Chapters 9-12

This forum is for thoughts related to Chapters 9-12

Oliver starts to get a little more independent in his decision making. He runs into a boy who resembles a child in a lonely world. He smokes and is a thief. Oliver gets a good meal from him and a referral to an "old gentleman" who will shelter and feed him. Oliver being so naive, accepts the offer. Oliver is not street wise. He sees the "Jew" as a good and trusting adult. He wants to please him for all his kindness.

I think this situation is portrayed beautifully. We have a desperate, naive young person and is taken in by superficial kindness. (We unfortunately still have this happening with runaways nowadays.) Some things never change in time.

Oliver gets falsely accused of pickpocketing and (out of the norm) the accuser gets in trouble for unjustly pointing the finger.

Oliver's quiet mannerisms make him vulnerable to many. He fortunately is befriended by the bookstore's owner.

I thought it was intersting how often Dickens used the word 'jew' to describe Fagin. That's not something I am used to seeing/reading. I think you're right that twist was so eager to be a 'worker' and to do right by the man who fed him that he misunderstood what was being asked. I wonder if he would have gone along with it eventually if he had not been 'caaught'.
I like the use of the name 'Fang' too. Mr dickens seems to match up some of the surnames to some of the character attributes. I think the fact that the picture looks familiar might be a bit too much of a hint, for an orphan.