Oliver Twist: Chapters 1 & 2 Summary

Chapter 1: Oliver Twist is Born

• Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse
• There was doubt if he would survive
• After struggling to breathe, he cried out
• His mother asked to see him before she died
• The doctor tried to reassure her
• An old woman assisted as a nurse
• The doctor placed Oliver in his mother's arms
• She kissed his forehead, then died
• The doctor noted the mother was good-looking and inquired about her origins
• The old woman stated she was found in the street the previous night
• Her shoes were torn, and her origin and destination were a mystery
• The doctor observed the mother wore no wedding ring
• Oliver cried as the nurse dressed him
• If he knew his future, he'd cry even louder

Chapter 2: Early Years

• Oliver was bottle-fed for 8-10 months, when remembered

• He was then sent to a smaller workhouse 3 miles away

• 20-30 other orphans lived there with little food or clothing

• Mrs. Mann, the caretaker, received seven and a half pence weekly per child from the government

• She misused the allowance, keeping most for herself and barely feeding the children

• The system was not expected to raise healthy children

• On his ninth birthday, Oliver was pale, weak, thin, and below average height, but full of spirit

• He spent his ninth b-day in the coal cellar with two other children after being beaten and locked up by Mrs Mann for asking for food

• Mr. Bumble, a workhouse official, surprised Mrs. Mann with a visit to take Oliver back to the large workhouse

• Oliver was washed and led in to Mr. Bumble by Mrs. Mann

• Mrs. Mann instructed Oliver to bow to the gentleman

• Mr. Bumble asked Oliver if he would go with him in a clear, ringing voice

• Oliver started to agree, but saw Mrs. Mann making threatening gestures, and understood her message

• Oliver asked if Mrs. Mann would go with him

• Mr. Bumble said she couldn't, but would sometimes visit

• Oliver acted sad about leaving, crying easily due to hunger and bad treatment

• Mrs. Mann kissed him and gave him bread and butter to seem full before arriving at the workhouse

• Oliver was led away from the home where he'd never experienced kindness

• Life in the workhouse was very severe

• The board of management ruled children must work to earn their living

• Children received three meals of thin soup daily

• They twice got an onion a week, and half a cake on Sundays

• Boys ate in a large stone hall with a huge pot of soup at one end

• The master and assistants served the soup

• Each boy got one small bowl with a small piece of bread on public holidays

• The bowls were polished clean by the boys' spoons, as if they could eat the bowls too

Asking for More

• Oliver and his companions suffered hunger in silence for three months
• One tall boy threatened to eat the boy next to him if he didn't get more soup
• A council decided Oliver would ask the master for more after supper
• After the master served the soup, which quickly disappeared, Oliver rose and asked for more
• The master turned pale with horror and amazement
• Oliver repeated his request
• The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with his spoon
• He seized Oliver and shouted for Mr. Bumble
• Mr. Bumble heard the cry and rushed into the board meeting
• He reported to Mr. Limbkins that Oliver Twist had asked for more
• General alarm and horror spread
• Mr. Limbkins asked if Oliver asked for more of his own volition
• Bumble confirmed
• One of the gentlemen said Oliver would be hanged
• Oliver was locked up
• A notice was posted offering five pounds for someone to take Oliver away

Chapter 3: A Chimney Sweep Offers to Take Oliver

• After asking for more, Oliver was kept in a dark, lonely room

• He still had exercise, washing under the pump with Mr. Bumble supervising with a stick

• He was beaten in the hall every other day as a warning

• Mr. Gamfield, a chimney sweep, saw the workhouse notice while worried about rent

• A board member spoke to the chimney sweep, who said he wanted an apprentice and was willing to take Oliver

• The gentleman took him to Mr. Limbkins

• Arrangements were made for Oliver and his apprenticeship papers to be taken to the magistrate for approval that afternoon

• Mr. Bumble told Oliver to look happy and say he wanted to be apprenticed

• They appeared before the magistrate, an old gentleman with eyeglasses

• Mr. Bumble introduced Oliver

• Oliver bowed

• The gentleman asked if Oliver liked sweeping chimneys

• Bumble said Oliver was very fond of it while giving him a threatening look

• The gentleman asked if the master would treat Oliver well, feed him, and do the right thing

• Mr. Gamfield answered he meant what he said

• The gentleman said Gamfield was a rough speaker, but looked honest, although cruelty was clearly stamped on his face

• As the magistrate was half blind, one could not reasonably expect him to see what others did

