Oliver Twist

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1838

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-20

Chapters 21-25

Chapters 26-30

Chapters 31-35

Chapters 36-40

Chapters 41-45

Chapters 46-50

Chapters 51-53

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Chapters 36-40Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 36 Summary: “IS A VERY SHORT ONE, AND MAY APPEAR OF NO GREAT IMPORTANCE IN ITS PLACE, BUT IT SHOULD BE READ NOTWITHSTANDING, AS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST, AND A KEY TO ONE THAT WILL FOLLOW WHEN ITS TIME ARRIVES”

Harry hurries to leave the cottage with Mr. Losberne. The doctor comments on how only the day before Harry determined that he would stay on at the cottage with his mother. Mr. Losberne wonders at Harry’s frequent change of heart, wanting to stay one moment and deciding to leave the next. The doctor asks if Harry’s uncle and the many other high-society acquaintances he has are responsible for his decision in leaving. Harry responds by saying that his presence is not necessary to them at the moment and the doctor replies, saying that Harry might be “into parliament at the election before Christmas” (413).

Harry looks like he wishes to contradict the doctor but instead he says nothing. Harry speaks to Oliver in private and asks Oliver to write him every fortnight to give him updates on Mrs. Maylie and Rose. Oliver is eager to have a reason to write and agrees to the request easily. Harry makes Oliver keep it a secret between them as he worries that it might make his mother anxious about writing him more often. Mr. Losberne and Harry thus depart the cottage.

Rose watches them leave. Though she says she is happy that Harry seems to have left in a good