplices who helps with the burglary and reinforces the criminal networks that Oliver encounters.

Beadle who presides over the workhouse with pomp and hypocrisy, later losing his status as reforms unfold, reflecting the cruelty of the system.

Agnes’s sister who has survived trauma and forms a bond with Oliver; her memories and pain return as the truth about her past surfaces.