• The magistrate looked for the inkpot

• It was a critical moment for Oliver

• The inkpot was right under the old gentleman's nose, though he looked all over the desk

• The gentleman's eyes met Oliver's pale, frightened face as he stared at his cruel future master with horror and fear

• The old gentleman stopped, laid down his pen, and looked from Oliver to Mr. Bumble

• The old gentleman, leaning over the desk, said Oliver looked pale and alarmed, and asked what was the matter while having Mr Bumble stand away

• Oliver begged the magistrate on his knees to send him back to the dark room rather than with the awful man

• Mr. Bumble raised his hands and said Oliver was the most shameless, ungrateful orphan he had ever seen

• The magistrate told Mr. Bumble to hold his tongue

• He refused to sign the papers, and said to take Oliver back to the workhouse and treat him kindly

• The public was again informed that five pounds would be paid to anyone who would take Oliver Twist

Chapter 4: Oliver is Apprenticed to an Undertaker

• Mr. Bumble met Mr. Sowerberry, the undertaker, at the workhouse gate

• Mr. Sowerberry was a tall, bony man in a worn-out black suit

• Mr. Sowerberry said he'd taken measurements of two women who died the previous night

• Bumble said Sowerberry would make his fortune, to which Sowerberry said the board's prices were very small

• Bumble replied that so were the coffins

• Mr. Sowerberry said he didn't deny coffins were narrower because of a "new system of feeding" but that they still needed to have some profit, as wood was expensive

• Bumble said every job has its disadvantages

• Sowerberry asked if Bumble knew anyone who wanted a boy

• The undertaker exclaimed that was the very thing he wanted to talk about

• Sowerberry stated he might take the boy himself

• Mr. Bumble led the undertaker into the building, where it was arranged that Oliver should go to him that evening

• Carrying a brown-paper parcel, Oliver was led away to a new scene of suffering

• They walked in silence

• Approaching Sowerberry's shop, Bumble made sure Oliver looked clean enough

• Bumble told Oliver to pull his cap up and hold his head up

• When Oliver looked up, tears were in his eyes

• Bumble stared at him coldly

• The child made a brave attempt to stop crying, but tears rolled down his cheeks and he covered his face with both hands

• Bumble, stopping short and looking with hatred, exclaimed Oliver was the most ungrateful and unpleasant boy he'd ever seen

• Oliver, holding Bumble's hand which held his stick tightly, said he would be good, as he was very little and lonely

• Bumble was surprised

• The undertaker closed his shop and was writing the day's business when Bumble entered

• Sowerberry asked his wife to come in

• Mrs. Sowerberry was a short, thin, bad-tempered woman

• Sowerberry stated Oliver was from the workhouse

• Mrs. Sowerberry said he was very small

• Bumble said he would grow

• Mrs Sowerberry angrily retorted he would grow on their food and drink and that workhouse children cost more to keep than they were worth

• She said men think they know best

• She told him to get downstairs, little bag of bones

• The undertaker's wife pushed Oliver down into a dark room that was used as a kitchen

• Charlotte was in the kitchen, an untidy girl in worn-out shoes and a torn blue dress

• Mrs. Sowerberry told Charlotte to give the boy cold bits of meat set aside for the dog

• Oliver's eyes shone at the mention of meat

• Oliver ate broken pieces of meat set before him rapidly while Mrs. Sowerberry watched with silent horror

• Mrs. Sowerberry ordered Oliver to follow her, took a dirty lamp, and led the way upstairs again

• Oliver was told his bed was under the counter, and that he had no choice but to sleep among the coffins

Chapter 5: Noah Claypole

• Oliver was left in the undertaker's shop

• An unfinished coffin made him tremble with fear

• He expected to see a terrible form in it

• He woke in the morning to someone loudly kicking the shop door and hurried to open it

• An angry voice demanded that he open the door

• Oliver opened the door

• A voice asked if he was the new boy

• Oliver confirmed

• The voice asked how old are he was

• Oliver said he was ten

• The voice said he'd whip him when he got in and began to Whistle

• Oliver opened the door

• He saw a slightly older boy eating bread and butter on a post front of the house

• Oliver, seeing no other visitor, asked if he knocked

• The boy replied that he kicked

• Oliver asked if he wanted a coffin

• The older boy said Oliver would need one himself if he kept making jokes

• The boy said Oliver didn’t know who he was, "Workhouse"

• Oliver replied 'No, sir'

• The boy stated he was Mr. Noah Claypole and Oliver would work under him before kicking him and entering the shop

• Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry and Oliver came down soon after

