Oliver Twist, Chapter 19 summary

What happens

1. Fagin visits Sikes and Nancy, where he learns that Toby Crackit cannot persuade the Chertsey servants to help with the robbery.
2. Sikes offers another route into the house for fifty extra sovereigns, but he needs a small boy.
3. Fagin proposes Oliver, and Nancy supports the choice while Sikes threatens to kill the boy if he causes trouble.
4. Fagin explains that involving Oliver in robbery gives him power over the child and reduces the danger of escape.
5. They arrange for Nancy to collect Oliver the following evening and give Sikes control over his treatment.
6. Sikes drinks until he collapses, and Fagin returns home but postpones speaking to the sleeping Oliver.

In this chapter

What to notice

Fagin states why he wants Oliver involved. The robbery serves not only to obtain valuables but also to make the boy feel trapped within the gang.

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