Oliver Twist, Ch. 10-21

In chapters 10-13, Oliver perfects his pickpocketing skills and joins Dodger and Charley (Fagin's partners in crime) where he realizes what he has been taught. Oliver watches Dodger take the handkerchief from a gentlemen pocket, forgets to run, and is caught by the police after a short chase. He is cleared of all charges after the owner of the bookstall the gentlemen was at tells of two other boys that did the crime. Fagin is mad when he finds out what happened to Oliver, and wants him back before his operation is revealed.

In chapters 14-17, Oliver becomes friends with Mr. Brownlow, the man that took him in after the trial. Mr. Grimwig, Mr. Brownlow's friend, arrives at his house and thinks Oliver is a "bad apple". Mr. Brownlow sends Oliver on an errand, hoping to prove Mr. Grimwig wrong, but Oliver never returns. Nancy, the one sent by Fagin, finds Oliver and drags him back to the new hideout in a rundown house.

In chapters 18-21, Fagin keeps Oliver locked in the house. Sikes, one of Fagin's goons, decides to rob a house and he needs Oliver to help him in the robbery. Sikes threatens Oliver that he must not hesitate, even though inside, Oliver is having second thoughts. Oliver and Sikes head out in Chapter 21 to Shepperton, where the house is located.

There is alot of racism used to describe some of the characters. Fagin is described as a "very old shrivelled Jew" and is always wanting more money, further advancing the stereotype. Oliver is portrayed as doing almost anything to get money, due to being in poverty all his life. The author also refers to Fagin many times as "the Jew", suggesting the stereotype that is mostly affiliated with the Jewish community.