“ Who Is Fagin?”

1. “Who Is Fagin?” Erin Daniels Carrie Flack Jamie Heupel Jami Holzaepfel

2. Fagin is portrayed inaccurately in plays and films.

3. Fagin didn’t eat according to Jewish laws Fagin did not speak with a Jewish accent as the Jewish servant Barney did Fagin presents an incorrect portrayal of Jews.

4. Paupers and Criminals both regarded as outcasts This shows the connection between Oliver and Fagin

5. Fagin’s name is not a COINCEDENCE! • Charles Dickens obtains Fagin’s name from Bob Fagin. • Bob Fagin was Dickens’ fellow worker and friend when he was a boy.

6. Historical Account of Young Dickens • Dickens’ family wealth deteriorates • The Dickens family moves to London • Charles is forced to quit school

7. FEBRUARY 1824 • Dickens’ family moves prison • Charles begins work in the blacking warehouse • Events cause Charles’ feelings of betrayal and desertion, which later appear in his works

8. TIME PERIOD LEAVES SCARS • Dickens could not revisit the site of the warehouse • After 25 years, Dickens still felt resentment towards his father because of the agony caused by the warehouse job

9. Fagin the Jew & Bob Fagin • Bob Fagin was a “mentor” of Charles at blacking warehouse • Taught him to do the job • Protected “the young gentleman” • Ties in with Fagin the Jew

10. Fagin the Jew trains Oliver • Through games, Fagin demonstrates to Oliver how to pickpocket • Oliver longed for high society, but felt it was futile

11. Differences between Dickens and Oliver • Dickens entertained his fellow workers • Fagin and the Artful Dodger entertained Oliver • Still correlated because these characters are a part of Dickens

12. Dickens pretends the house was his when Bob Fagin took him home; direct correlation to Oliver Twist in which Oliver goes up to a house and does the same thing. It is significant to the book. Oliver seeking help where he had just been shot The “Knock”

13. Window Incident • Charles’ Father sees him “displayed” by window • Charles is soon fired • Charles feels the two events are connected

14. Two important “Conscious” moments • Fagin pulling out treasures while Oliver is supposedly sleeping • Oliver sleeping in his “little room” • Similarities include: • being half asleep and yet aware of surroundings • Oliver was in the presence of important objects

15. Dickens and his characters • He incorporates himself into all his characters • He basically killed himself by reading his books over and over.

16. Work Cited • Marcus, Steven. “Who is Fagin?”. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Ed. Fred Kaplan. 1st ed. Norton Critical Edition. New York: Norton, 1993. 478-494