Student Question

What actions of Fagin could Oliver Twist see from his sleeping spot?

Quick answer:

From his sleeping spot, Oliver Twist observed Fagin at the fireplace making coffee and whistling. Fagin locked the door, retrieved a small box from a trap door, and placed it on the table. He examined a gold watch and six others, along with rings, brooches, and jewelry, all with admiration. Fagin also remarked on the five men who had died for stealing these items, noting none had revealed his involvement.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In chapter 9 of Oliver Twist, "Containing Further Particulars Concerning The Pleasant Old Gentleman, And His Hopeful Pupils," Oliver is lying in his bed of old sacks on the dirty floor, half-awake after a sound sleep.

In that drowsy state, eyes half open, Oliver could see Fagin at the fireplace making coffee, whistling quietly to himself. After a moment, Fagin put the saucepan on the hob (a metal shelf in the fireplace used for keeping food warm), looked at Oliver, and quietly called his name, but Oliver feigned being asleep and didn't answer.

Fagin went to the door and locked it. Oliver watched as Fagin took a small box out of a trap door in the floor and placed it carefully on the table in front of the fireplace. Fagin's eyes "glistened as he raised the lid" and looked in the box. Oliver waited to know what was in the box as Fagin dragged a chair to the table and sat down in front of the box.

Out of the box Fagin took "a magnificent gold watch, sparkling with jewels." After examining it and admiring it for a time, Fagin put the watch back in the box and took out six more watches, which he admired in the same way as he admired the first watch. Then Fagin took out of the box "rings, brooches, bracelets, and other articles of jewelry, of such magnificent materials, and costly workmanship, that Oliver had no idea, even of their names."

Fagin replaced those several items in the box, and took out one more item, "so small that it lay in the palm of his hand." Fagin tried without success to read its inscription, then put it back in the box, remarking to himself about the five men who had died on the gallows for stealing the items in the box and that not one of them had brought "awkward stories to light" about Fagin.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial