Philosophy

Charles Dickens: His 10 most memorable characters - The Artful Dodger of "Oliver Twist" - CSMonitor.com

Charles Dickens: His 10 most memorable characters - The Artful Dodger of "Oliver Twist" - CSMonitor.com


Tribute to 10 of his most unforgettable characters.



Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger in the 1968 film version of "Oliver Twist."

3. The Artful Dodger of "Oliver Twist"

This charming young scamp, a major juvenile delinquent and leader of a gang of pickpockets, is one of the many charms of "Oliver Twist." The Artful Dodger – aka Jack Dawkins – tries to corrupt Oliver but quickly comes to understand that the young Twist has few criminal tendencies. Dickens describes the Artful Dodger as "altogether as roystering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever stood four feet six, or something less," and although we may bemoan his betrayal of Oliver, we never doubt the genuine affection that preceded it.