• Charlotte told Noah to come near the fire and that she saved him bacon from the master's breakfast

• Oliver was told to shut the door behind Noah and take his tea to a box and drink it there

• Noah Claypole repeated Charlotte, calling Oliver "Workhouse" in the pejorative

• Charlotte and Noah laughed disdainfully at Oliver as he trembled on the box in the coldest corner eating broken pieces reserved for him

• Noah was a charity-boy, not an orphan

• He was supported by public money because his mother was a poor washerwoman and his father was a drunken, out-of-work soldier

• Oliver suffered ill-treatment without complaint for months

• Oliver and Noah went to the kitchen for dinner at the usual time

• Noah put his feet on the tablecloth and pulled Oliver’s hair

• When Oliver didn't cry, Noah asked about his mother

• Oliver said she was dead and to not say anything about her

• Oliver reddened and breathed quickly

• Claypole thought Oliver was about to cry and returned to insulting words

• Noah asked what she died of

• Oliver said she died of a broken heart, as an old nurse said

• Noah asked Oliver what had made him cry

• Oliver stated it was not Noah

• Noah mocked his own lack of effect

• Oliver said better not say anything about his mother

• Noah exclaimed that Oliver was rude and that his mother was a bad woman

• Oliver asked him to repeat that statement

• Noah stated it was a good thing she was now dead or she would have been in prison or hanged

• Oliver jumped to his feet, seized Noah by the throat, shook him and knocked him to the ground

• Noah shouted that he'd be murdered and for Charlotte and Mrs Sowerberry to come help

• Charlotte and Mrs Sowerberry rushed into the kitchen answering Noah’s shouts

• Charlotte grabbed Oliver and struck him

• Mrs Sowerberry held Oliver and scratched him with her nails

• Noah rose after the danger had passed and beat Oliver with a stick

• They dragged Oliver into the cellar, and locked him up

• Mrs Sowerberry sank into a chair and cried and Charlotte asked Noah to get her water

• Mrs. Sowerberry said it was fortunate they all hadn’t been murdered in their beds, almost unable to breathe from the water Noah poured on her

• Charlotte expressed hope that Master wouldn’t take in any more terrible creatures

• Sowerberry sympathized with Noah

• He noted the situation during the master's absence and the potential for the door to be kicked open

• Charlotte suggested calling the police officers

• Mrs. Sowerberry sent Noah for Mr Bumble to come directly, without bothering with his cap

• Noah ran quickly to the workhouse gate

• After resting to collect tears, he knocked loudly

• Noah shouted for Mr. Bumble

• Mr. Bumble, who was nearby, rushed into the yard without his hat

• Noah stated Oliver had turned wild and tried to murder him, Charlotte and Mrs. Sowerberry

• He stated Oliver hurt him as he twisted his body

• Mr. Bumble put on his hat, grabbed his stick and accompanied Noah back to the undertaker's shop

• Mr Sowerberry hadn't returned and continues to kick the cellar door

• Mr Bumble kicked the door from the outside

• Applying his mouth to the keyhole, he spoke in a deep, impressive tone

• Oliver replied 'Let me out!' from the inside

• Mr Bumble asked if Oliver knew his voice

• Oliver replied 'Yes,'

• Bumble asked if Oliver was afraid, and trembling while he spoke

• Oliver confidently stated 'No!'

• Bumble stepped back from the keyhole, drew himself up to his full height, and looked at those who were watching

• Mrs Sowerberry said Oliver must be mad, as no boy would dare to speak to Bumble like that

• Bumble stated that he thought it might be meat

• Mrs. Sowerberry exclaimed 'What?'

• Bumble said it was because they fed him much meat, implying if Mrs Sowerberry kept Oliver only eating soup, that would never have happened

• Mrs Sowerberry stated this was the result of being generous

• Mr Bumble said that they can leave him in the cellar until he is hungry enough and then have him eat only soup during his apprenticeship

• He explained that he came from a bad family and that the nurse and doctor said that his mother had made her way to the workhouse despite difficulties and pain that would have killed any good woman weeks before

• At this point in the Mr Bumble’s speech, Oliver just hearing enough to know that some new reference was being made to his mother, he started violently kicking at the door again

• At this moment, Sowerberry returned

• Oliver's offense was explained and Sowerberry unlocked the cellar door and dragged him out by the collar

• Oliver's clothes were torn, his face bruised and bleeding, and his hair scattered over his forehead

• Oliver looked Noah completely without fear

• Sowerberry asked if Oliver was a nice young fellow and hit him across one ear

• Oliver said Noah called his mother names

• Mrs. Sowerberry asked what if he did say something, as she deserved it and worse

