Who Fagin is
Fagin lives in a dark house in London's Saffron Hill, where the Artful Dodger brings Oliver. He receives stolen goods and trains the boys who bring them to him.
When Oliver arrives, Fagin greets him with a smile and offers food and somewhere to sleep. To a child who has known cruelty, this welcome seems like the beginning of a home.
What Fagin wants
Fagin wants Oliver in his gang, and he teaches theft through what looks like a game. The boys practise taking a handkerchief from his pocket without letting him notice.
Oliver laughs along because he does not yet understand what the game means. Fagin's patience makes the danger less visible, drawing the boy toward crime through small, friendly steps.
Fagin and the others in the story
The Artful Dodger brings Oliver into Fagin's world, while Charley Bates joins in the pickpocketing game. When Oliver goes out with the two boys, he discovers that their skill is theft, not sport.
Fagin also plans a burglary with Bill Sikes, choosing Oliver because he can fit through a narrow window. Oliver begs not to become a thief, exposing the cruelty beneath Fagin's earlier kindness.
Questions
Who is Fagin in Oliver Twist?
Fagin is a London gang leader who receives stolen goods and teaches boys to pick pockets.
What does Fagin want from Oliver?
He wants Oliver to join his gang and learn to steal.
Is Fagin kind or cruel?
Fagin is one of the novel's central villains. He appears gentle toward Oliver, but uses that welcome to train him for crime.