Topic > Analysis of the character of Fagin from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

“There are no bad words, but words with bad intentions behind them” – Roberto FontanarrosaSay no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Characters, plot, setting, action, and content are all important elements of a dramatic work. There are characters that dominate and make every single drama, play, film or any form of literature stand out and with their presence is the reason why there is a conflict in every story. In the play Oliver Twist, Dickens kept the same character traits even though he portrayed them in different ways. Fagin is one of the important characters of Oliver Twist, he, in fact, is the antagonist of the story. as it had a huge impact on the entire story. When Fagin made his first appearance in Oliver Twist, he was stereotyped as a boy with good intentions. However, later, the reader discovers that he is completely the opposite. It seems that Dickens wanted Fagin to seem as bad on the outside as he is on the inside. Fagin is a criminal whose goal is to train boys and orphans to steal or pickpocket for him. There are a couple of events in the play that demonstrate just how bad Fagin is and what his main goal is behind having an affair with Oliver. The first time Fagin appeared in the play was when Oliver was brought to him with the cunning trickster. Fagin had a bad habit of doing something for personal pleasure that could harm other orphans. Fagin used the young orphans as an advantage; he trains them to become pickpockets and tries to steal valuable things such as watches, handkerchiefs and much more. This can be clearly demonstrated when Fagin tells Oliver at the end of scene 3 “it's time for bed. Tomorrow is a working day!!” In addition to Oliver's young age, Fagin has a bad sense of arrogance and thinks he is clever in controlling boys to pickpocket and get him what he wants. Proof of this is when Fagin said to the trickster "he would be good for me...", unfortunately the little ones think it's a game they are playing and don't know how much crime they are committing. We can also see that Fagin is reckless by making the young orphans do the job as he puts them in an embarrassing situation when they try to steal and get caught. This is clearly demonstrated when Mr. Brownlow caught Oliver trying to take something out of his pocket. Dickens also shows that Fagin is a hypocrite by killing one of his "gang" members who happens to be Nancy. Nancy started helping Oliver and making him avoid following Fagin and this results in his death. The character of Fagin is presented in many ways. However, at the beginning of scene 3, it is evident and clear that Fagin is devious and deceitful. “You brought us a new one!” said Fagin mysteriously as he acted thoughtfully in front of the boys. A good example of this is when he keeps saying "my dear" as well as when he says "you are my special boys". There is nothing common in relating Fagin's personality to my social and personal values. Fagin is considered the worst character in the play, the things he does are not what people in my society are known for. Speaking away from religion is not satisfying to do these things. Not only does it not seem fair, but it also involves putting other people in a bad situation. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay I personally think that even if Fagin was doing something right and acceptable for a living, it should have been up to him.