• Oliver protested

• Mrs. Sowerberry disagreed

• Oliver said it was a lie

• Mrs. Sowerberry burst into tears which prompted to Sowerberry beating him

• Mrs Sowerberry was satisfied and Mr bumble also beat him rather unnecessarily

• Oliver was shut in the back kitchen for the rest of the day

• Mrs Sowerberry ordered him to bed at night

• Oliver gave way to his feelings in the undertaker’s dark workshop

• He had listened to their insults with contempt, and he had suffered the beatings without a cry

• Oliver, on his knees on the floor, cried the kind of tears few young children ever have cause to pour out

• Oliver remained motionless for a long time

• The lamp was burning low when he rose

• He looked slowly around him, listened carefully, gently undid the bolts and chains on the door

• Oliver glances outside

• It was a cold, dark night

• There was no wind and the dark shadows from the trees looked frightening

• He closed the door tied up the few articles of clothing he and walked to wait for morning

• When the first light struggled through the windows Oliver rose and again unlocked the door

• After a brief pause in the doorway, he stepped outside, closed the door behind him and was in the open street

Chapter 6: The Artful Dodger

• By 8 o'clock, Oliver was nearly 5 miles away

• He ran and hid to avoid being pursued

• Oiver sat down beside a milestone

• The milestone told him, in big letters, that he was seventy miles from London

• The name gave him a new idea to go to London

• He heard often heard that no lad with spirit would find living difficult

• He jumped to his feet and continued walking

• Oliver walked 20 miles that day and ate a piece of dry bread

• At night, he turned into a field and fell asleep

• When he got up next morning, cold and stiff, he spent his only penny on a small loaf

• Another cold night passed and hardiy move on his next journey

• He continued begging for six days

• Begging was forbidden by law

• On the seventh morning, he walked into a small place called Barnet

• Streets were empty and the sun was rising

• It served to show his loneliness and bleeding feet

• Oliver noticed a boy who had passed him looking and came up to greet him

• The strange, dirty boy appeared to have the manners of a man

• He was short with sharp eyes and wore a man's coat with its arms turned back

• He was a proud and confident young gentleman

• Oliver said he was hungry and tired after walking for 7 days

• The boy suggested getting some food, even though he claimed poverty himself

• This young man took Oliver to a shop and bought him meat and bread

• He also bought Oliver beer at a public house

• The strange boy asked if Oliver was going to London after he finished eating

• Oliver confirmed

• The boy asked if he had anywhere to stay or Money

• Oliver said no

• The boy whistled and put his hands in his pockets

• He asked if Oliver needed anything at home in London

• Oliver said he needed a bed

• He then said he knew a respectable old gentleman who would provide Oliver with the comfortable job without loss of time if introduced

• This led to discovering that his friend's name was Jack Dawkins

• Jack Dawkins was also called The Artful Dodger

• As Jack and Oliver objected to entering London before nightfall, it was almost 11 PM when they reached the edge of the city

• They passed through a dirty part of London until reaching the bottom of a hill

• When he considered running away, Oliver was pulled into a house by the Dodger who then closed the door

• He gave a whistle and a faint light shone on the wall at the end of the passage followed by a man’s face

• The man noted they were two and asked, ‘Who's the other one?’

• Jack replied, ‘A new friend! Is Fagin upstairs?’

• The man asked what he was doing upstairs and for them to go on up

• He and the face then faded away in sequence

• Oliver climbed the dark, broken stairs with the Dodger

• The Dodger opened the door to a back room and pulled Oliver inside with him

• The walls and ceiling were black with age and dirt

• There was a wooden table in front of a candle burning in a beer bottle

• On the table was a lamp, cups, plates, bread and sausages

• An old, evil-looking Jew was cooking; his face was partly hidden by his thick, red hair

• He was dressed in a dirty woollen coat and had placed silk handkerchiefs on a line

• By the fire lay several rough beds made side by side

• 4 or 5 boys, around the Dodger’s age, smoked pipes and drank spirits

• They crowded to the Dodger and the old man as he whispered a few words

• The old man turned also

• The Dodger introduced the old man, Fagin His friend, Oliver Twist

• The old man smiled and, making a low bow, took him by the hand to show friendship

• The young gentlemen with the pipes took and shook both his hands very hard, specifically the one with his cloth bundle

• Fagin offered Oliver a chair by the fire

• Fagin then showed his handkerchiefs

• Everyone laughed and then they ate supper